Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Positively Smarter brings together seven principles for connecting the science of neuroplasticity to practical strategies for enhancing the synergy of happiness, achievement, and physical well-being. Moving beyond common myths, the text builds an evidence-based paradigm to empower readers to take practical steps to move forward.

Brings together current research on cognitive psychology, education (learning), and implications of neuroscience to suggest powerful ways to enhance the kind of cognitive function and productivity that leads to happiness and success Applies implications of current research showing that happiness is a skill and that positive affect can lead to higher levels of creative problem solving, productivity, achievement, and well-being Shares research and strategies for supporting physical activity and nutrition that may enhance neuroplasticity, cognitive performance, and positive affect Puts learners first and then brings in the science, presenting creative or adaptive strategies that can be applied in the real world Includes action assessments to guide readers in taking concrete steps to achieve the goals they set for themselves Identifies deeply held assumptions that innate talent, genes, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity mean that a significant percentage of the population lacks the neurocognitive potential to achieve at higher levels Draws on the authors' research from a broad range of fields in order to maximize the positive impact of a synergistic approach

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Acknowledgments (p. xiii)
• Introduction (p. 1)
• Appreciating Brain Plasticity: The Key to Redefining Potential (p. 4)
• The Path to Positively Smarter (p. 4)
• Our Personal Introductions to the Science That Supports Ways for Becoming Positively Smarter (p. 8)
• 1 Building a Smarter Brain (p. 11)
• Neuroplasticity in Action (p. 12)
• Your Brain at Work: A Continual Construction Zone (p. 14)
• Beyond Conventional Wisdom: Harnessing Your Neurocognitive Synergy (p. 21)
• Intelligence Takes Many Forms (p. 21)
• People of All Ages Have the Capacity to Improve Their Knowledge and Abilities (p. 23)
• What We Do Has a Greater Influence on How We Age Than Genetics (p. 24)
• How We Think Can Influence Our Health (p. 24)
• We Can Build Muscle and Become Stronger Well into Our Eighties (p. 25)
• It's Hard to Identify the Children Who Are "Destined for Greatness" (p. 25)
• Perceptions about Malleable vs. Fixed Intelligence Matter-a Lot (p. 26)
• Plasticity as a Path to Becoming Positively Smarter (p. 29)
• A New Positive Paradigm (p. 35)
• The Innate Talent (IT) Paradigm (p. 35)
• The Untapped Potential (UP) Paradigm (p. 36)
• 2 Why Happiness Matters (p. 41)
• Reaping the Many Benefits of Happiness (p. 42)
• I'll Be Happy When ... (p. 45)
• What Is This Thing Called Happiness? (p. 47)
• Spirituality and Religion as Sources of Happiness (p. 51)
• Tapping into the Science of Happiness (p. 51)
• Achieving Greater Happiness Through Practical Metacognition (p. 54)
• Applying the CIA Model (p. 55)
• CIA in Action: Happiness and Subjective Well-Being (p. 57)
• 3 Stop Daydreaming and Start Thinking Your Way to Higher Levels of Happiness (p. 60)
• Connecting Thinking and Feeling (p. 63)
• The Focused Fifteen (p. 67)
• 1 Savor the Wow of Now (p. 67)
• 2 Work at Maintaining an Upbeat Attitude with Positive Self-Talk (p. 69)
• 3 Picture a Positive Future (p. 73)
• 4 Kindness the Killer App (p. 74)
• 5 Active Appreciation: Create and Tune into Your Appreciation Station (p. 76)
• 6 Give It a Break: Hang Your Problems Away for a While (p. 77)
• 7 Treat Your Relationships Like a Treasure (Because They Are) (p. 78)
• 8 Pursue Flow (p. 80)
• 9 Pursue Smarter Goals (p. 80)
• 10 Enhance Your Resilience: Build Your Own Palmetto Fort (p. 82)
• 11 Untie the Knots That Bind: Free Yourself with Forgiveness (p. 83)
• 12 Move Your Body, Boost Your Mood (p. 84)
• 13 Smile, and Your Brain Smiles with You (p. 85)
• 14 Play to Your Peak Strengths (p. 85)
• 15 Practice the Art of Treasuring (p. 86)
• How to Be Less Happy More of the Time (p. 87)
• Maintain Your Positive Focus by Playing Your ACE (p. 88)
