How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist

The title is misleading. This book is about how spiritual practices effect the brain... typically with these practices removed from their religious roots. The authors seemed to imply that the true benefit of these historical religions are the practices they discovered rather than the beliefs and theology that they teach. They also fail to recognize that the practices might not have been accidentally discovered, but spring directly from the theology.

I was not surprised that the practices (mindful meditation, centering prayer, etc) independent of belief have positive impact, but this book failed to go beyond that to examine how the follow experience (beliefs and practices) effect people.

I thought the section of how corrosive anger is to show more the brain functioning properly was very useful. show less

I see this as two books in one: first, a basic look at the malleability of our brain and how it can be trained--specifically, how spiritual practices rebuild neural paths within our brain--and second, a practical guide to basic meditation.

I give the first half five stars. I didn't read all of the second half. Guess that means I should drop my rating one star. It's not that I'm not interested in meditation, because I'm thoroughly convinced of its spiritual and mental value; it's that, like 95% of the rest of you, I ignore what's good for me in favor of what I enjoy. And I enjoy learning about the brain.

This isn't an evangelical book. It won't direct you to Christianity or Eastern religions or any other belief system. Nor is it ragging on show more the evils of religion, as the title might make you think. It's a very positive-minded book about the value of prayer, meditation, and belief. "God" does change your brain, because repeated mental exercise and directed thinking rebuilds neural paths for a healthier, happier life. If--as is my observation--Christians in general live happier, healthier lives than non-believers, there is a solid, scientific reason for that. The Christian brain is wired for spiritual well-being.

I emphasize Christians only because Christianity is my heritage. This book is written for skeptics and believers alike, and definitely worth reading. show less

Fascinating. I felt the title a bit inaccurate because the book does not really focus on how belief in God changes the brain. Instead, the majority of the book discusses how meditation changes the brain in beneficial ways, regardless of a person's spiritual or religious orientation.
The book does discuss God, but more how people perceive God, and how that perception can change based on changes in the brain from aging, religious upbringing, education, exposure to varying belief systems, meditation, anger, physical trauma, and a host of other factors.
I found the book very interesting, as it examined empirically the effects of meditation and religious beliefs on the brain and then expanded on how those then affect other aspects of life and show more health. show less

This book is chock-full of interesting findings about our brain's chemistry and "wiring", interesting survey results, and in two final chapters, a basket of techniques for improving one's mood, dealing with anger, increasing empathy, and other good goals. The title is provocative, and so is the content.

didn't finish; didn't hold my interest