Shop small and local businesses
Your audiobook is waiting!
Enjoy a free trial on us
$0.00
  • One credit a month to pick any title from our entire premium selection to keep (you’ll use your first credit now).
  • Unlimited listening on select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
  • You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
  • $14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel online anytime.
Learn more about membership
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
List Price: $21.83
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible’s Conditions Of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.6 out of 5 stars 3,871 ratings

A groundbreaking and fascinating investigation into the transformative effects of exercise on the brain, from the best-selling author and renowned psychiatrist John J. Ratey, MD.

Did you know you can beat stress, lift your mood, fight memory loss, sharpen your intellect, and function better than ever simply by elevating your heart rate and breaking a sweat? The evidence is incontrovertible: Aerobic exercise physically remodels our brains for peak performance.

In Spark, John J. Ratey, MD, embarks upon a fascinating and entertaining journey through the mind-body connection, presenting startling research to prove that exercise is truly our best defense against everything from depression to ADD to addiction to aggression to menopause to Alzheimer's.

Filled with amazing case studies (such as the revolutionary fitness program in Naperville, Illinois, which has put this school district of 19,000 kids first in the world of science test scores), Spark is the first book to explore comprehensively the connection between exercise and the brain. It will change forever the way you think about your morning run - or, for that matter, simply the way you think.

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Listening Length
    9 hours and 38 minutes
  2. Author
    John J. Ratey MD, see all
  3. Narrator
    Allan Robertson
  4. Audible release date
    January 12, 2021
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Little, Brown Spark
  7. ASIN
    B08RZD6D4Z
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
Next slide of product details

Read & Listen

Switch back and forth between reading the Kindle book and listening to Audible audiobook.
Add the audiobook for a reduced price of $12.99 after you get the Kindle book as part of your Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Product details

Listening Length 9 hours and 38 minutes
Author John J. Ratey MD, Eric Hagerman - contributor
Narrator Allan Robertson
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date January 12, 2021
Publisher Little, Brown Spark
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B08RZD6D4Z
Best Sellers Rank

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
3,871 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book enlightening about how exercise impacts brain function, with easy-to-read content and excellent research based on many studies. The book is particularly important for educators, and one customer mentions its effectiveness in improving student fitness levels. While the chapters are neatly divided into different topics, some customers find them somewhat repetitive in the later chapters. The value for money receives mixed feedback, with some customers saying they got their money's worth while others find it not worth the price.

Select to learn more

MotivationReadabilityResearch qualityLiteracyLongevityPacingValue for money
377 customers mention "Motivation"377 positive0 negative

Customers find the book motivating and enlightening, highlighting how exercise impacts brain function, including increased alertness and motivation, and helps overcome depression.

"...distraction from anxiety, reduce muscle tension, properly build up the brain’s chemical resources, create a different outcome than panic attack, and..." Read more

"...The information about case studies and research was explained clearly and simply, so a lay person could easily grasp the meaning and importance of..." Read more

"...It is well known that exercise helps us physically, and Ratey wants the public to know that it has significant effects on our mental health as well." Read more

"...The regulation of neurotransmitter release in our brain, including GABA, glutamate, serotonin, and dopamine, directly affects our mood and attention...." Read more

339 customers mention "Readability"317 positive22 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and easy to understand, with one customer noting that the author does a great job summarizing the content.

"...It was extremely straightforward and easy to read for me. Here is a basic summary of each topic, each its own chapter:..." Read more

"...In conclusion, the book provides a fresh take on how humans can counter the growing physical and mental diseases the affect our society...." Read more

"...Spark deserves 5 stars as it deeply illustrates in an easy to understand format how aerobic exercise is an exceptional way to keep your brain sharp..." Read more

"...It is a quick, enjoyable read. We feel good when we exercise because it allows the brain to function at its best...." Read more

112 customers mention "Research quality"92 positive20 negative

Customers praise the book's research quality, noting it is excellent and well-substantiated with facts, mentioning many studies throughout.

