Review by Basya -- The Roving Mind: A Modern Approach to...
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Basya
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Review by Basya -- The Roving Mind: A Modern Approach to...
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Roving Mind: A Modern Approach to Cognitive Enhancement" by Anthony Simola.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Babies begin learning long before birth. Unborn infants discover that their thumbs are good for sucking, recognize their mothers’ voices, and remember frequently-heard sounds such as pieces of music. As children grow, they begin to appreciate the importance of improving cognitive abilities. By the time we are adults, cognitive enhancement is desirable for college success, employment advancement, and—especially during middle age and the golden years—avoiding mental decline and memory loss.
Anthony Simola, a computer programmer, developed an interest in markedly improving mental function while a student at Columbia University. The Roving Mind is the result of his quest for methods to achieve this goal. He divides his discoveries into three sections:
• Foundations of Intelligence
• The Plastic Human Mind
• Marching Into Singularity
Before delving into his topic, the author offers a word of warning: Obtain the advice of a licensed physician prior to beginning any activity that might have an effect on the brain. If the reader tends to make decisions without seeking proper information, he or she must not read further; the result could be compromised health.
For the purposes of this book, Simola employs his own definition of intelligence: “the capacity of an agent…to process information regardless of domain or field. Cognitive enhancement, in turn, is the use of technologies and applying scientific research to improve various facets of human intelligence…”
The author then turns to practical advice for improving cognitive function. For example, work and pleasure must be kept separate; one’s work space is only conducive to success if there are no distractions or clutter. Eating the right amounts of the right kinds of food are essential for thinking, performing, and looking better. Critical thinking is essential to optimally utilize the brain.
As noted above, the theme of Section Two is a relatively recent idea the author calls plasticity: “the human brain’s ability to rewire its synapses and pathways due to changes in environment.” Simola offers his own theory of achieving cognitive mastery. Directed learning, or directed practice, works because keeping a goal in mind is the key to success. Whatever that goal is, the person must keep in mind why he or she is pursuing it.
Looking to the future, the author believes technology can stimulate intellectual advancement. Yet, both physical and mental exercises help create new neurons and increase the longevity of existing nerve cells. As people approach their senior years, this becomes more vital: mental exercise is essential to ward off mental decline. As any bibliophile believes, reading books and writing are proven to slow cognitive decline. “Part of this is due to the stimulation of events and scenarios in our minds when we read books…we visualize and imagine the characters, ideas, and environments described to us in written form, which keeps the brain engaged.”
Section Three begins with a discussion of the benefits of mapping the brain neuron by neuron: working with the information obtained could lead to cures for genetic diseases and a greater understanding of behavior. Yet, while the future is exciting, it is also disturbing. Technology that ignores the effects of connecting machines to the brain is a recipe for disaster; issues like the propriety of such activity must be carefully considered.
Anthony Simola has written a detailed, readable look into a topic of interest to increasing numbers of people of all ages. Children as young as preschoolers discover the importance of cognitive enhancement, even though they are unfamiliar with the phrase and do not yet understand the benefits of mental mastery. Youngsters take pride in learning skills like tying shoes, memorizing multiplication tables, and remembering stories read in school. As children transition into teens and adults, they learn the perks of good grades, acceptance into the college of one’s choice, respect of peers and instructors, and landing a satisfying job. And when people enter middle age and approach their golden years, keeping their brains “young” and keeping mental decline and memory loss at bay become vital goals.
The author fills the pages of this volume with practical, easy-to-follow advice on everything ranging from jump-starting the day to feeding the brain to choosing—and succeeding in—an institution of higher learning. His valuable insights are augmented with reminders to avoid blindly following anyone’s advice (including his own). Independent research is vital to reaching conclusions that work for each individual’s situation, mindset, health status, and goals. To ignore this warning is to play double jeopardy with the most precious thing we have—our health. In addition, even though Simola looks optimistically to the future, he realizes that, like Isaac Newton, we stand on the shoulders of giants. And his optimism is not limitless: the author wisely realizes that established technologies as well as those in their infancy—and ones yet unheard of—come with inherent risks and down sides. As science fiction becomes science fact, we do well to remember that loss of privacy, machines that may fool people into believing they are human, and unmonitored chemical and physical alterations to the brain are playing with fire.
Simola has obviously done his homework. He closes out this valuable informative volume with a notes section. Here the author elaborates on and provides sources for ideas and topics presented in each chapter. An extensive, multi-page bibliography provides suggestions for further reading on the many subjects and themes he discusses.
As befitting a book devoted to the improvement of our cognitive faculties, the writing is lucid, informative, and free of grammatical and punctuation errors. Even though readers may not agree with all points the author makes, Simola’s offering is well worth the time taken to read it. I give The Roving Mind 4 out of 4 stars.
