Synopses & Reviews
Barbara Arrowsmith-Young was born with severe learning disabilities that caused teachers to label her slow, stubborn—or worse. As a child, she read and wrote everything backward, struggled to process concepts in language, continually got lost, and was physically uncoordinated. She could make no sense of an analogue clock. But by relying on her formidable memory and iron will, she made her way to graduate school, where she chanced upon research that inspired her to invent cognitive exercises to “fix” her own brain.
The Woman Who Changed Her Brain interweaves her personal tale with riveting case histories from her more than thirty years of working with both children and adults.
Recent discoveries in neuroscience have conclusively demonstrated that, by engaging in certain mental tasks or activities, we actually change the structure of our brains—from the cells themselves to the connections between cells. The capability of nerve cells to change is known as neuroplasticity, and Arrowsmith-Young has been putting it into practice for decades. With great inventiveness, after combining two lines of research, Barbara developed unusual cognitive calisthenics that radically increased the functioning of her weakened brain areas to normal and, in some areas, even above-normal levels. She drew on her intellectual strengths to determine what types of drills were required to target the specific nature of her learning problems, and she managed to conquer her cognitive deficits. Starting in the late 1970s, she has continued to expand and refine these exercises, which have benefited thousands of individuals. Barbara founded Arrowsmith School in Toronto in 1980 and then the Arrowsmith Program to train teachers and to implement this highly effective methodology in schools all over North America. Her work is revealed as one of the first examples of neuroplasticity’s extensive and practical application. The idea that self-improvement can happen in the brain has now caught fire.
The Woman Who Changed Her Brain powerfully and poignantly illustrates how the lives of children and adults struggling with learning disorders can be dramatically transformed. This remarkable book by a brilliant pathbreaker deepens our understanding of how the brain works and of the brain’s profound impact on how we participate in the world. Our brains shape us, but this book offers clear and hopeful evidence of the corollary: we can shape our brains.
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"Arrowsmith-Young's poignant and uplifting book about her transformation from a child born with severe learning disabilities to a dynamic pioneer in cognitive education offers hope to anyone who has ever struggled with a learning disorder, brain trauma, ADD or stroke... an important book."
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“This is a poignant book about two people who connected across continents and generations—a Canadian woman with an unusual cognitive makeup, and the great Russian neuropsychologist Alexander Luria whose writings gave Barbara Arrowsmith the tools to change her own life and the lives of her many students. Moving, insightful and empowering!” Elkhonon Goldberg, Ph.D., the author of < i=""> The Wisdom Paradox <> and < i=""> The New Executive Brain <>
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"If you have a son, a daughter, a parent, a spouse, or a brain, this is a must-read book. It will open your mind to new possibilities on how to deal with 'traffic jams in the brain.'"
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"Remarkable" < -="" i="" -=""> - Daily Mail - < -="" -="">
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"Enthralling" < -="" i="" -=""> - The Guardian - < -="" -=""> - (UK)
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andlt;divandgt;"Remarkable"andlt;/divandgt;
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andlt;divandgt;"Enthralling"andlt;/divandgt;
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"This is a poignant book about two people who connected across continents and generations--a Canadian woman Moving, insightful and empowering!"
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"Hers was a struggle between despair and determination. Determination won."
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"Remarkable"
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"Enthralling"
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"Enthralling"
Synopsis
andlt;Bandgt;A bestseller in Canada and Australia, this is the incredible story of a woman who struggled with severe learning disabilities, built herself a better brain, and started a program that has helped thousands of others do the same.andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;pandgt;Barbara Arrowsmith-Youngandlt;Bandgt; andlt;/Bandgt;was born with severe learning disabilities that caused teachers to label her slow, stubborn--or worse. As a child, she often read and wrote backward, struggled to process concepts in language, continually got lost, and was physically uncoordinated. But, by relying on her formidable memory and iron will, she made it to graduate school, where she chanced upon research that inspired her to invent cognitive exercises to "fix" her own brain. Recent discoveries in neuroscience have demonstrated that we can actually change the structure of our brains by engaging in certain mental activities. Arrowsmith-Young drew on her intellectual strengths to eventually conquer her cognitive deficits and radically increase the functioning of her weakened brain areas. In her book, andlt;Iandgt;The Woman Who Changed Her Brainandlt;/Iandgt;, sheandlt;Iandgt; andlt;/Iandgt;interweaves her personal tale with riveting case histories from her thirty years' experience working with both children and adults.andlt;BRandgt;
Powerful, poignant, and deeply inspirational for children and adults struggling with learning disorders, The Woman Who Changed Her Brain is a remarkable book about our ability to dramatically improve our brains.
Synopsis
A bestseller in Canada and Australia, this is the incredible story of a woman who struggled with severe learning disabilities, built herself a better brain, and started a program that has helped thousands of others do the same.Barbara Arrowsmith-Young was born with severe learning disabilities that caused teachers to label her slow, stubborn—or worse. As a child, she often read and wrote backward, struggled to process concepts in language, continually got lost, and was physically uncoordinated. But, by relying on her formidable memory and iron will, she made it to graduate school, where she chanced upon research that inspired her to invent cognitive exercises to “fix” her own brain. Recent discoveries in neuroscience have demonstrated that we can actually change the structure of our brains by engaging in certain mental activities. Arrowsmith-Young drew on her intellectual strengths to eventually conquer her cognitive deficits and radically increase the functioning of her weakened brain areas. In her book, The Woman Who Changed Her Brain, she interweaves her personal tale with riveting case histories from her thirty years’ experience working with both children and adults.
Powerful, poignant, and deeply inspirational for children and adults struggling with learning disorders, The Woman Who Changed Her Brain is a remarkable book about our ability to dramatically improve our brains.
Synopsis
Barbara Arrowsmith-Young was born with severe learning disabilities. As a child, she read and wrote everything backward, struggled to comprehend language, and was continually getting lost. But by relying on her formidable memory, she made her way to graduate school, where she chanced upon research that inspired her to invent cognitive exercises to and#8220;fixand#8221; her own brain. andlt;I andgt;The Woman Who Changed Her Brainandlt;/Iandgt; interweaves her personal tale with riveting case histories from more than thirty years of her work with both children and adults. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;People with learning disorders have long been told that such difficulties are a lifelong condition. In clear and lucid writing, andlt;I andgt;The Woman Who Changed Her Brainandlt;/Iandgt; refutes that message, demonstrating with fascinating anecdotes that anyone with a learning disability can be radically transand#173;formed: Arrowsmith-Young is a living example. She founded the Arrowsmith School in Toronto in 1980 and then the Arrowsmith Program to train teachers to implement this effective methodology in schools all over North America. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;This remarkable book by a brilliant pioneer deepens our understanding of how the brain works. Our brain shapes us, and this book offers clear and hopeful evidence of the corollary: that we can shape our brains.
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;Barbara Arrowsmith-Young andlt;/Bandgt;is the director of the Arrowsmith School and Arrowsmith Program. She holdsandnbsp;a BA Sc. in child studies from the University of Guelph and a masterand#8217;s degree in school psychology from the University of Toronto (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education).