"...This book is a compilation of personal experience, scientific knowledge and studies, as well as case studies that involve exercise and how the brain..." Read more

"...Ratey goes over what stress is and how it affects the body. This is very useful because not many people understand how debilitating stress can be..." Read more

"...The author mentions many research studies, including the names of the leaders of the studies, to support his statements...." Read more

"John Ratey has compiled great research within each chapter addressing specific conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, stress, menopause, and..." Read more

36 customers mention "Literacy"36 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's literacy content, particularly for educators, with one customer noting its effectiveness in improving learning in Chicago high school students, and another mentioning its implementation in high school PE classes.

"...has great implications for a current topic of study for me: child and adolescent heath...." Read more

"...The truth is, exercise might improve your mood, increase your intelligence, improve your educational success, cure your ADHD, or solve your..." Read more

"...and 100% of everyone involved in student athletics, all principals and school administrators, and all parents...." Read more

"...science that links exercise, especially aerobic, and learning is a gamechanger for educators!! I cannot praise Dr. Ratey enough...." Read more

14 customers mention "Longevity"14 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's focus on longevity, with reviews mentioning improved stamina, maintenance as we age, and the ability to live a full life.

"...depression, attention deficit, addiction, hormonal changes, and aging. Each of these topics are very relevant to the modern human...." Read more

"Such important information and amazing that it holds up from 2008. I encourage everyone to read this. Health and wellness need a renewal in society!" Read more

"...Whatever your dream is -- living longer, more energy, better mood, and so on -- exercise will make it come true. There...." Read more

"...text also talks about how exercise can improve learning and stall the aging process...." Read more

27 customers mention "Pacing"12 positive15 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some appreciating how the chapters are neatly divided into different topics, while others find it somewhat repetitive, particularly in the later sections.

"...The book is somewhat repetitive in the later chapters, which is why I have to give it only four stars instead of five, but the messages, evidence,..." Read more

"...The content is divided into ten chapters, as previously stated, and follows a predictable pattern...." Read more

"...It has no literary coherence, no theoretical or scientific coherence...." Read more

"...I thought the book was very well put together and it kept me hooked from the start...." Read more

16 customers mention "Value for money"9 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's value for money, with some finding it worth the price and getting their money's worth, while others consider it a waste.

"...This book is valuable for anyone who is looking to improve a mood disorder, mental sharpness, attention deficits, or who is just searching for..." Read more

"...There are numerous worthless anecdotes throughout the book and very few useful, human studies...." Read more

"...A great book which contains valuable and useful information as well as a easy, comprehensible read...." Read more

"...This book is totally useless" Read more

GREAT book!
5 out of 5 stars
GREAT book!
I'm 19 years old and find this book to be so interesting and helpful! I am a Dietetics major and I enjoy learning about health and fitness. I frequently run and workout and while I know it's good for my body,I haven't learned all the science behind why it is so good. This books breaks it down and gives great detailed information as well as making it understandable for any age. I think this book is a great eye opener as to why exercise is so important.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kristen Anne Hall
    5.0 out of 5 stars I've got get back into my exercise groove
    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I read this book for an awesome grad school course with the University of Texas School of Public Health, Austin Regional Campus: PH 2998 - Seminar in Child and Adolescent Health taught by Dr. Steve Kelder. Part of our assignment was a book report and then an Amazon posting:

