An internationally respected neurologist offers a revolutionary look at the brains of adolescents, providing surprising insights—including why smart kids often do stupid things—and practical advice for adults and teens.
In this groundbreaking, accessible book, Dr. Frances E. Jensen—a mother, teacher, researcher, and internationally known expert in neurology—introduces us to the mystery and magic of the teen brain. One of the first books to focus exclusively on the neurological development of adolescents, The Teenage Brain presents new findings, dispels widespread myths, and provides practical suggestions for negotiating this difficult and dynamic life stage for both adults and adolescents.
Interweaving easy-to-follow scientific data with anecdotes drawn from her experiences as a parent, clinician, and public speaker, Dr. Jensen explores adolescent brain functioning and development, including learning and memory, and investigates the impact of influences such as drugs, multitasking, sleep, and stress. The Teenage Brain reveals how:
Rigorous yet accessible, warm yet direct, The Teenage Brain sheds new light on young adults and provides practical suggestions for how parents, schools, and even the legal system can better help them during this crucial period.
Download and start listening now!
“Neurologist Jensen, a divorced mother of two teenage boys, and science writer Nutt liken the brain of a teen to a brand-new Ferrari: ‘It’s primed and pumped, but it hasn’t been road tested yet. In other words, it’s all revved up but doesn’t quite know where to go’…The authors of this sensible, scientific, and stimulating book advise parents of teens to set limits, stay involved, be cognizant of the emotional needs of their children, and remain positive.”
— Booklist
“Applies new science to the frustrating dilemma of how to live with teenage kids.”
— Library Journal (starred review)“This well-written, accessible work surveys recent research into the adolescent brain, a subject relatively unexplored until just this past decade. The result illuminates the specific ways in which the teen brain differs from that of a child or an adult…Speaking as one parent to another, [the authors] offers support and a way for parents to understand and relate to their own soon-to-be-adult offspring.”
— Publishers Weekly“Marvelous…Dr. Jensen uses her considerable expertise as a neuroscientist and a mother to explain the recent explosion of adolescent brain research and how this research can help us better understand and help young people.”
— Carol A. Ford, MD, president, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine; professor of pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania; and chief, Division of Adolescent Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia“Frances Jensen has brilliantly translated academic science and clinical studies…A ‘must read’ for parents, teachers, school nurses, and many others who live with or interact with teens.”
— S. Jean Emans, MD, chief, Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital; professor of pediatrics, Harvard Medical SchoolFrances Jensen, MD, is a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and a senior associate in neurology at Children’s Hospital Boston. She is an internationally known expert in neurology and the teenage brain. Jensen directs a host of public and privately funded clinical research projects and consults both for the media and the government on matters of adolescent neurology.
Jane Jacobs is a voice-over artist who can be heard in dozens of animated films, audiobooks, commercials, and promotional materials.