Busch Bradley - Release your inner drive: everything you need to know about how to get good at stuff

Seductively readable and yet also impressively evidence-based, this beautifully produced book represents an exceptional distillation of research around motivation. Its a tough art to keep the message simple without straying into the simplistic badlands, or risk patronising a hyper-vigilant teenaged audience, and the authors carry this off remarkably well. Time-starved teachers will find much classroom-ready material to use here too.

Dr Barry Hymer, Emeritus Professor of Psychology in Education, University of Cumbria

Bradley Busch and Edward Watson have sifted through a wealth of insight from cognitive and behavioural psychology into our strengths and weaknesses as students and humans and transformed it into a helpful, usable guide. Attractive summaries are helpfully combined with clear explanations of the underlying ideas. Applying just a handful of the ideas would, I suspect, help anyone to both study better and flourish while doing so.

Harry Fletcher-Wood, Associate Dean, Institute for Teaching

I would recommend this wonderful book, aimed at a teen audience, as both a parent and a teacher. It is packed with evidence-based (thoroughly referenced), practical tips to support our youngsters; for example, to help them make their learning more memorable or to help them live less stressful lives. The very clear graphics are a real strength of the book and allow the reader to dip in and out. I couldnt help but proffer its pages to my son, now preparing for his next set of exams. Very teen-friendly!

Hlne Galdin OShea, teacher and researchEd organiser

If anyone is looking to develop a growth mindset and generally tackle life in a more positive and confident way then this book is a must-read. Complex concepts are presented in a simple manner in order for the reader to take away key messages and apply them across a number of relevant situations. The authors must be commended on providing a unique format, allowing readers to retain important information, which underpins the effective thinking and behaviour needed in order to thrive.

Ian Mitchell, Performance Psychologist, Wales national senior football team

Bradley and Edward have written an accessible, comprehensive guide to implementing the latest research into motivation, self-control and neuroscience to help you to get better at well, everything! Their book breaks down the process of goal-setting, self-discipline, coping with challenge, learning and achievement into a series of tips and tricks, rendered into easy-to-understand lists which make great resources for students, teachers or anyone trying to do that little bit better. All the key information for each topic is captured in an eye-catching single page, meaning that the book serves as a catalogue of self-help guides. But these single pages are supported by helpful detail, explaining how and why you should follow the advice. Each of the guides is sourced with detailed research from the fields of psychology, health and neuroscience, giving the reader confidence that these easily digestible chunks are much more than just platitudes or motivational slogans. Release Your Inner Drive will be a great resource for anyone involved in education and learning or, indeed, anyone who wants to get good at stuff.

Chris Hildrew, Head Teacher, Churchill Academy and Sixth Form

I worked with Bradley during the most stressful time of my life, competing in a Paralympic Games. By using a lot of the techniques in this book I have become a more successful person, not only in my career but also outside of it. I have changed the way I view failure and this is what has helped me the most. The techniques are simple but they have had a massive impact, its almost hard to believe. This book teaches us how to get big rewards from simply changing the way we view and handle what life throws at us. For anyone looking to better themselves in some way, no matter how big or small, this is the book for you.

Jordanne Whiley, MBE, winner of nine grand slam tennis tournaments and Paralympic medallist

This is a really helpful resource for students, parents and teachers who want to get a handle on the most effective ways of revising, goal-setting and handling stress. A great balance of clear infographics and research on peak performance across a range of disciplines aspirational and reassuring in equal measure.

Mary Myatt, education adviser, speaker and author of HopefulSchools

Really enjoyed the book there are some real strengths to the design alongside the wealth of tips and knowledge. I love the infographics, which offer a quick and easy way of getting the key information across.

Chris Thurston, Head of Education and Welfare, Watford Football Club

ReleaseYour Inner Drive by Bradley Busch and Edward Watson suggests strategies to help young people develop productive habits and offers practical tips for setting goals and taking control of where they are going and how they intend to get there.

Based on the principle of growth mindset the book is clearly structured and easy to read, with eye-catching and light-hearted graphics, designed to appeal to its target audience, but also with something to offer to teachers and parents who support and encourage young people.

The book prompts reflection and recommends actively seeking out and acting on feedback in order to boost confidence and enhance achievements. It emphasises the importance of resisting perfectionism and looking after ourselves by finding a healthy balance in our lives, including specific advice for controlling our use of mobile devices and social media.

Useful quotations, inspirational stories and specific examples, including references to recent research, strengthen the advice offered as to how students can ensure revision is effective and examination performance is positive. The book ends with a call to action and a very useful, extensive list of references to prompt further reading.

Jill Berry, leadership consultant and author of Making the Leap

Release Your Inner Drive is an excellent guide to understanding how to improve. The authors distil a huge volume of peer-reviewed research on performance psychology and neuroscience into a number of key areas and provide simple and effective strategies to develop in each one. The book works especially well as a quick reference guide. This is a resource to keep returning to for some gentle reminders of how to regain control during times of stress. Key questions are provided throughout that can be applied in education, sport and general life. Its a book perfect for parents and teachers who want to enable children and young adults to develop the mental skills required for a positive mindset.

Nick Cooper, Director, Performance Solutions

Release Your Inner Drive is a fantastically useful book, providing practical advice for students. Written in straightforward language and full of helpful graphics, it explains in tangible steps how to develop the attitudes, mindsets and habits that are crucial to success at school and in life, such as confidence, well-being, resilience, learning from mistakes and improving memory. Crucially, this advice is evidence-based and has been distilled from high-quality research in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. I have never come across a clearer explanation for students of how to handle the complexities of motivation, mindset and performance.

Jonnie Noakes, Head of Teaching and Learning, Eton College

ReleaseYour Inner Drive very skilfully applies well-grounded, contemporary psychological concepts to an array of achievement situations. The infographics communicate complex theory in a really digestible way, designed to help readers make sense of the mental aspects of performance, and apply thinking skills within their particular domain. As an academic and practitioner, I think the inclusion of research and references is really important and I particularly appreciated this aspect of the book. Many of the graphics are eye-catching, but also accurate, helping people to remember what they read, which helps them apply what they read to their world. The graphical way in which the content is presented allows the reader to easily understand the tools being introduced, and the theory behind the tools. Information is chunked in such a way that the reader is able to take away key pieces of information easily. The advice is not only useful for people wishing to fulfil their potential, it is also important for well-being. Indeed, many of the concepts are as much about maintaining and enhancing well-being as they are about achievement. My favourite part was Chapter 10, where growth mindset is really clearly applied. I also like the fact that the reader is given options as to how to use the book, prior to and after reading it.