******
The Roving Mind: A Modern Approach to Cognitive Enhancement
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Basya's review? Post a comment saying so!
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Babies begin learning long before birth. Unborn infants discover that their thumbs are good for sucking, recognize their mothers’ voices, and remember frequently-heard sounds such as pieces of music. As children grow, they begin to appreciate the importance of improving cognitive abilities. By the time we are adults, cognitive enhancement is desirable for college success, employment advancement, and—especially during middle age and the golden years—avoiding mental decline and memory loss.
Anthony Simola, a computer programmer, developed an interest in markedly improving mental function while a student at Columbia University. The Roving Mind is the result of his quest for methods to achieve this goal. He divides his discoveries into three sections:
• Foundations of Intelligence
• The Plastic Human Mind
• Marching Into Singularity
Before delving into his topic, the author offers a word of warning: Obtain the advice of a licensed physician prior to beginning any activity that might have an effect on the brain. If the reader tends to make decisions without seeking proper information, he or she must not read further; the result could be compromised health.
For the purposes of this book, Simola employs his own definition of intelligence: “the capacity of an agent…to process information regardless of domain or field. Cognitive enhancement, in turn, is the use of technologies and applying scientific research to improve various facets of human intelligence…”
The author then turns to practical advice for improving cognitive function. For example, work and pleasure must be kept separate; one’s work space is only conducive to success if there are no distractions or clutter. Eating the right amounts of the right kinds of food are essential for thinking, performing, and looking better. Critical thinking is essential to optimally utilize the brain.
As noted above, the theme of Section Two is a relatively recent idea the author calls plasticity: “the human brain’s ability to rewire its synapses and pathways due to changes in environment.” Simola offers his own theory of achieving cognitive mastery. Directed learning, or directed practice, works because keeping a goal in mind is the key to success. Whatever that goal is, the person must keep in mind why he or she is pursuing it.
Looking to the future, the author believes technology can stimulate intellectual advancement. Yet, both physical and mental exercises help create new neurons and increase the longevity of existing nerve cells. As people approach their senior years, this becomes more vital: mental exercise is essential to ward off mental decline. As any bibliophile believes, reading books and writing are proven to slow cognitive decline. “Part of this is due to the stimulation of events and scenarios in our minds when we read books…we visualize and imagine the characters, ideas, and environments described to us in written form, which keeps the brain engaged.”
Section Three begins with a discussion of the benefits of mapping the brain neuron by neuron: working with the information obtained could lead to cures for genetic diseases and a greater understanding of behavior. Yet, while the future is exciting, it is also disturbing. Technology that ignores the effects of connecting machines to the brain is a recipe for disaster; issues like the propriety of such activity must be carefully considered.
Anthony Simola has written a detailed, readable look into a topic of interest to increasing numbers of people of all ages. Children as young as preschoolers discover the importance of cognitive enhancement, even though they are unfamiliar with the phrase and do not yet understand the benefits of mental mastery. Youngsters take pride in learning skills like tying shoes, memorizing multiplication tables, and remembering stories read in school. As children transition into teens and adults, they learn the perks of good grades, acceptance into the college of one’s choice, respect of peers and instructors, and landing a satisfying job. And when people enter middle age and approach their golden years, keeping their brains “young” and keeping mental decline and memory loss at bay become vital goals.
The author fills the pages of this volume with practical, easy-to-follow advice on everything ranging from jump-starting the day to feeding the brain to choosing—and succeeding in—an institution of higher learning. His valuable insights are augmented with reminders to avoid blindly following anyone’s advice (including his own). Independent research is vital to reaching conclusions that work for each individual’s situation, mindset, health status, and goals. To ignore this warning is to play double jeopardy with the most precious thing we have—our health. In addition, even though Simola looks optimistically to the future, he realizes that, like Isaac Newton, we stand on the shoulders of giants. And his optimism is not limitless: the author wisely realizes that established technologies as well as those in their infancy—and ones yet unheard of—come with inherent risks and down sides. As science fiction becomes science fact, we do well to remember that loss of privacy, machines that may fool people into believing they are human, and unmonitored chemical and physical alterations to the brain are playing with fire.
Simola has obviously done his homework. He closes out this valuable informative volume with a notes section. Here the author elaborates on and provides sources for ideas and topics presented in each chapter. An extensive, multi-page bibliography provides suggestions for further reading on the many subjects and themes he discusses.
As befitting a book devoted to the improvement of our cognitive faculties, the writing is lucid, informative, and free of grammatical and punctuation errors. Even though readers may not agree with all points the author makes, Simola’s offering is well worth the time taken to read it. I give The Roving Mind 4 out of 4 stars.
******
The Roving Mind: A Modern Approach to Cognitive Enhancement
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Basya's review? Post a comment saying so!
