Quotes from John J. Ratey

we sometimes lose sight of the fact that the mind, brain, and body all influence one another. In addition to feeling good when you exercise, you feel good about yourself

It's about growth versus decay, activity versus inactivity. The body was designed to be pushed, and in pushing our bodies we push our brains too. Learning and memory evolved in concert with the motor functions that allowed our ancestors to track down food, so as far as our brains are concerned, if we're not moving, there's no real need to learn anything.

the message I want to leave you with is that even as your body changes, exercise will keep your mind firm and taught.

Chronic stress is linked to some of our most deadly diseases.

if you have an important afternoon brainstorming session scheduled, going for a short, intense run during lunchtime is a smart idea.

The way you choose to cope with stress can change not only how you feel, but also how it transforms the brain. If you react passively or if there is simply no way out, stress can become damaging.

I tell people that going for a run is like taking a little bit of Prozac and a little bit of Ritalin because

What I aim to do here is to deliver in plain English the inspiring science connecting exercise and the brain and to demonstrate how it plays out in the lives of real people. I want to cement the idea that exercise has a profound impact on cognitive abilities and mental health. It is simply one of the best treatments we have for most psychiatric problems.