The Organized Mind

Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin of McGill University uses brain science to explain how people can cope with the flood of data that the information age brings. The first of its three parts concerns attention, which Levitin calls the most essential mental resource, and describes how the brain's attentional system decides what reaches conscious awareness. He also shows that switching between tasks burns more oxygenated glucose than focusing on one and can quickly bring on mental exhaustion. The second and third parts apply attention and memory to everyday organization, and the book's chapters range from health care and executive workflow to the kitchen junk drawer. It entered the New York Times best seller list at No. 2.

Jay Shetty included it among 10 books that changed his life in an On Purpose list.