Tame the Primitive Brain

28 Ways in 28 Days to Manage the Most Impulsive Behaviors at Work

By: Mark Bowden

Narrated by: Erik Synnestvedt

A number one anxiety in business is dealing with problem people. Unfortunately, try as you might, you can't fix others - but you can manage your reactions to their behavior.

When you tame your most impulsive, primitive reactions to the crazy situations you face every day, you'll help others do the same. Tame the Primitive Brain offers a new and simple system to understanding and controlling the behavior of others. Noted body language, behavior, and communication expert Mark Bowden explains the fastest and most effective ways to understand why someone acts toward you the way they do; why you react to their behavior in the way you do; and most important, what exactly to do to achieve the right outcomes.

With these proven tools and tricks, you'll gain enhanced confidence to deal with tricky behaviors and effectively manage relationships at any level in an organization.Over the course of 28 days, you can learn how to become more influential and persuasive in every situation, giving you a competitive advantage in navigating a myriad of difficult behaviors.

Bolstered by the latest evolutionary behavioral theory and neuroscientific evidence, Tame the Primitive Brain details a step-by-step system for understanding the behavior of others and the best tools to manage them, including:

• How your primitive brain quickly categorizes new people and how this affects your interactions with them
• How to go beyond more comfortable one-on-one relationships to establish connections with a group of team members
• How to identify tribal behaviors and change a problematic tribal reputation
• How asserting organizational values can direct team members' behavior better than simply laying out a set of rules

Your instincts will never change, but you can learn to manage your impulses better, and in effect, manage the knee-jerk reactions of others. Tame the Primitive Brain dives deep into our reptilian brain and shows you how.

©2013 Mark Bowden (P)2013 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

"Bowden has done it! This book sets you on the path of understanding the why and how of human behavior. Its applications not only apply to the business world but also the larger environment of interpersonal relations. The 'golden nuggets' presented in each chapter are introduced in a thought-provoking and immediately usable manner. I will encourage others looking for this edge to read on." (Dr. Dean Tripp, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Queen's University; Awarded the Canadian Pain Society's Excellence in Interprofessional Education Award)

"Useful. Useful. Useful. This is neuroscience for the rest of us. Well researched, clear, and insightful, Tame the Primitive Brain is a toolbox of smart ideas that help foster you and me relating to one another effectively. Managers, leaders, and lay persons will find practical, easy-to-practice, clearly delivered information on every page." (John King, cofounder and senior partner of CultureSync and coauthor of Tribal Leadership)

content vs presentation

I think the content is great! My one complaint is that its not read by the author. The narrator is good, he's well spoken and easily understood but I feel his tonality lacks the same enthusiasm Mr. Bowden himself would have read it with and that enthusiasm helps to better convey the message within the content..

incredible to understand my own behavior

This was eye opening. Most valuable insight on why I impulsively react to certain situations, and how to better manage impulses. Logical and entertaining. Applying what I learned will definately help me understand myself and those of whom I have relationships. To understand THEY are not a intially a jerk but it is their initial instinctual response that made person react as they did. So as not take outbursts so personal and know when to back away or ask for clarification. Very life enhancing.

A little old

The information was not particularly fresh and the perspectives were very much related to a corporate (unpleasant) work environment. A fairly superficial look at how our primitive brain influences our behaviour. The reader had a particularly annoying style for me.