• 4 Working Toward Achieving Your Goals (p. 92)
• Realizing Our Potential (p. 93)
• "Natural" Talent vs. Deliberate Practice (p. 95)
• Motivation to Take Positive Risks (p. 98)
• Finding "Flow" (p. 101)
• Putting Your Will to Work (p. 102)
• Getting Gritty as a Path to Achievement (p. 106)
• Build Your "Memory Muscle" to Make the Most of Your Work (p. 108)
• A Personal Perspective on the Payoff for Hard Work (p. 111)
• 5 Working Smarter with Practical Metacognition (p. 117)
• The Input-Processing-Output Model of Learning (p. 121)
• Cognitive Assets You Can Develop to Work Smarter (p. 123)
• Clear Intent (p. 124)
• Appropriate Courage (p. 125)
• Systematic Search and Planning (p. 126)
• Understanding and Managing Time (p. 127)
• Cognitive Flexibility (p. 128)
• Learning from Experience (p. 129)
• Finishing Power (p. 129)
• Pacing on the Path to Positively Smarter (p. 131)
• Practical Metacognition in Action: Lessons from the Grameen Bank (p. 133)
• 6 Better Together (p. 136)
• Born to Be Social: Impact on Health and Well-Being (p. 139)
• Anatomy of the Social Brain (p. 141)
• Getting "Socially Smarter" (p. 143)
• Accentuate the Positive (p. 144)
• Polish Your Listening Skills (p. 146)
• Consider Others' Points of View (p. 147)
• Establish Rapport (p. 148)
• Learn Together (p. 149)
• Become a Great Encourager (p. 150)
• Contribute to the "Social Capital" of Your Community (p. 152)
• Being Social in a High-Tech World (p. 153)
• 7 Building a Smarter Body-Brain System Through Exercise (p. 159)
• Work Out the Body to Keep the Brain Young (p. 161)
• New Muscle Is Young Muscle (p. 163)
• The Body-Brain System Inside and Outside the Classroom (p. 166)
• Reward Your Body with Adequate Rest (p. 168)
• Find What You Love (p. 169)
• Making Exercise Part of Your Routine (p. 170)
• Putting the Research on Exercise into Personal Practice (p. 171)
• Low Heart Rate Route to Runners' High (p. 173)
• Winning Our Blades: A Positive Payoff (p. 173)
• 8 Fuel Your Body-Brain System for Peak Performance (p. 177)
• The Brain Benefits of "Going Mediterranean" (p. 179)
• What's on Your Plate? (p. 181)
• Why and How to Eat Smarter (p. 182)
• Better by the Dozen: Twelve Power Foods to Fuel Weil-Being (p. 188)
• Educational Implications of Becoming "Health Wise" (p. 191)
• 9 Bringing It All Together, Putting It into Practice (p. 197)
• Forging a New Foundation Grounded in Neuroplasticity (p. 199)
• Examples of the UP Paradigm in Practice (p. 201)
• Seven Principles of the Positively Smarter Approach (p. 202)
• Principle 1 Keep Neuroplasticity Front of Mind (p. 203)
• Principle 2 Build the Skills of Optimism and Happiness (p. 203)
• Principle 3 Appreciate Your Potential to Become Smarter (p. 203)
• Principle 4 Apply Practical Metacognition and Cognitive Assets (p. 204)
• Principle 5 Use Your Social Brain to Enhance Weil-Being and Achievement (p. 204)
• Principle 6 Get Moving to Grow Your Brain (and Become Fitter, Stronger, Smarter, and Happier) (p. 205)
• Principle 7 Fuel Your Body-Brain System to Enhance Productivity and Learning (p. 205)
• Capitalize on Your Neurocognitive Synergy (p. 206)
• The Practical Metacognition Process for Pursuing Important Goals (p. 206)
• Thanks for Joining Us on a Journey to Becoming Positively Smarter (p. 209)
• Appendix (p. 212)
• Index (p. 219)
• About the Authors (p. 229)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Marcus Conyers and Donna Wilson are codevelopers of curriculum for the master's and educational specialist degrees with majors in brain-based teaching and a doctoral minor in brain-based leadership with Nova Southeastern University. They are the authors of numerous books, including Five Big Ideas for Effective Teaching: Connecting Mind, Brain, and Education Research to Classroom Practice (2013).
Marcus Conyers is founder of the Center for Innovative Education and Prevention and an international speaker on increasing higher-order thinking skills, achievement, and well-being.
Donna Wilson, PhD, is an educational psychologist and teacher educator who completed post-doctoral studies in structural cognitive mod inability. Former chair of education of the University of Detroit Mercy, she is an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University.