My Five Star Review of Train Your Brain for a Healthier and Happier Life
If There Is Only Book You Choose to Read in 2025, Try This to Improve Your Brain Function, Cognitive Performance, and Mental Health
I also published this on Medium and my blog page due to the importance of this book for our health and happiness. Thanks for sharing these links for others to find them.
As a retired healthcare professional, I have spent decades observing the challenges people face when trying to improve their mental well-being. The struggle to manage stress, maintain focus, and sustain mental clarity becomes increasingly common as we age.
I have a great interest in our brains and minds. It is because with a healthy brain and calm mind we can enhance our health, wealth, and happiness. The more invest in our cognitive health the better we can become in our golden years. I know this because I am close to my 80s, no more a spring chicken.
When my wise and caring mentor
asked me whether I can review his long research manuscript titled Train Your Brain for a Healthier and Happier Life and become and line editor plus a subject matter reviewer for it I instantly said yes and got excited as I have known the quality and usefulness of his content for decades.After reading his book during the alpha and beta phases and spending many hours for editing it for further simplicity, I found this book particularly compelling.
Written by a seasoned cognitive science researcher and a sensible biohacker with four decades of experience, this book offers practical solutions for those seeking to improve their brain health and emotional resilience.
What sets this book apart is its depth, breadth, and practicality.
Unlike many brain health books that focus narrowly on one aspect of cognition, this guide combines a comprehensive approach with actionable insights grounded in scientific research.
The author draws insights from neuroscience, cognitive science, endocrinology, psychiatry, psychology, and metabolic health, blending diverse fields to provide a rich and nuanced understanding of the brain and mind explaining them clearly.
The author combines scientific insights with deeply personal experiences, making this book both relatable and memorable.
Instead of overwhelming readers with complex theories, he explains brain health and cognitive performance in simple yet powerful language, using storytelling to illustrate concepts. This approach makes it easy to connect with the material and understand how small changes can lead to meaningful improvements.
One of the most valuable aspects of this book is its focus on practical strategies. The author introduces lifestyle changes, dietary practices (nutritional biochemistry), quality sleep, thermogenesis, time restricted eating, exercises, neurobics, social connections, and good relationships that can enhance brain function, mental health, and cognitive performance.
From intermittent fasting to meditation, cold exposure to neurobics, the suggested methods are accessible and adaptable. The guidance does not promise quick fixes but encourages readers to experiment with these tools in ways that suit their unique circumstances. This flexibility makes the book feel empowering rather than prescriptive.
As someone who has worked with patients facing cognitive decline, I was particularly impressed by the discussion of neurogenesis and neuroplasticity.
The author explains how the brain can continue to grow, adapt, and rewire itself at any age. This hopeful message is reinforced with actionable advice for building cognitive reserves, which can act as a safeguard against age-related decline. He also examined one of the culprits of aging brain, neuroinflammation.
The book Train Your Brain for a Healthier and Happier Life highlights the importance of balancing mental and emotional well-being. The author’s emphasis on joy, connection, and creativity provides a refreshing reminder that improving brain health is not solely about discipline and structure. It is equally about welcoming curiosity and meaningful engagement in our lives. These things made me happy and healthy in my retirement years.
In addition to offering clear guidance, this book shares eye-opening insights that challenge common assumptions which gave me many aha moments such as the brain must be in growth mode to prevent dementia which is the biggest fear of my in my old age. He explains Neurotrophin (growth) proteins like BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) and NGF (Nerve Growth Factor) clearly.
For instance, the author explains why some cognitive exercises may be less effective than we think, while emphasizing powerful yet underused strategies like thermogenesis, mindfulness, gratitude, empathy, and compassion. As an elderly, I rely on my cognitive reserves which I built in the last seven decades.
The author’s exploration of neurocomputing, artificial intelligence, and brain-inspired technologies further expands the reader’s understanding of cognitive enhancement in today’s world.
I also appreciated the author’s honesty in sharing his sensible biohacking experiments. By openly describing both the successes and setbacks experienced along the way, the author offers readers a realistic view of what it takes to sustain positive change.
This transparency is particularly valuable for those hesitant to try unconventional approaches like cold showers, ice baths, saunas, neurobics, or extended fasting which rewired his brain, sharpened his cognitive skills, helped him reverse his metabolic disorders, and made him younger as he got older. These were music to my old ears.
For healthcare professionals seeking reliable insights to guide their patients, this book offers a wealth of evidence-based practices drawn from neuroscience, endocrinology, and metabolic health research.