    Dr. John Ratey is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School as well as a practicing psychiatrist. He has been well known and respected in his field since the late 1990s and has published many books on various psychiatric topics. This book is a compilation of personal experience, scientific knowledge and studies, as well as case studies that involve exercise and how the brain responds. Dr. Ratey wants to share the information he has gathered and the benefits he has both witnessed and experienced in regards to exercise and brain function. He wants everyone to be able to tap into their best self, both physically and mentally.
    This book is very accessible for both the scientifically trained and the lay reader. Dr. Ratey explains some basics of neurobiology and brain chemistry in simple enough terms and frequently comes back to each explanation in each chapter so readers do not have to worry about memorizing the exact details of each study and concept - and by the end, many will stick to the reader’s strengthened neural circuitry due to such repetition and re-emphasis.
    Dr. Ratey focuses on eight very important topics in psychiatry and how they can be improved with exercise - learning, stress, anxiety, depression, attention, addiction, hormones, and aging. Each chapter gives a case study or two, some anecdotal evidence from his experiences and practice, as well as robust scientific findings and experimental outcomes supporting. It was extremely straightforward and easy to read for me.
    Here is a basic summary of each topic, each its own chapter:
    Learning is fueled by the building of new synapses and new cells in the brain. This is greatly driven by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which Dr. Ratey considers “miracle-gro” for the brain. He discusses how exercise stimulates and supports the production of BDNF and thus helps the creation and growth of new brain cells. Exercise also has proven impacts on alertness, attention, and motivation, all necessary for learning. Lastly, exercise helps with chemical factors that build and strengthen synapses (connections between nerve cells).
    Stress is something that is ubiquitous in modern culture. It erodes our physical and mental health and creates elevated risk for many diseases. Frequent exercise is something we don’t feel we have time for, something that we assume will just stress us out more, however, Dr. Ratey counters that some stress is good - it stimulates our bodies to renew and strengthen itself, exercise is a very good stress. It puts us in control of our bodies and our minds, and by extension our lives. The stress of exercise inoculates us against future stressful situations and trains our bodies to respond in less harmful ways. Frequent exercise primes us to fight stress and fight it appropriately.
    Anxiety is often a product of the hypersensitive nervous system and disrupted brain chemistry. In many situations it must be controlled with medications and therapy to reduce panic attacks. Many anxiety medications have concerning side effects. Dr. Ratey explains that exercise can work as well or better than medication, or alongside medication, to help people control their anxiety, panic, and fear. Exercise is able to create a distraction from anxiety, reduce muscle tension, properly build up the brain’s chemical resources, create a different outcome than panic attack, and reroute circuits in the brain. This to builds resilience to and hopefully growing freedom from anxiety and fear.
    Depression is another major issue tackled by Dr. Ratey. Just as with anxiety disorders, medications to treat depression have intense and unwanted side effects and individuals have great variance in whether a medication even works for them. While depression is something that often makes people unwilling to exercise, if they can make the first step to try it and a concerted effort to keep going they can have great results. Exercise balances many neurotransmitters that are out of whack in the depressed brain and can even repair structural damage that is apparent in many patients. This is a disease that can often be impacted one step at a time, literally.
    Dr. Ratey, has addressed attention disorders in several of his previous books. He has great insight and knowledge on the subject and now has increasing evidence that daily exercise is an effective treatment for many people with a spectrum of attention disorders. Personally, I have often thought that I am borderline ADHD, so this chapter was extremely insightful an impactful to me. It made me thankful that I had always been active and athletic as a child so I was not greatly impacted in school. Now in grad school, however, I should really step up my exercise routine again, rather than letting it slip as much as I have. Just as stated the learning chapter, exercise helps with alertness, motivation, and attention. It balances out neurotransmitters and helps the brain self-regulate for a time after moderate to vigorous activity.
    Another major topic was addiction. The impactful parts of this chapter were how some addicts were able to recover and retrain their brains with running programs incorporated in their treatment programs. There is a team of former addicts who now runs marathons together. They have found a way out of their addictions, learned to control their brain chemistry, and found a way to reconnect with others, rather than be marginalized. Dr. Ratey mentions in this chapter as well as others, how exercise can be even more beneficial as a social activity. In this case the social aspect helps former addicts reconnect as well as discuss their challenges and find support.
    Hormones, specifically the female hormonal cycle and associated disorders, are something that is also greatly impacted by exercise. Hormones are regulated in the brain as well as effect the brain, in particular the mood center, so exercise can be a form of treatment for many “female issues” such as PMS, pregnancy, postpartum depression, and menopause. This is great news for many women who suffer, some often and some at one time or another, from these common issues. While exercise may not always be a “cure”, Dr. Ratey emphasizes that it is something that can be started slowly and has very little risk or side effects as compared to other common treatments for hormone challenges, disruptions, and disorders.
    Lastly, Dr. Ratey discusses aging - both the general effects of aging on the brain as well as brain disease and disorder associated with aging (eg. dementia and Alzheimer’s). Regular exercise not only helps aging populations stay healthy and “feel younger” but also helps their brains stay markedly younger. There are physical and chemical effects in the brain itself that can greatly impact how gracefully someone’s brain ages. People who stay sharp, wise, and alert as they age are often regular exercisers, sometimes by recommendation of their doctors, but most often by habit and personal knowledge. Studies now support the creation of these habits. We can prevent the degeneration of our minds by exercising now and creating a habit of it to cary us through old age.
    This book has great implications for a current topic of study for me: child and adolescent heath. It reinforces that we must have quality physical education programs that encourage children and teens to have healthy habits and find a fitness routine that works for them. I am encouraged by Dr. Ratey’s introduction with “New PE” that is based on lifetime fitness and creating a new core subject. This book and suggestions in it can especially help children and teens dealing with issues of depression, anxiety, stress, and attention.
    And now we’ve all got to get out there and MOVE!
    60 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ann
    5.0 out of 5 stars My Opinion on Book Content and Style
    Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I am writing this review in order to provide an in-depth criticism on the book's content as well as structure for people who are deciding whether or not to purchase this book.

