Listen to a sample
Think Before You Think
- Author
- Adrian Owen
- Narrator
- Julian Elfer
- Publisher
- Recorded Books, Inc.
- Publish Date
- 4 August 2026
- Run Time
- 7 hours 1 minute
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
A pioneering researcher unveils the neuroscience of executive function: how it works and what we can (and can’t) do to improve it.
From the ever-rising rate of ADHD diagnoses to the life-changing challenges of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to the everyday brain fog many of us muddle through, so-called deficits of executive function are everywhere. Whether you’re tearing the house apart trying to find the keys you’ve been holding all along, struggling to stay on task at work, or watching a loved one lose their social filter, the consequences when executive function falters can be frustrating, puzzling—sometimes even devastating. We’re told it governs everything from planning and decision-making to self-control and social behavior. But what exactly is executive function, and what can we do to sharpen it? In Think Before You Think, internationally renowned neuroscientist Adrian Owen cuts through the confusion, showing how the underlying systems that orchestrate executive function interact, why they sometimes fail us, and what that tells us about the everyday business of being human.
Drawing on decades of groundbreaking research, Owen reveals the six core components of executive function that shape how we think and act: working memory, planning, inhibition, attention, theory of mind, and emotional regulation. Crucially, he also busts many common brain myths. Sharpening your mind isn’t about brain-training apps or quick fixes; in many cases, a good night’s sleep will do more than any puzzle or game. But the latest discoveries in neuroscience offer a simpler—and more powerful—solution: understanding your own executive functions and learning to take conscious control of how you use them.
As practical as it is profound, Think Before You Think offers a new way of understanding your brain—its strengths, its limitations, and its remarkable potential. You’ll never say “I wasn’t thinking” in quite the same way again.
"Fascinating and packed with compelling stories. … [A] riveting cognitive journey."—Fergus Walsh, BBC
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Adrian Owen
- Narrator
- Julian Elfer
- Duration
- 7 hours 1 minute
- Release Date
- 4 August 2026
- ISBN
- 9798899749612
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Recorded Books, Inc.
- Genre
- Cognitive studies, Cognition and cognitive psychology, Physiological and neuro-psychology, biopsychology, Cognition and cognitive psychology, Physiological and neuro-psychology, biopsychology
Synopsis
A pioneering researcher unveils the neuroscience of executive function: how it works and what we can (and can’t) do to improve it. From the ever-rising rate of ADHD diagnoses to the life-changing challenges of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to the everyday brain fog many of us muddle through, so-called deficits of executive function are everywhere. Whether you’re tearing the house apart trying to find the keys you’ve been holding all along, struggling to stay on task at work, or watching a loved one lose their social filter, the consequences when executive function falters can be frustrating, puzzling—sometimes even devastating. We’re told it governs everything from planning and decision-making to self-control and social behavior. But what exactly is executive function, and what can we do to sharpen it? In Think Before You Think, internationally renowned neuroscientist Adrian Owen cuts through the confusion, showing how the underlying systems that orchestrate executive function interact, why they sometimes fail us, and what that tells us about the everyday business of being human.  Drawing on decades of groundbreaking research, Owen reveals the six core components of executive function that shape how we think and act: working memory, planning, inhibition, attention, theory of mind, and emotional regulation. Crucially, he also busts many common brain myths. Sharpening your mind isn’t about brain-training apps or quick fixes; in many cases, a good night’s sleep will do more than any puzzle or game. But the latest discoveries in neuroscience offer a simpler—and more powerful—solution: understanding your own executive functions and learning to take conscious control of how you use them. As practical as it is profound, Think Before You Think offers a new way of understanding your brain—its strengths, its limitations, and its remarkable potential. You’ll never say “I wasn’t thinking” in quite the same way again. "Fascinating and packed with compelling stories. … [A] riveting cognitive journey."—Fergus Walsh, BBC
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.