For individuals eager to improve their mental clarity, boost their creativity, and build emotional resilience, this book presents a clear and actionable roadmap.
The author’s ability to combine scientific rigor with relatable storytelling makes this book a valuable resource.
It does not overwhelm with jargon but instead invites readers to explore their cognitive potential through curiosity, experimentation, and practical steps with clear and flexible guidance.
For anyone looking to feel sharper, more focused, and more joyful at any stage of life, this book offers the guidance needed to get started — and the wisdom to sustain those positive changes over time.
If there is only one book you choose to read in 2025, I recommend Train Your Brain for a Healthier and Happier Life. You will be delighted and satisfied with the quality information which can change your life positively.
The book is available in digital, paperback, and audio format. I loved the full audio version on Google Play 10 hours 36 minutes.
Dr Yildiz generously shared several sample chapters on this platform to give his readers a quick taste. I link them here so you can understand why I gave a five star review of this outstanding book which can be useful for anyone.
Sample Chapters for Easy Access
Early Access to “Train Your Brain for a Healthier and Happier Life”
Understanding the Marvel of the Brain at a High Level
Brain vs. Mind: What Is the Difference, and Why Does It Matter?
How Gratitude Can Strengthen Cognition and Emotional Well-Being
How Gratitude Can Strengthen Cognition and Emotional Well-Being
Neuroinflammation: How I Learned to Calm the Fire in My Brain and Improve My Mental Clarity
The Role of Dreams: How the Brain Processes Vast Information at Night for Balancing Our Energies
How The Brain and Mind Process Empathy and Compassion
I also read a great review of the book from one of my favourite authors
who is a smart drug researcher published in peer reviewed journals journals like Journal of Drug Targeting and contributes to my publication Health and Science on this platform. He focused on the growth factors for the brain which fascinated me.A Practical Approach to the Brain’s Growth Mode to Prevent Dementia
Insights into cognitive performance and mental resilience from the recent book of a seasoned cognitive scientist.medium.com
Dr Yildiz wrote another health book titled Cortisol Clarity which was published on 1 January 2025 as a gift to society. This book is also a must-read in my view. I loved and wrote a five start review about it as a reader and editor. Here is my review:
A Thoughtful Dive into the Cortisol Labyrinth
Five stars for a practical, compassionate, and downright enlightening read for “Cortisol Clarity” by Dr Mehmet Yildiz…
Thank you for reading my review. I invite you subscribe to my publication on Substack. I offer scientific and health insights in simple terms. I also curate content to empower writers and inform readers. I couldn’t curate much lately but here is the latest collection to give you an idea.
Mike’s Favorite Stories on ILLUMINATION Publications — #226
As an editor and content curator, I feature engaging stories that you may enjoy as well after some quick updates of our…
For those who don’t know me yet, I am a retired health scientist and healhcare consultant in his late-70s, and I have several grandkids who keep me going and inspire me to write on this platform. I am also the chief editor of the Health and Science publication on Medium.com.
As a giveback activity, I volunteered as an editor for Illumination publications, supporting many new writers. I will be happy to read, publish, and promote your stories. You may connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Quora, where I share stories I read.
You may subscribe to my account to get my stories in your inbox when I post. You can also find my distilled content on Substack: Health Science Research By Dr Mike Broadly.
If you are interested in being a writer for my Health and Science publication on Medium, you can send your Medium ID via our writer registration portal here. To read my stories, you may subscribe to my content. Lessons Learned from My Personal Stories
Special Offer for Healthcare Professionals and Health Advocates
I am a founding member of ILLUMINATION Health & Wellness Network by
which is a bestselling Substack publication. If you want to be a member I can offer you 50% discount as a founding member which can bring you many benefits as a healthcare professional or health enthusiast.
Thank you for this thoughtful and inspiring review, Dr Broadly. Your support at multiple levels. means a lot to me.
@Dr Mike Broadly - I sincerely appreciate your insightful review of Train Your Brain for a Healthier and Happier Life. Your deep understanding of cognitive health and personal experience with the material beautifully highlights the book’s value. As a holistic health practitioner myself, I found Dr Yildiz’s work particularly useful in bridging neuroscience, metabolic health and emotional resilience—offering both scientific depth and practical application. The practical applications are key in my professional opinion!
Plus, your reflections further reinforce its importance in helping all of us cultivate a lifelong cognitive approach to our well-being. Thank you for your thoughtful analysis and for sharing the impact of this book with the Substack community.