    I enjoyed the read. As an avid marathoner, I am constantly looking for literature that tells me that all the torture I put my body through is worth it. Being a medical doctor, John Ratey has hands-on experience and knowledge with diagnosis and prescription of treatments. He has seen how exercise can solve health issues in lieu of medications. His perspective on the topic allows him to write effectively. He has obviously researched the effects of exercise on the brain to a great extent - and he does a great job of introducing the reader to the science and explaining why it matters. He covers the effects of exercise on the following: learning, stress, anxiety, depression, attention deficit, addiction, hormonal changes, and aging. Each of these topics are very relevant to the modern human. Personally, I enjoyed reading the learning and stress chapters the most. Ratey wrote the book to promote exercise, and he constantly reminds the reader of it. He eloquently ties all the information of a chapter together to support his message: exercise is good for you.

    The first chapter, "Welcome to the Revolution", describes recent innovation in Physical Education classes in grade schools in America. Ratey tells an interesting story about the schools of Naperville, Illinois and the instigator of the PE rebellion, Phil Lawler. Mr. Lawler's story is fascinating. His desire to rework the PE curriculum and his success in doing so is admirable, but even more exciting are the results from that passion. Naperville's District 203 had some of the highest average test scores in the world, including 6th in the world for math and 1st in the world for science. Ratey uses this chapter to show how this isn't a simple correlation between increased fitness and higher test scores. He provides many examples as well as statistics to show that physical education has a very important place in the lives of Americans.
    The second chapter, "Learning", sets out to demonstrate to the readers how exercise affects the way we learn. In this chapter, Ratey introduces neuroplasticity, neurotransmitters, and neurotrophic factors. He describes the terms without using confusing medical jargon. Notably, he teaches the reader about Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and how it influences learning. Exercise stimulates the production of BDNF. Ratey mixes the science with real-life examples so it is easy to understand.

    The third chapter, "Stress", goes over the mechanisms of stress within the body and how exercise acts as a counter to excess stress. He uses a patient of his, Susan, as a point of reference throughout the chapter, applying new topics to Susan's situation and the outcome of those changes. I found it very useful to be able to come back to Susan and see how she changed as Dr. Ratey "prescribed" exercise to deal with stress. Ratey goes over what stress is and how it affects the body. This is very useful because not many people understand how debilitating stress can be and how important it is to have an outlet for reducing it. As Ratey explains, stress equals higher levels of cortisol in the body. Cortisol in high levels will damage the body, including the brain, but it is absolutely essential in controlled doses. Ratey does a fantastic job of explaining the complex interaction between the brain, the body, and stress.

    The fourth chapter, "Anxiety", describes how exercise affects anxiety. Ratey provides the reader with a simple and in-depth explanation of how anxiety is produced within the body. Shortly after, the reader finds out how exercise affects that state of anxiety and reduces it. It is very easy to throw out physiological terms and leave the readers with abstract ideas of what is happening in the body, but Ratey explains it well enough so the reader is not lost.

