Review by Choice Review
Stress is ubiquitous. Stress is also distressing. But, according to Robertson (psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland), a clinical psychologist and neuroscientist, stress can be so much more. Stress can also be a source for creativity, motivation, reflection, and resilience. As Robertson demonstrates through clinical anecdotes, a review of neuropsychological data, and his own and colleagues' experiments, some people respond to stress in predictably negative ways, falling apart and flailing about as they experience anxiety, whether linked to tragic loss or everyday challenges (e.g., speaking in front of a group). Yet, despite their stress, other people rise to the occasion, appearing to grow and flourish in the face of minor scuffles (e.g., an argument with a loved one) or truly life-changing events fraught with emotion (e.g., death, destruction, etc.). Thus, there are good and bad types of stress, and Robertson provides suggestions regarding rethinking how individuals respond to life's vagaries, thereby learning to positively cope with stress. A prologue, six chapters, and an epilogue do a fine job convincing readers that stress sometimes changes one for the better; Nietzsche's maxim "That which does not kill us, makes us stronger" is apt here. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Dana S. Dunn, Moravian College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
According to Nietzsche, What does not kill me makes me stronger. But why do some people thrive when they defeat cancer or survive in a concentration camp, while others collapse when they fail a college exam? Clinical psychologist and neuroscientist Robertson seems uniquely qualified to study this question. His research looks at both the hardware and the software of the brain, and his conclusions are fascinating. After sifting through scholarly journals, test results, and his own research, Robertson discovers that proactive people, those who are working towards rewards, seem to be more able to keep going despite setbacks. People who are just trying to avoid the bad stuff in life, on the other hand, seem to freeze and crumble when they face difficulties. The author's scientific process is especially interesting, allowing readers to follow along as he speculates, researches, and draws conclusions. Filled with case studies and thoughtful commentary, this eye-opening book is sure to inspire thoughts on the effects of stress and the importance of facing life head-on.--Smith, Candace Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Clinical psychologist and neuroscientist Robertson (The Winner Effect) explores why stress energizes some people and has devastating effects on others in this fascinating treatise on the human mind-something he describes as a malleable object, not hardwired. "If psychological stressors can physically change the brain... surely psychological therapies should be able to do the same," he writes. Why do some people become energized through anxiety and stress, while other people-often those with a more fixed view of themselves-see difficult situation as indications they aren't competent, and crumble? It's how the "software of the mind" combines with the "hardware of the brain," Robertson says. One key piece of that mix is noradrenaline, a chemical he calls a "natural alerting drug." It is also a neuromodulator, which strengthens the brain's ability to form connections and thereby its learning and memory functions. In fact, he believes noradrenaline can be a partial antidote to Alzheimer's disease, making brain cells less susceptible to damaging amyloid proteins. The author emphasizes, however, that it's necessary to find the balance between too little and too much stress. Robertson's enlightening theories on brain chemistry make fascinating food for thought and will help readers see the upside of stress. Agent: Felicity Bryan, Felicity Bryan Associates (U.K.) (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
In 1888, Friedrich Nietzsche wrote in Twilight of the Idols: "What does not kill me, makes me stronger." Neuroscientist and trained clinical psychologist Robertson (T. Boone Pickens Distinguished Scientist, Ctr. for BrainHealth, Univ. of Texas at Dallas; The Winner Effect) is a young graduate when he first comes across this line in 1974. Throughout his career, this maxim comes back to him while he studies attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, spatial neglect, and biofeedback. As a neuropsychologist, the author becomes interested in lateralization of brain functions. What he aims to determine is how the brain and mind interact and help us rise to life's stressful events and continue on stronger. He devotes half a chapter to anger, an emotion that it is taboo to express but can be key in surviving difficulties. Cognitive reserve, which stems from mental challenge and social interactions and protects the brain against dementia, brings the author closer to solving his Nietzschean puzzle. Robertson concludes positively by maintaining that Nietzsche is right, but also that a person's faith in emotional self-control is essential to resilience. VERDICT No easy read, this book is recommended for knowledgeable psychology and neuropsychology enthusiasts.-Maryse Breton, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A veteran neuroscientist and clinical psychologist explores the changes that occur in our brains depending upon how we deal with challenging situations.For the past 40 years, Robertson (T. Boone Pickens Distinguished Scientist/Univ. of Texas, Dallas; The Winner Effect: How Power Affects Your Brain, 2012, etc.) has dedicated his research to answering one question: "How, when and why do some people rise to the challenge of bad experiences, while others fold under their weight?" In this review of benchmarks in his career, he begins with his days as a student in the 1970s when he was training to become a clinical psychologist. At the time, the prevailing wisdom held "that experience only molded the very young brain." After that, the brain's neural circuitry was hard-wired and could only be changed by electric-shock therapy or medication. "In 1984the sky fell in," writes the author. Experiments showed that the brain is not hard-wired and is, in fact, changed by experience, and the left and right hemispheres of the brain play different roles in how individuals respond to stress. Furthermore, neural circuits in the brain's right hemisphere activated anxiety-ridden avoidance, while a positive response to challenge was associated with left-hemisphere activity. In 2012, another piece of the puzzle came together when Robertson helped to establish the role of one of the brain's key chemical messengers, noradrenaline, in helping the brain maintain attention. "Millions of mini-infusions of noradrenaline, triggered by millions of mental challenges," create a cognitive reserve in the brain by stimulating the growth of neural networks, provided the challenge does not create severe stress. The author, who writes clearly for a popular audience, had identified the equivalent of a wonder drug that plays an important role in maintaining cognitive ability as we age.An intriguing overview of important developments in brain research, specifically as it relates to finding "the right mental balance we need for each challenge that faces us." Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
