My Thoughts on “Healthy Brain, Happy Life” by Dr. Wendy Suzuki
Dr. Wendy Suzuki is a famous neuroscientist and professor at New York University. Her book Healthy Brain, Happy Life is both a memoir and a self-help book about the science behind how exercise helps the brain with retaining memory and increases mood and creativity.
I, personally, think Dr. Suzuki did a decent job of explaining the science and anatomy of the brain, without using too much medical jargon, for the average person like me. There were some moments where I had to re-read to make sure I understood the definition of the medical terms correctly, but I honestly learned a lot about the brain from reading this book. For example, I learned that the hippocampus functions for learning, retaining memory, and imagination. While the amygdala functions for the emotional responses in people. The brain also has complex networks of cells that trigger when you form a new memory, which you are most likely going to remember if there is a strong emotion against it (she shared a story that was a pretty touching moment in the book, too). I also learned about the H.M. case study, which was about a patient who underwent surgery for epilepsy but had his memory impaired, becoming a prominent case study in neuroscience. What happened to that patient was truly tragic, as he could not create long-term memories anymore, but his role caused advanced scientists to research and study more about memories and the brain.
I had never thought that I would be interested in learning about the brain, but this book sparked my curiosity and I love Dr. Suzuki’s passion for neuroscience. It made me think that if I had a science teacher like her, I would’ve appreciated learning about anatomy when I was in high school. She has serious ambition and passion for herself and her students!
As she pointed out, there are some people who may think, “Of course, exercise is good for you.” But what I’ve learned is that there are many aspects that neuroscientists still don’t know about, especially if we want to be specific on the type of exercises that are good for you or how it affects certain age groups and/or gender. This book was published in 2015, and scientists may have learned more about the brain since then, but I didn’t realize there was a lack of studies and research about this when Dr. Suzuki was in her post-graduate school. Also, it was interesting to learn about the criteria and obstacles that she went through in order to achieve her tenure at a Ph.D. level. But we do know now that long-term stress does affect your brain and body in the long term and could deteriorate brain plasticity.
Reading her memoir gave me insight into the experiences and the imagination of her life, which made me feel relatable to her. As someone who always focused on school and didn’t have a huge social life growing up, I felt connected to her in the sense of wanting to get outside of their comfort zone. In a way, I feel like I am following a similar path to hers to become a better person for my mental and physical health. It was also nice to read her stories on how she improved her relationships with her colleagues and family, as well as, dating.
Another key takeaway from this book is that intentional exercise will boost your mood more than just exercising alone. So, when I’ve been working out, I’ve been trying to change my workouts to try something new with the intention to sweat and have fun.
I know, I know. I totally get it if you don’t want to exercise when you’re depressed - I felt the exact same way. But it really works and does make you feel better, haha. It’s the same cycle where I don’t want to go to the gym, but I feel my 100% after finishing a workout (or 40-50% on rough days but at least that’s something). Happens every single time. While I still am getting help from a professional and friends, working out has definitely improved my mood.
Hope you enjoyed reading this book review post! I recommend reading this book to learn more about the brain with story narratives from Dr. Wendy Suzuki. Until then, thanks for reading!
And thank you, Max, for letting me borrow this book. I enjoyed it!