    In order to maintain some degree of mystery in the book, I will briefly skim over the remaining chapters. Chapter 5 "Depression" is an extremely useful chapter, as many people in the United States suffer from depression. Exercise has many benefits - and helping cope with depression is one of them. Ratey describes why and how exercise helps with depression. Chapter 6 "Attention Deficit" goes over the current epidemic of ADHD within the U.S. Ratey explains that it isn't a simple motivation issue, but a serious physiological one. Ratey explains what is deficient in the brains of people with ADHD. He describes how brain function is affected and how neurotransmitters are as well. Of course, he ties it back to exercise. Through case studies and reports, he explains effectively how the effects produced through exercise aid those with ADHD. Chapter 7 "Addiction" covers how addiction works in our brains and how exercise works in helping overcome addictions. There are many accounts of people getting through smoking or other addictions. I found this chapter to be inspiring and educational. Chapter 8 "Hormonal Changes" is specifically written for women. It goes through how hormones affect women throughout their lives and how exercise helps balance their system. Ratey covers PMS and menopause, giving thorough descriptions of what is happening physiologically. He then describes the counteracting effects of exercise. In Chapter 9 "Aging", Ratey explains what happens physiologically through the aging process. Again, he shows how consistent exercise can restrict the effects of aging and how it can improve brain function even in old age. He also advocates mental exercise as well as physical to restrain the effects of aging. Finally, the last chapter "The Regimen" offers advice for starting an exercise habit. It's a useful chapter, as Ratey offers basic tips, such as finding a group to exercise with.

    Ratey does a fantastic job keeping the reader interested. The content is divided into ten chapters, as previously stated, and follows a predictable pattern. His writing style is simple and easy to understand. It's not eloquent prose, but it is clear and concise and allows Ratey to deliver his message. Through his experience as a doctor, Ratey has plenty of stories for every situation. I loved reading how people's lives changed as they simply became more active. The people in the stories were, for the most part, entirely relatable to the average person. The information about case studies and research was explained clearly and simply, so a lay person could easily grasp the meaning and importance of complex interactions and systems. I enjoyed reading this book.
    53 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Antonio Ulisses Garcia Lima
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible book!
    Reviewed in Australia on November 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The importance of exercise to mental health: two things very important to me. This book is amazing. Read it!
    Report
  • DutchGuy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive book about exercise and health
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on January 6, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Since a few years I am interested in health and how lifystyle is affecting it. This book focusses on exercise as an intervention method for better health. The author does this job very well. He gives a comprehensive explanation how mechanism in the body and brains work, and how these mechanisms affect how you feel and your cognitive abilities.
    Report
  • Angelika de Beauclair
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mi sta letteralmente cambiando la vita!
    Reviewed in Italy on November 10, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Avevo tanti preconcetti sullo sport. Che era per gli stupidi, che era utile a poco più che per dimagrire, che in modo vago aiutava a tenere il corpo in salute.

    Ma questo libro mi ha aperto tutto un'altro universo! Lo sport serve per diventare più intelligenti, serve per essere più concentrati, aiuta a ritrovare motivazione e buonumore. Riequilibra tutti i neurotrasmettitori.

    Leggo la sera e la mattina mi alzo e faccio sport. Ora ho trovato mille ragioni per farlo e non mi sembra più una perdita di tempo. Roba mai fatta prima, mai pensato possibile.
    Report
  • Guida
    5.0 out of 5 stars Importante
    Reviewed in Brazil on November 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Muito interessante saber da importância dos exercícios aeróbicos. Livro com bastante estatística no primeiro capítulo, um pouco cansativo para mim. Mas é um livro muito bom.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wish I Could Have Read This Years Ago
    Reviewed in Canada on December 11, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is a great book, it explains in detail why we should get out and exercise for body, health and soul.
    It explains that even some is better than none, if you have issues that make it difficult.
    The book answers a lot of questions I had after having a stroke at 50. I had a difficult time trying to just survive a day with a 10 year old child to look after when I got home. To figure out what to eat, what did you eat with potatoes ?? How many rolls of toilet paper do you need for 2 weeks? How do you use a washer or drier? One day I ventured out to the side walk, I was exhausted when I got back. The next day I went 2 pickets on the fence further, 2 more 2 days later. After 5 months I could walk 2 miles but that was because I pushed myself to do it. If I did not walk I I had no energy, did not function well. After a year I felt much better and was able to function much better. At 79 still walk between 2 and 4 miles 6 days a week.
    Report