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  • Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded)

  • How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five
  • By: John Medina
  • Narrated by: John Medina
  • Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (220 ratings)

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Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded)

By: John Medina
Narrated by: John Medina
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Publisher's Summary

What’s the single most important thing you can do during pregnancy? What does watching TV do to a child’s brain? What’s the best way to handle temper tantrums? Scientists know. In his New York Times best seller Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina showed us how our brains really work - and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools. Now, in Brain Rules for Baby, he shares what the latest science says about how to raise smart and happy children from zero to five. This book is destined to revolutionize parenting. Just one of the surprises: The best way to get your children into the college of their choice? Teach them impulse control. Brain Rules for Baby bridges the gap between what scientists know and what parents practice. Through fascinating and funny stories, Medina, a developmental molecular biologist and dad, unravels how a child’s brain develops - and what you can do to optimize it. You will view your children - and how to raise them - in a whole new light. You’ll learn: Where nature ends and nurture begins. Why men should do more household chores. What you do when emotions run hot affects how your baby turns out, because babies need to feel safe above all. TV is harmful for children under two. Your child’s ability to relate to others predicts her future math performance. Smart and happy are inseparable. Pursuing your child’s intellectual success at the expense of his happiness achieves neither. Praising effort is better than praising intelligence. The best predictor of academic performance is not IQ. It’s self-control. What you do right now - before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and through the first five years - will affect your children for the rest of their lives. Brain Rules for Baby is an indispensable guide.

©2014 John J. Medina (P)2014 John J. Medina

Critic Reviews

"Dr. Medina hits the nail on the head with Brain Rules for Baby. We are always looking for ways to make our kids smarter, better, happier. Medina gives such practical, usable advice and tips." (Nina L. Shapiro, MD, UCLA School of Medicine)
"An engaging and fun-to-read translation of the best research on child development and effective parenting. I gave Dr. Medina's book to my own son." (Ginger Maloney, Ph.D, The Marsico Institute for Early Learning and Literacy)
"If you've no room for another brain-development title, weed an old one to make room for this. Covering such topics as pregnancy, relationships, and "moral" babies, the book will educate even the most learned parents. Medina's humorous, conversational style make this an absolute please to read." ( Library Journal)

What listeners say about Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded)

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    3 out of 5 stars

Stressful to listen to!

I find the narrators voice and intensity way to stressful to. There's a unnecessary sense of urgency in his desire to relay his opinion. Interesting "facts" and opinions but unfortunately it's quite unpleasant to listen to.

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7 people found this helpful

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Worst narration ever. Do not buy audible version

This is a fantastic book in content and I have recommended it to many people, HOWEVER: DO NOT BUY THE AUDIBLE VERSION. That is unless you would like to find out how someone with the worst combination of voice and reading tone can make it close to torture to get through

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3 people found this helpful

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Highly recommended

Great overall book. Entertaining to listen and easy to implement his Brain rules.

Take home message: enjoy and love your children.

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2 people found this helpful

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  • L
  • 01-12-2020

My favourite baby-preparation book

I've read his book and 3 times now,and keep going back to revisit a chapter or two.
It really nails the balance between straight scientific information and personal anecdotes. I also, couldn't imagine a better voice to suit that acedemic/comedic balance.
This book helped me feel prepared to make my own decisions about issues like 'cry it out' versus 'attachment parenting', without feeling judged or pressured.

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1 person found this helpful

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clarify, reassuring and science

well written. the difference chapters contain practical advice, especially the last chapter of practical tips. author presents his view points with evidence and aims to be as balance as possible in considering competing schools of thoughts. definitely a must-read book

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1 person found this helpful

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Pleasantly surprised

When I started this audiobook I thought it would be full of DOs and DON’Ts but instead I found myself reflecting on my own behaviour as a child, how my own behaviour as an adult was influenced by my own parents and my upbringing, how I behave as a partner and how this impacts our relationship and marriage, and what I am subconsciously teaching my own first child.

Overall I would recommend to any soon to be parent to give this book a shot, it will inform you on things that science knows and give you information to decide whether or not you want to implement any of the tools yourself.

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Very helpful for a first time mother

My husband and I enjoyed listening to this book before we go to bed and during our travel.

Most of the topics he mentioned in the book makes alot of sense and I can relate to some of the examples given in the book with people I know.

I would highly recommended to any mother!

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1 person found this helpful

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a must read

Insightful, funny, complete and practical, this book had everything you need to design and decide what kind of parent you want to be and what to do to achieve it. Fantastic book and perfectly delivered in audio.

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1 person found this helpful

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Excellent application of neuroscience to parenting

This is one of the best introductions to neuroscience I've ever read. Every aspect is relevant to real life, not just parenting but also deep philosophical questions such as the meaning of happiness and the ultimate purpose of human existence. Delivered with genuine passion and enthusiasm, this book also includes many laugh out loud moments. A little recognised masterpiece, this is Medina's best work so far.

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For the scientifically minded parent

Honest scientific appraisal of current research, with actionable advice delivered with character by the author

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