Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded)

The Only Baby Book I'd Recommend

If you could sum up Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded) in three words, what would they be?

Science based advice.

What other book might you compare Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded) to and why?

Honestly, this book stands alone in a cesspool of snake oil sold as pregnancy and parenting advice. Medina’s book is baby 501. It’s all science. Everything he talks about has been published in a peer reviewed journal, and replicated by at least one other study that meets that same criteria. He shuts down a lot of the expensive bullshit, like Baby Einstein, and other scams to make babies smart.

Have you listened to any of John Medina’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not. Some reviewers of the audiobook don’t like Medina’s delivery. While it’s true he lacks the polish of professional narrators, he is a lecturer and has a huge passion for his work. I think that might be off putting to some that want the narration to be like an offensive lineman in football: doing its best work when no one notices. But I personally find Medina’s vigorous reading of his own material to be really great.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This is a science based book on how to raise a baby. Pathos really doesn't play a role in it.

Any additional comments?

I’ve seen some complaints that Medina meanders too much in his book rather than saving the reader time and getting to the point. I get that some parents are too busy to hear the how and why of Medina’s rules, they want quick instruction to best build their baby’s brain. But for me, I want more than just a set of instructions I’m taking on faith. I love hearing the specifics of the studies that form Medina’s rule set.

23 of 25 people found this review helpful

New addition is not a good audio book

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The additions to this book were recorded independently and are in a tunnel

What other book might you compare Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded) to and why?

Buy the book not the audio book

What didn’t you like about John Medina’s performance?

Too many anecdotes by women and he raises his voice too much
sounds a little like monty python

Could you see Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded) being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

no - please do not do this

Any additional comments?

I wish that I would have bough tthe book. It is a good book but a very bad audio book

23 of 28 people found this review helpful

Interesting content, horrible narration. Buy the physical book

The information provided is valuable but I could barely get past the narrator’s voice and presentation! He sounds like a mildly drunk radio talk show host. I had to force myself to listen to 30 minutes each day just to get the info but it was painful. My husband heard about 15 minutes and refused to listen to anymore because of the narrator’s “used car salesman” voice. Save yourself the pain and read the physical book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Baby book for nerds

Loved the practical applications and information offered. As my wife and I read more and more baby books I truly appreciate evidence and data behind the information. Medina is entertaining throughout his reading and makes it easy to see which parts he is truly passionate about it. Smart book that I strongly recommend to those who want to understand why not every option works for every baby. Makes so much sense not just for babies but my day to day interactions with adults.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Great Content, Less Great Recording Quality

The majority of this book is very well recorded, but during the later chapters portions of the author's recording take a noticeable and jarring dip in quality.

The content of the book is magnificent; I learned a great deal about important steps that can be taken to help my child better develop into a thriving adult.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone about to become a new parent.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

Some content helpful, some not

This book did have some concrete examples and strategies, which were helpful. It also had analogies that rarely added value to understanding the concept and wisdomful nuggets such as "kids give so much more than they take. They give you patience!" He also gives examples from his own life, which again were sometimes helpful sometimes not. They turned 600 sq feet of their home into a playroom. That's all well and good if you have a giant house. For the rest of us...? I also found the narrator's voice sing-song and somewhat annoying.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

good for parenting

very detail advice. as parenting, we should learn more for our baby. This book gives me alot of information about how to develop a happy baby, emotional contorl, punishment system and making a sleep routine. anyway just give it a try. sorry english is not my first language.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fantastic insights, backed by science

What made the experience of listening to Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded) the most enjoyable?

All the "brain rules" come with easy to understand examples which makes adopting the rules easier and quicker. The narration was engaging and easy to understand at x2 times the normal speed.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded)?

The empathy reflex and surrounding methods were really cool and unintuitive. Valuable lesson.

What does John Medina bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love having the author narrate his/her own stuff. John Medina brings an engaging reading to this book and it's very enjoyable to listen to. I plowed through this book in two sittings while doing household work, much thanks to John's narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Read for increased anxiety. I would not recommend this book.

I only got up to chapter 3. With the start of the first chapter I felt I was gonna learn something from this book because it was based on statistical evidence. Then as it progressed it seemed to focus less on what positive things can be done for baby and your relationship and instead focused on explaining how shitty it can be only adding to anxiety. Repeating over again how stress can affect your baby without giving the tools to fix it wasn't helpful (although he did mention he would give the tools later in the book - I need them now as you explain it because you just stressed me out ) then I began chapter 3. Horrible. I am well aware and educated enough to know the strain a newborn baby can put on your relationship I don't need to listen to how easy it is to fail for over an hour, again without giving any tools to fix it . The first three chapters were mostly negative statistics without any advice to avoid becoming one of them. Also I believe in the second chapter he referred to overweight pregnant women as too fat. No professionalism there. Personally I would pass on this book all it did was give me anxiety I didn't have prior.

7 of 13 people found this review helpful

Awesome book and awesome narration.

Awesome book and awesome narration. A well deserved 5 stars for this scientific masterpiece! 👏