Canyon Ranch’s 30 Days to a Better Brain: A Groundbreaking Program for Improving Your Memory, Concentration, Mood, and Overall Well-Being

Carmona, former U.S. Surgeon General and current president of the Canyon Ranch Institute, offers a multi-part program for improving general health and mental acuity. According to Carmona, following the program will help readers become “calmer, more relaxed, and thinking and feeling better than ever before.” Chapters address brain function and health as well as stress, detoxifying, and improving sleep before detailing the program itself. Sections on nutrition and exercise provide readers with options within specific goals. The suggestion to “eat more veggies and fruits” is followed by a helpful list of produce with antioxidant properties. The section on meditation and energy healing may prove a turn-off to readers who are averse to New Age thinking (“[i]nvite the universal positive and healing energy… to enter your body”). Most recommendations are supported by scientific studies although not all are referenced in the end matter. Carmona features various methods to keep the brain challenged, as “a lifetime of learning is what gives you the mental horsepower to keep your brain strong,” and includes recipes for brain-healthy meals and snacks. Though the ideas here aren’t groundbreaking, the book is solid and should prove useful to anyone interested in staying sharp as they age. Agent: Carol Mann, Carol Mann Agency. (May)