Brainstorm

The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain

By: Daniel J. Siegel M.D.

Narrated by: Daniel J. Siegel M.D.

Between the ages of twelve and twenty-four, the brain changes in important and, at times, challenging ways. In Brainstorm, the renowned psychiatrist and bestselling author of Parenting from the Inside Out, The Whole-Brain Child, and Mindsight, Daniel Siegel busts a number of commonly held myths about adolescence — for example, that it is merely a stage of “immaturity” filled with often “crazy” behavior — to reveal how it is in fact a vital time in our lives in terms of charting the course for the adults we ultimately become. According to Siegel, during adolescence we learn important skills, such as how to leave home and enter the larger world, how to connect deeply with others, and how to safely experiment and take risks, thereby creating strategies for dealing with the world’s increasingly complex problems.

Siegel presents listeners with an inside-out approach to focusing on how brain development affects our behavior and relationships. Drawing on important new research in the field of interpersonal neurobiology, he explores exciting ways in which understanding how the brain functions can improve the lives of adolescents, making their relationships more fulfilling and less lonely and distressing on both sides of the generational divide.

In this groundbreaking audiobook, Siegel offers teens and parents a road map for understanding the adolescent mind that will help families not just survive but also thrive through the “teenage years” and beyond.

©2013 Mind Your Brain, Inc.; 2011 David Rock and Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. Recorded by arrangement with Tarcher, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Healthy Mind Platter

Critic reviews

“Dr. Siegel aptly characterizes the teen years as the most powerful life phase for activating courage, purpose, and creativity. With his usual personal and compassionate delivery, he illustrates how we can all become more aware, empathetic, and understanding of teenagers and ourselves. A visionary and a guide, Siegel knows that if we treat teenagers with the respect and understanding they deserve, they are more likely to live up to their greatest capacities.” (Laura S. Kastner, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, University of Washington, and author of Wise-Minded Parenting: 7 Essentials for Raising Successful Tweens + Teens)

The steps to get better sleep

This book was very helpful as I have a child that is reaching the tween age

Great content, slow pace

I love the meat of this book, but I probably would have been happier with a print version. I did find it was much easier to stick with when I put the pace at x1.35. Definitely recommend if you work with teens, have kids, or just want to learn more about the human brain.

A heart-felt and sometimes very technical work!

The author tells how integration of brain networks helps us to be our best.

Everyone needs to know this information!

I firmly believe that the world needs to begin mindfulness and Mindsight training in order to save the planet. Understanding the brain, and how childhood impacts adulthood (for better or worse) needs to be taught in schools. We need a new approach and now we have the science to make changes.

For adults and teens...& even adults without teens

Lots of good information. Good for adults with or without teens. Helps one understand own childhood. Author directly addresses teens as part of audience, so good for teens who are interested in improving their relationships. So much information, multiple listens would be useful.

Excellent

Hearing the narration by Dr. Siegel and the emphasis he intended in his words is invaluable. He has a great speaking voice, so it was very enjoyable to listen. The material was also informative and builds on my current graduate studies in neurobiology and human behavior. I highly recommend this book.

Narration for kindergarteners...

This audiobook was primarily designed, apparently, for parents and teenagers to listen to together, so that both could learn about the strengths and challenges of the teenage brain. I admire Daniel Siegel's work tremendously, and the content of the book is excellent, but he sounds to me like he is reading to kindergartners. It's definitely not Mister Rogers ("Want to hear about your brain, boys and girls?") but veering too far in that direction for my tastes. I kept listening, but thought about the adolescents with whom I work, and what their reactions might be. Being talked down to is one of their number one hot-button issues, so I'll have to do some research on reactions from a few of them...

A Must for Secondary Educators

This book is great for parents and teachers. The topics raised spoke to me on many levels: an educator, a veteran adolescent, and an aunt of nearly adolescents.

Right time, Right people

I had the privilege of reading this book with my fellow education professionals and we all loved it. We teach middle schoolers and this book was so helpful in gaining perspective with our kids.
I was impacted both professionally and in a deeply personal way. I’m just starting my 40’s and am learning to deal with so many of my past and current connections with others.

A must read for every parent and adolescent.

A terrific integration of the science of neurobiology that helps make sense of the frightening and rewarding tasks of adolescence that leads to a conclusion of hope.