The Organized Mind

Thinking straight. In the age of information overload.

The latest book from Daniel Levitin, a professor from McGill, caught my eye and I bought the dead tree hardcover edition.

The Wall Street Journal’s book review provides a couple of insights in terms of what to expect:

In “The Organized Mind,” Daniel J. Levitin, a cognitive neuroscientist at McGill University, makes an ambitious attempt to bring research in neuroscience and cognitive psychology to bear on the more ordinary parts of our lives. He focuses on the daily challenges of professionals, managers and knowledge workers.

And:

To a surprising extent, Mr. Levitin’s advice for organizing our minds consists not of learning mental tricks or doing brain exercises but of organizing our surroundings””literally, the physical world we inhabit every day. This effort can reduce needless demands on our cognitive abilities, especially on our capacity for paying attention, which he rightly calls “the most essential mental resource for any organism.”

Organizing is one of the things I can do really, really well. My daughter thinks it is because I am OCD. But really, it is because I am attempting to maximize my cognitive abilities.

A very satisfying read so far and definitely recommended if you are feeling, like I am, a bit overwhelmed with the volume and velocity of information coming your way each day.