Rate this book

Reggie's Brain (2014)

by Matt Richtel(Favorite Author)

3.91 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0062350757 (ISBN13: 9780062350756)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

HarperAudio

review 1: What to say ...Could not put this book down and now I will be gifting my 6 adult children this holiday season. To do otherwise would deem me a negligent parent. My hope is that they will also urgently encourage at least 6 other friends to also read A Deadly Wandering. Lives have been and will be saved and for that, the author and the 3 tragically involved families need to be somehow thanked. Is there even a way to begin to express appreciation such as this? Whatever you do good for yourself, include this read!
review 2: This is a book of perfect balance. It tells a dramatic and deadly story of texting and driving, and asks the question "Why do we continue to do this, even though we do have a sense that it is dangerous?" This is not a rhetorical question, howe... morever. Richtel (who won a Pulitzer Prize for reporting on this topic) hooks the reader with the story of Reggie Shaw who drifted across the center line on a September morning in 2006 while texting and driving, causing an accident which took the lives of two rocket scientists on their way to work. Other chapters, however, study the burgeoning science studying attention issues, forcing the reader to apply this new knowledge to his/her personal habits. Do you think that you can multitask? There's a scientific finding to challenge that. Do you know what top -down and bottom-up reasoning and response is? If not, you will when you finish this book. You'll know that it takes time for your brain to focus back on driving after texting (which is why Shaw, at first, didn't remember texting at all). You'll know that being connected to devices like cell phones is addictive, and that when you hear a tone on the phone telling you there's a new text, it's almost impossible to resist. Richtel compares this to having someone tap you on the shoulder. You are compelled to turn around to see who it is.This story takes place in Utah, as does much of the leading research. Speaking as someone who lives in Utah and someone who is LDS, I thought that Richtel "got it right." He uses the complexity of culture, religion and politics in Utah to make the story even more nuanced.When you read this book (and you should read it), you heart will grieve for the families who lost their husbands and fathers, and whose lives were forever changed. You will also come to admire Reggie Shaw immensely, as someone who can never undo this thing that he has caused, but devotes all of his energies to educate others on the dangers. Richtel calls Shaw the strongest advocate he knows, and that is a compliment given the company that Richtel puts Shaw in. But most of all (and I think that Richtel and everyone whose story this is, would hope for this outcome), you will stop texting and driving. You will stop talking on the cell phone while you drive. You will relish moments of being unconnected, rather than need more of them. You will respect the message of the book and allow it to influence your own life. less

Download links for: Reggie's Brain

Advertising