Smarter Tomorrow: How 15 Minutes of Neurohacking a Day Can Help You Work Better, Think Faster, and Get More Done

Cognitive scientist Ricker examines the process and promise of neurohacking in her thorough debut. Neurohacking, or “exploring your current mental abilities” and “upgrading them,” she argues, will help readers of all ages improve their memory, get better sleep, and achieve greater productivity. To that end, she lays out a system of exercises, schedules, and experiments that mimic scientific trials, and suggests readers record and chart their progress alongside an accountability buddy. She advocates creating a routine focused on a single goal, selecting a self-improvement protocol, developing a regimen, and making time for reflection. While some ideas seem promising—such as incorporating minor “interventions” (exercises to shake up one’s mental state) into one’s daily routine—others will be a bridge too far for many, such as using a device “that runs positive or negative current through electrodes placed on a specific part of the scalp” to help “accelerate learning.” Ricker’s highly systematized processes will appeal to those deeply into the self-optimization scene. (Aug.)