A must-read book for brain info junlies...

Would you listen to The Teenage Brain again? Why?

A must-read book for brain info junkies. Here's why...

STRENGTHS...

- This is a very interesting book for people with a fascination about the detailed working of the teenage brain. Packed full of really interesting neurological stuff!

- Different areas of the brain are covered in some detail but without the inaccessible medical language that makes some books unreadable to the lay person. Clear and well written.

- There is a logical order to the book which reads like a natural progression of chapters, each leading to the next.

- There are chapters specific to certain issues that teenagers face - like use of alcohol and drug use - these are enlightening (I'll go back and look at these again in more depth as the need arises)!

- A detailed analysis of the interface between brain science and the criminal justice system is given, raising ethical questions for sentencing (U.S. context).

WEAKNESSES...

- Despite the thorough nature of the content from a scientific and medical point of view, there is precious little by way of practical help. It's less of a survival guide (see the subtitle) and more of a reference/information guide to the workings of the brain itself.

- The book is written by an American so this needs to be born in mind by UK and other readers as the illustrations, historical references and criminal justice system referred to are all U.S. focussed.

- Many of the examples are of high-flying young people - phrases like "star student," "Grade "A" pupil" and "Harvard student" abound and dilute the impact of otherwise useful illustrations.

- There are woeful inaccuracies about the U.K. educational system. The most glaring of which is the belief that the 11-plus exam still determines the secondary education of U.K. children.

- No treatment of the impact of developmental trauma or poor attachment on development.

SUMMARY...

Not for those looking for practical "how to" solutions. Technical and accessible. A definite for those working with troubled young people - or those parents who want more info on the inner-workings of the teen/s they love!

24 people found this helpful

Love every minute of this book.

Excellent source of information for all parents of teenagers. I'm glad I read it.

4 people found this helpful

A brilliant guide to teenagerdom

This book delivered exactly what it promised: a mix of experience, example and science to explain what to do, and what not to do, in guiding parents and their not-so-little terrors through the formative years.

The book had an immediate effect on me: I am more patient because I understand that what can seem like willful ignorance and obnoxiousness is, in fact, completely normal behaviour. Spoiler alert: tweens and teens literally do not have the brain faculty to do some of the things we expect of them. Parents getting irritated at kids' disproportionate reactions to minor setbacks, or their inability to follow instructions, is understandable but not really fair or effective.

One personal bugbear is that the author is a little smug, unnecessarily ramming her qualifications and perfectly raised sons into the narrative. To summarise, one of the sons once crashed a car as a young teen, but as a parent and role model and scientist she then raised him perfectly, so he never put another foot wrong, went to Harvard and traveled the world helping needy kids. Or something like that. Personally, I prefer a warts-and-all style, but this is not to distract from the wisdom on offer. Also, an excellent point about education is illustrated by citing England as a sort of Dickensian throwback where poor 11-Plus exam results categorically bar kids from further education once they finish mandatory school. This is not true and should have been checked.

To end on less cynical note: this book is indispensable. If you have teenagers, listen to it.

2 people found this helpful

Read/ Listen Critically

I am about halfway through this audiobook and feel compelled to write this review as I find it concerning how much correlational research is presented by the author as if it is causational. Especially as this appears targeted towards the lay person.

I can imagine many parents reading this book and behaving towards their teens in potentially damaging ways due to the way the research is presented.

Having said that, there is a lot of fascinating content which is clearly described, so this is a great read for the critical reader.

2 people found this helpful

Interesting facts and food for thought

I liked the first few chapters where the science of the teenage brain is discussed and how it manifests in behaviors.
Much of the book has anecdotes and " a friend of mine had a son who..." type stories which were interesting but felt like gossip. At one point an HBO show is cited as if its existence is scientific commentary itself. The British education system is also incorrectly described.

2 people found this helpful

Fascinating, accessible & very important insights

An incredibly useful and accessible insight in to leading-edge research in to the development of the teenage brain. Highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful

Raising and teenager, definitely requires more understanding

Having raised one teenager now young man so smoothly nothing prepared me for raising my Daughter through these years.
This book has been so insightful and helped me understand how our brains develop.
I will definitely be using this information to help explain to her why she’s making some tricky mistakes.
Interestingly looking back at my sons years he struggled with uni life and taking a year out helped him mature and find his way.

1 person found this helpful

Very informative, a lot of science!

Really good book, there is a lot of research backing up,the author's suggestions and explanations of the teenager brain development.

1 person found this helpful

very useful resource

a little preachy and sentimental at times, but a great deal of useful information on the development of the teen brain.

1 person found this helpful

wow

This book made me want to bubble wrap my child and lock her in her room so that she doesn't die or become stupid from the myriad of things that can negatively affect teens.
There's a lot of brain biology and extreme examples of how things can go wrong. I am both alarmed and educated.