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How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend

A Neuroscientist's Guide to a Healthier, Happier Life

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How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend

By: Rachel Barr
Narrated by: Rachel Barr
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About this listen

'Fun, but still deeply, rigorously researched.' - Professor Neil Shyminsky

'A true masterpiece. Rachel Barr has done a phenomenal job breaking down the complexities of the human mind.' - Jeffrey Meltzer, LMHC

'Insightful and relatable psychoeducation that demystifies the brain . . . it’s a resource I’ll proudly keep on my shelf as a therapist.' - Joshua Fletcher, anxiety therapist

Your brain is the most remarkable thing in the known universe.


Always trying to mend itself, and always trying to protect you, it’s in a constant state of flux — adapting, reconfiguring, finding new pathways . . . And it has an astonishing capacity for recovery.

Only it doesn’t always get it right.

Rachel Barr struggled through years of devastating loss, heartache, and uncertainty until neuroscience gave her the first spark of self-belief she had felt in her adult life — and proof that, because of the brain’s near-infinite potential for neuroplastic change, it’s never too late to carve out neural pathways to form new habits, new skills, and new ways of thinking.

Whether you want to nerd-out on Neuroscientific acronyms, finally understand what’s going on in your head, or take refuge in an audiobook that’s like a warm hug for your mind, How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend is a delight-filled, evidence-based guide to taking better care of your brain — so it, in turn, will take better care of you.

Rachel Barr holds a master’s degree in molecular neuroscience and wrote How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend while completing her PhD in the electrophysiology of memory and sleep. Beyond the lab, her videos as ‘Rachel the Neuroscientist’ demystify the fundamental principles of brain science, empowering her million-plus followers to make informed decisions about their mental health. Born and raised in Fife, she studied in Bristol and is now based in Quebec, where she shares her home — and keyboard — with Gnocchi the cat.

©2025 Rachel Barr (P)2025 DK Audio

Best of 2025 Biological Sciences Mental Health Neuroscience & Neuropsychology Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science Human Brain Heartfelt Inspiring Feel-Good Thought-Provoking

Critic reviews

Whether you’re looking to understand why your brain behaves the way it does or seeking practical strategies to get your mind on your side, this is a must-read.
Somehow both a delightful and poignant piece of science communication. Rachel Barr’s writing is Bill Bryson-esque in both its accessibility and playfulness – your brain is “a well-meaning but inadvertently toxic-positive aunt”, “a multi-layered birthday cake”, and “A LIAR” – but it’s also tender and tinged with the pain of loss . . . I really enjoyed it!
Insightful and relatable psychoeducation that demystifies the brain . . . it’s a resource I’ll proudly keep on my shelf as a therapist.
A true masterpiece. Rachel Barr has done a phenomenal job breaking down the complexities of the human mind into language that’s easy to understand.
All stars
Most relevant
A fantastic storytelling of basic neuroscience, philosophical life questions we would all benefit from pondering on, and autobiographical insights that probably anyone, but certainly a millennial, can relate to.
Funny, heartwarming and occasionally tearful, smart, witty, nuanced. Absolutely loved it. Thank you for a great book, really needed this. ❤️‍🩹

Questions of science and *brains* speaking as loud as our hearts

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Almost cried at the gym whilst listening to the last bit about her mum. Beautiful just beautiful- she echo’s on through you and now me any many others 😍🙏🏻 thank you. Enjoyed this

Mum

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Rachel offers an incredibly accessible and engaging exploration of neuroscience, turning complex concepts into an emotional but easily digestible journey. The book successfully provides listeners with practical tools and insights for cultivating a healthier and happier life by fostering a positive relationship with their own minds. This is an exceptional book that feels less like a dry lecture and more like a warm, supportive conversation. It's a truly transformative experience that I would wholeheartedly recommend...

A Mindful Guide to a Happier You

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I came to know of Rachel’s work through her TikTok channel, and was really excited to listen to this!
The book is amazing! A must read/listen for everyone.
I have CPTSD and was able to relate very easily with some of the concepts being described. The explanations were great and easy to understand.

Love this book!

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not just interesting but Rachel also has a wonderful way with words! I found I couldn't stop listening

very interesting and worth listening to

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