Get off the Sofa: A Prescription for a Healthier Life by Dr Anbdrew Curran the Wellness Doctor

For years I have watched people in their millions inflict more illness and suffering on themselves than any war has ever done. What is this biblical plague, this monstrosity of suffering? Self inflicted illness. The fat guy smoking a cigarette. The thin woman flayed raw by alcohol. The kid jamming another fat laden time bomb into its face. The millions and millions of couch potatoes who haven’t done a minutes decent exercise since they passed puberty. And what happens to all these millions upon millions of people? Nothing for most of the time. In 1992 Ian Gilbert, author of the highly acclaimed Essential Motivation in the Classroom founded Independent Thinking Ltd (ITL). His aim was to 'enrich young people's lives by changing the way they think and so to change the world'. He has done this by gathering together a disparate group of associates specialists in the workings of the brain, discipline, emotional intelligence, ICT, motivation, using music in learning, creativity and dealing with the disaffected. ITL achieve their objective by 'doing what no one else does or doing what everyone else does in a way no one else does'. With a chapter from each of the associates plus an introduction and commentary by Ian Gilbert, this is the definitive guide for anyone wishing to understand and use some of the thinking that makes ITL such a unique and successful organisation. If you're looking for a quick 'How to'guide and a series of photocopiable worksheets you can knock out for a last minute PSHE lesson or because the INSET provider you had booked has let you down at the last minute and you're the only member of the middle management team who didn't attend the last planning meeting so you've ended up with the job of stepping in to fill in the gap, then this is the book for you. As befitting a disparate group of people brought together under the banner of Independent Thinking, these chapters are to get you thinking for yourself thinking about what you do, why you do what you do and whether doing it that way is the best thing at all. This book is meant to be dipped into, with not every chapter being relevant for everybody all of the time. Some chapters are written with the classroom practitioner very much in mind, others with the students in mind, other still with an eye on school leaders. That said, there is something here for everyone so we encourage you to dip into it with a highlighter pen in one hand and a notebook in the other to capture the main messages and ideas that resonate with you. So, does the assembly you're about to give, or that lesson on 'forcesyou're about to deliver or that staff meeting you're about to lead or that new intake parents evening you're planning look like everyone else's anywhere else? If so, then what about sitting down with your independent thinking hat on and identifying how you can make it so that we couldn't drop you into a totally different school on the other side of the country without anyone noticing the difference. Have the confidence to be memorable the world of education needs you to be great. This delightfully illustrated book is designed to give anyone a working knowledge of the human brain from its first evolution over 2 billion years ago to the present day. This is the user's manual for your brain that was left out of the box. What it is, how it works, what it looks like, where it came from it's all here in this light-hearted and easy-to-read book. Pick it up and you will never think about your own thinking in quite the same way again. Every action that we undertake, every thought that we entertain, every memory that we hold, every hang-up that we possess, every quirk, and knack- it's all the result of chemistry and electricity working across a network of squishy organic matter that has helped shape life. Don't be fooled by the title as this is really a comprehensive explanation of how and why the brain works, but put together in such a way that anyone from 16 to 60 can understand. "A Thunk" is a beguiling question about everyday things that stops you in your tracks and helps you start to look at the world in a whole new light. A thunk will shake up your templates, rattle your thought routines, and make you think about things differently! So find a friend or family member, ask a 'Thunk', disagree with their answer (remember there are no right and wrong answers) and keep your brain working longer and better. This is the ideal gift for possibly the most impossible person to buy for! Designed as a cover to cover read which leaves the reader with a working knowledge of the human brain from its first evolution 2 billion years ago to the present day. A light-hearted look at the brain aimed at a lay audience. It especially focuses on the neurobiology of emotional intelligence and in many ways is the neurobiological explanation of why emotional intelligence is so important to health, wealth and happiness. This unique teacher training video shoot on location in North Wales analyses behaviours observed in everyday classroom situations. A consultant neurologist explains what drives the behaviours involved and an experienced teacher and educationalist provide practical strategies to manage the behaviours effectively in the classroom. Set up ten years ago, Independent Thinking's manifesto was to 'enrich people's lives by changing the way they think - and so to change the world'. This book captures some of the organisation's best ideas and innovations, in areas from neuroscience and learning skills to creativity, motivation and emotional intelligence A teacher training tool, which uses research from everyday classroom situations. In this work, a consultant neurologist explains the behaviours involved and an experienced teacher and educationalist uses the behaviours to provide practical strategies to effectively manage the classroom Presents a teacher training video shot on location in North Wales that analyses behaviours observed in everyday classroom situations. This title explains what drives the behaviours involved and provides practical strategies to manage the behaviours effectively in the classroom A great gift book for possibly the most impossible person to buy for! The Book of Thunks will shake up your templates, rattle your thought routines and force you to think about things differently. This wonderful little book is designed as a cover to cover read which leaves you with a working knowledge of the human brain from its first evolution 2 billion years ago to the present day.