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A review by scottjp
Brain Wash: Detox Your Mind for Clearer Thinking, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Happiness by Austin Perlmutter, David Perlmutter
4.0
This book is a guide to detoxing your mind from the modern world, because the modern world is awful. Many forces are attempting to control your mind and manipulate you without you even realizing it. The authors call this disconnection syndrome, which leads individuals to become isolated, engage in mindless activity, experience increased and unnecessary stress, and other unfavorable conditions.
This book will help return control of your mind to you.
Subjects that are addressed:
Digital devices and media consumption. TV, internet, phones, social networks. I started my own digital detox a few months back. Most days I don't turn the computer on at all, and when I do I am usually able to just do what I need to do and shut down again, and I feel much better for it. I used to spend all day searching for some kind of social connection, but am finally able to acknowledge that looking for social connection online is a complete waste of time. As for mobile phones, I have always despised them.
Developing empathy. I have to admit this is difficult for me post-2020, since almost everyone has proven to be awful.
Getting back to nature. Spending time in actual nature is ideal, but it was interesting to learn that even having a potted plant in an office, or pictures of nature scenes, can have a beneficial effect.
Diet. The authors expose the biological warfare that has been going on for nearly a hundred years, enacted by the government, on the people by its funding and promotion of processed foods, and corporate agriculture. (And yet, even today, millions of people actually believe that the government is concerned for their health.) I do pretty well with knowing what to buy, I read labels and ingredients and know what to avoid, but I have to admit I don't eat much fruit or veg. I could do better there.
Sleep. For me, this goes hand in hand with computer use. Since reducing my screen time, I have been sleeping better. Not great, but better. I doubt I will ever have a really good night's sleep again, but there has been noticeable improvement. When I recently needed to spend a lot of time on the computer for practical reasons, my sleep got worse again. I just bought myself a pair of blue light glasses, as I learnt that blue light can continue to affect you even after it is turned off.
Exercise. The authors point out that any kind of movement is good, as long as you're not sitting on the couch or your computer chair for hours and hours. That's the brain killer.
Finally, there is a section talking about mindfulness and meditation.
In addition to the strategy areas, I also learnt a lot about brain anatomy and what different parts do. I was surprised to learn that the above activities can actually change the physical structure of your brain, even in older people. I had thought it was all purely psychological.
Finally, there is a section of recipes for optimal brain health. Some of them look pretty good.
This book was published in January 2020, just before the new government war on the population began. I can't help but wonder if the authors, being doctors, fell over for it, or if they could see the increased disconnection syndrome coming (as I, a non-doctor, did). Remember, they closed the gyms and parks but kept the liquor stores open...
This book will help return control of your mind to you.
Subjects that are addressed:
Digital devices and media consumption. TV, internet, phones, social networks. I started my own digital detox a few months back. Most days I don't turn the computer on at all, and when I do I am usually able to just do what I need to do and shut down again, and I feel much better for it. I used to spend all day searching for some kind of social connection, but am finally able to acknowledge that looking for social connection online is a complete waste of time. As for mobile phones, I have always despised them.
Developing empathy. I have to admit this is difficult for me post-2020, since almost everyone has proven to be awful.
Getting back to nature. Spending time in actual nature is ideal, but it was interesting to learn that even having a potted plant in an office, or pictures of nature scenes, can have a beneficial effect.
Diet. The authors expose the biological warfare that has been going on for nearly a hundred years, enacted by the government, on the people by its funding and promotion of processed foods, and corporate agriculture. (And yet, even today, millions of people actually believe that the government is concerned for their health.) I do pretty well with knowing what to buy, I read labels and ingredients and know what to avoid, but I have to admit I don't eat much fruit or veg. I could do better there.
Sleep. For me, this goes hand in hand with computer use. Since reducing my screen time, I have been sleeping better. Not great, but better. I doubt I will ever have a really good night's sleep again, but there has been noticeable improvement. When I recently needed to spend a lot of time on the computer for practical reasons, my sleep got worse again. I just bought myself a pair of blue light glasses, as I learnt that blue light can continue to affect you even after it is turned off.
Exercise. The authors point out that any kind of movement is good, as long as you're not sitting on the couch or your computer chair for hours and hours. That's the brain killer.
Finally, there is a section talking about mindfulness and meditation.
In addition to the strategy areas, I also learnt a lot about brain anatomy and what different parts do. I was surprised to learn that the above activities can actually change the physical structure of your brain, even in older people. I had thought it was all purely psychological.
Finally, there is a section of recipes for optimal brain health. Some of them look pretty good.
This book was published in January 2020, just before the new government war on the population began. I can't help but wonder if the authors, being doctors, fell over for it, or if they could see the increased disconnection syndrome coming (as I, a non-doctor, did). Remember, they closed the gyms and parks but kept the liquor stores open...