Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Smarter Tomorrow summary
Elizabeth R. Ricker
How 15 Minutes of Neurohacking a Day Can Help You Work Better, Think Faster, and Get More Done
19 mins
Brief summary
Smarter Tomorrow by Elizabeth R. Ricker is a guide to using technology, artificial intelligence, and automation to enhance our lives and create a better future. It presents actionable tips for staying relevant and competitive in the rapidly changing digital landscape.
Table of Contents
Smarter Tomorrow
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
Neurohacking involves self-knowledge and self-experimentation.
You’ve probably heard the term “life hack.” It’s something that allows you to jump ahead in life without too much effort – a shortcut, in other words.
Neurohacking, then, means looking for shortcuts to improve mental capability. By understanding how the brain works, neurohackers can improve their cognitive skills and reflexes, or seek to relieve psychological disorders.
This brings us to another context for the word “hack”: the computer hacker. Just as hackers have to be intimately familiar with the computer systems they’re trying to infiltrate, neurohackers must become experts on their own personal systems: their brains.
Becoming a neurohacker means learning about your own, marvelous, one-of-a-kind supercomputer. This is where neurohacking differs from traditional self-help. Rather than relying on blanket prescriptions and advice, it requires truly getting to know – and experimenting on – yourself.
The key message here is: Neurohacking involves self-knowledge and self-experimentation.
Neurohackers take a DIY scientist’s approach – they measure the brain’s capabilities and test solutions to improve them.
To learn about your brain, you’ll need to measure and track its progress in the areas you’re seeking to improve. For example, if you think your memory could use some work, then you’ll need to test your memory skills and record them over time.
Happily, there’s no better moment than the present to do this! We live in the age of free, self-tracking apps that record everything from language learning to memory recall. Self-tracking can also be used to detect other things – environmental or physical – that might be impairing your mental performance.
Take the case of Mark Drangsholt, a clinician and scientist. In 2014, he complained to his doctor that he was suffering from terrible brain fog – periods when he’d have lapses of concentration and memory. At first, his doctor was unable to help, so Drangsholt took matters into his own hands.
After using direct-to-consumer companies to gather personal cognitive, genetic, and blood data, Drangsholt returned to his doctor. Together, with all of this info in hand, they discovered the cause: narrowed blood vessels in a key area of Drangsholt’s brain. Without this DIY approach and self-knowledge, his problem may have gone unsolved.
It’s this self-knowledge that gives us the power to hack our mental abilities. In the following blinks, we’ll look at how to put it to work.
Want to see all full key ideas from Smarter Tomorrow?
Key ideas in Smarter Tomorrow
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Smarter Tomorrow about?
Smarter Tomorrow (2021) shows you how to upgrade your brain using a technique called neurohacking. You’ll learn how to improve your memory, creativity, emotional regulation, and what’s known as “executive functioning” through self-testing and experimentation – all backed up with insights from neuroscience.
Smarter Tomorrow Review
Smarter Tomorrow (2022) by Elizabeth R. Ricker provides an insightful exploration of practical strategies to optimize our thinking and improve our lives. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offers valuable tips and techniques to enhance our cognitive abilities, empowering us to make better decisions and solve problems more effectively.
- Presents a compelling blend of scientific research, real-life examples, and relatable stories that engage readers and make the information accessible.
- With its fascinating insights into the workings of the mind and actionable advice for personal growth, the book turns the pursuit of knowledge into an enjoyable journey.
Who should read Smarter Tomorrow?
- Thinkers looking to improve their cognitive skills
- Budding neuroscientists and brain nerds
- Anyone looking to keep up with modern science
Categories with Smarter Tomorrow
Book summaries like Smarter Tomorrow
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
31 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Smarter Tomorrow FAQs
What is the main message of Smarter Tomorrow?
The main message of Smarter Tomorrow is that small changes today can lead to a better future.
How long does it take to read Smarter Tomorrow?
The reading time for Smarter Tomorrow varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Smarter Tomorrow a good book? Is it worth reading?
Smarter Tomorrow is a valuable read for anyone looking to improve themselves. It offers practical insights and actionable tips for personal growth.
Who is the author of Smarter Tomorrow?
The author of Smarter Tomorrow is Elizabeth R. Ricker.
What to read after Smarter Tomorrow?
If you're wondering what to read next after Smarter Tomorrow, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Biohack Your Brain by Kristen Willeumier
- Brain Rules by John Medina
- Your Brain Is Always Listening by Daniel G. Amen
- Brain Food by Lisa Mosconi
- The Neuroscience of You by Chantel Prat
- Grasp by Sanjay Sarma
- 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin
- Come Together by Emily Nagoski
- Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
- Effective Decision-Making by Edoardo Binda Zane