Change Your Brain, Change Your Life (Before 25)

Gr 7 Up—The author, who also narrates, tells listeners about his personal experiences growing up with very impaired parents (his dad killed himself when Jesse was 23 and his mother still copes with schizophrenia). He relates how he became motivated to change after meeting his girlfriend's dad, who completely changed his life, and how he went on to earn a doctorate. There is plenty of valuable information; perhaps the most important message, repeated often and in different ways, is that brain-related struggles are nothing to be ashamed of and are more common than we realize. The description of how brain scans vary based on substance use/abuse and how various parts of the brain function are fascinating. Some of the lists of symptoms and negative effects associated with unhealthy behaviors will confuse and intimidate the very people who most need to listen to this. Nevertheless, this audiobook would have considerable value when used in structured therapeutic settings as well as part of a health curriculum in schools where open discussion is encouraged.—John R. Clark, Hartland Public Library, ME