Success doesn't happen because of luck or genetics, but through "tremendous, persistent, positive mental energy," writes Bob Arnot, M.D. in The Biology of Success. Arnot, author of The Breast Cancer Prevention Diet, aims to teach you the steps to tapping into your own positive mental energy, which becomes the fuel to build the fire of success. He describes how to create mental energy, then create positive thought. Then you can "channel your energy and enthusiasm in the directions that will maximize your success." Here are some examples of the mental-energy steps he includes: take a self-test to figure out your "mood thermometer" of brain energy and a spirit of optimism, necessary for success. Make changes in your office space to optimize your health, performance, and self-esteem. Elevate your mind with music therapy. Eat protein and high-quality carbohydrates at the right times of day to either rev up your energy or relax. Increase mental energy with exercise. "Look like a star" by dressing well every day. The positive-thought section helps you "gear your mental drive to its highest limits" in six steps, including committing fully to the moment at hand, playing to your strengths, changing the emotions of those around you, and prayer. A workbook section helps you put it all into action. --Joan Price


From Publishers Weekly
NBC's chief medical correspondent Arnot exemplifies more than he actually advises in this misleadingly titled self-help book. There is little biology and few concrete recommendations to be found here regarding biochemistry or diet, supplement or exercise regimes. Instead, Arnot meanders from not-so-useful tips for regulating body temperature ("Armani suits have become a favorite because they're incredibly light and lack the thick insulated liners of the old English suit") to clich?d advice such as "If you can't say something good, don't say anything at all." The intent of the author (The Breast Cancer Prevention Diet; Dr. Bob Arnot's Revolutionary Weight Control Program)Ato show that by maintaining mental energy, a person can succeedAis a fine one, and the book does make for good browsing. However, many of the topics Arnot addresses are covered more thoroughly and helpfully in other books. Arnot does touch on important issues, such as the dangers of "carbo overload," the importance of timing sleeping with eating, food choices, spirituality and maintaining a positive attitude. The book concludes with protein, fatty acid and carbohydrate counts for various foods, plus a workbook to help determine the reader's type (e.g., morning or evening person, educator or "strategizer") in order to help identify weak and strong points. No doubt some readers will appreciate Arnot's easygoing tone and folksy recommendations. Author tour. (Jan.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Building mental energy with NBC medical correspondent Arnot. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
Success depends on positive mental energy and positive thought patterns, and both of these can be influenced by our physical space, music, food, exercise, ritual, and many other activities and practices. Pay attention to natural rhythms and manipulate inputs to fine-tune rhythms so that our brain is ready for creative work when we need it to be. Though Arnot loaded a lot of ideas into this program, their unified purpose and clarity will make them understandable to anyone. He also gives advice about discovering one's priorities and planning work tasks so they're in sync with biological rhythms. A marvelous resource for maximizing productivity and living a full life. T.W. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Biology of Success helps you create the mental energy and powerful positive thoughts necessary to become the success you've always wanted to be.

SYNOPSIS

We all know people who awe us with their endless energy and optimism, their active schedules, and their countless achievements. Whether these people are friends, coworkers, or celebrities, most of them have something in common: They know what they want, and they usually accomplish it. Is it good luck? Good genes? And is there any way we can get in on the secret?

Dr. Bob Arnot believes being successful is not as out of our control as we might think. We can all make ourselves successful, provided we have the right mental energy and positive thinking -- the tools that make those overachievers we know keep go-getting. Using cutting-edge scientific studies and the secrets of the successful as a basis for his research, Arnot outlines a way for all of us to reach our own goals in The Biology of Success.

There are simple ways to change your life to improve your mood and increase your energy. Some of these include:

Let there be light. Most rooms rarely exceed 600 lux of light, whereas our minds need at least 1000 lux to begin reaping light's biological benefits and improve productivity.

Pump up the volume. Increase the strength of your immune system by listening to the right music.

Let there be heat, but not too much.The optimum work temperature for mental work is 70 degrees F.

Dress appropriately. The way you dress, from color tones to fabric weight, affects your mood.

Eat up. A late afternoon carbohydrate-fix can cut tension.

Smell's good. Reduce anxiety levels by surrounding yourself with pleasing aromas.

Don't worry; be happy. Smiling, even if you're faking it, can make you feel better.

With these tricks, we can tap into and increase mental energy, create positive thought patterns, and fundamentally alter the way our brains function. Once we have taught ourselves how to think and act positively, we are much more likely to accomplish our goals. It is as simple as it sounds: The better your mood, the more successful you can be.

Whether you want to learn a new skill, combat anxiety and depression, increase contentment, or boost a career, The Biology of Success can teach you how to energize, optimize, and work more efficiently towards your goals.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

NBC's chief medical correspondent Arnot exemplifies more than he actually advises in this misleadingly titled self-help book. There is little biology and few concrete recommendations to be found here regarding biochemistry or diet, supplement or exercise regimes. Instead, Arnot meanders from not-so-useful tips for regulating body temperature ("Armani suits have become a favorite because they're incredibly light and lack the thick insulated liners of the old English suit") to clich d advice such as "If you can't say something good, don't say anything at all." The intent of the author (The Breast Cancer Prevention Diet; Dr. Bob Arnot's Revolutionary Weight Control Program)--to show that by maintaining mental energy, a person can succeed--is a fine one, and the book does make for good browsing. However, many of the topics Arnot addresses are covered more thoroughly and helpfully in other books. Arnot does touch on important issues, such as the dangers of "carbo overload," the importance of timing sleeping with eating, food choices, spirituality and maintaining a positive attitude. The book concludes with protein, fatty acid and carbohydrate counts for various foods, plus a workbook to help determine the reader's type (e.g., morning or evening person, educator or "strategizer") in order to help identify weak and strong points. No doubt some readers will appreciate Arnot's easygoing tone and folksy recommendations. Author tour. (Jan.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal