From inception until death, it is the brain that keeps us alive. Literally. I always used to wonder how our brains keep working, and how it remains awake even when we sleep. Mankind has discovered ways to climb the highest peak in the world, and has even stepped on the moon, and it is the brain that has worked to make these journeys possible. Man has flown out of the planet and come back after successful space missions. Brain Rules by John Medina was an eye-opener that explained to me in simple words how our brains function.

This interesting book consists of twelve chapters which try to demonstrate how our brains work. Curious and fascinated, I researched about the author Dr. John Medina – a developmental molecular biologist and research consultant, and an affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington.

Flipping through the pages of the book is like making friendship with a stranger all of a sudden in the middle of a long road. As you read, you would want to read more. It is like a friend talking to you, guiding you to live a better life, calming you down and easing your anxieties.

In each chapter, Medina describes a brain rule — what scientists know for sure about how our brains work—and then offers transformative ideas for our daily lives. Medina’s fascinating stories and infectious sense of humour breathe life into a serious and complicated topic like brain science. He explains how every brain is wired differently, how exercise improves cognition, how we are designed to never stop learning and exploring, how memories are volatile, how sleep is powerfully linked with the ability to learn, how vision trumps all of the other senses, and even how stress changes the way we learn.

Brain Rules is a delightful book that has left few indelible lessons in my mind. This book is for everyone, of any age. The lessons I learnt from this book are – don't stop exploring, remain curious. Stress doesn't help our brains, avoid it. Exercise, exercise, and exercise, even if it is just walking. Sleep well, but not too much. Communicate in a multi-sensory way, use more pictures than words. Take music lessons.

Life will just get better.