Rachel Barr, Ph.D.

Rachel Barr wrote this book while finishing her PhD in the brain science of memory and sleep. She explains brain science in plain language to over a million followers as Rachel the Neuroscientist. And her cat Gnocchi probably contributed to this book too.

What makes this book special is that it refuses to blame you. Her starting point is that your brain is always trying to protect you and repair itself, and it just doesn’t always get it right, so much of what feels like personal failure is a brain doing sensible things in a world it was never built for.

Unlike the brain books that push you to optimize yourself, this one is kind, and it shows why it is never too late to build new habits and new ways of thinking. Perfect for anyone who feels stuck and thinks it is too late for them to change.

Learn more about the book on the publisher’s website.

I also recommend to check out her Instagram or TikTok for her short videos that help you understand what’s going on in your head.