The Brain Manual

New Haynes Manual for Super Computer

Computer buffs will be familiar with the extensive range of computer-related manuals published by Haynes. Haynes launched their first computer manual in 2001, there are now 16 titles in the series including Using Your Computer: The Beginner's Guide, Internet Genealogy, Desktop Publishing, Build Your Own Website and the eBay Manual, with sales figures approaching a quarter of a million. Another manual, in the same glossy format as the computer range, has just been added to the series - The Brain Manual.

Thanks to parallel processing, the human brain easily eclipses the performance of PCs. It's also smaller and more portable. It comes with a lifetime warranty too. But that doesn't mean it cannot 'crash' or be damaged. The Brain Manual from Haynes - which is published to coincide with National Men's Health Week, with mental wellbeing being the focus this year - is the ultimate manual for the ultimate computer. Indeed, many comparisons with computers are made in the manual. Both devices have input and output peripherals (think: hands, keyboard, eyes and monitor) and with both the brain and the computer, it takes a real expert to know what is happening inside. If your computer crashes, it is inconvenient, if your brain crashes, it's called a stroke and is serious. The answer is to not overload your computer and to not stress your brain too much.

Fortunately, you do not have to be a computer geek to undertake simple maintenance of your mental faculties. But you do need a manual to follow - the new Brain Manual from Haynes.

Haynes publishes all sorts of manuals - on cars, motorcycles, men, women and babies. Written by Dr Ian Banks, author of the NHS Direct Health Care Guide, a frequent broadcaster...

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... President of the Men's Health Forum and a practising casualty doctor, the Brain Manual emphasises positive steps to improved mental well-being. There are tips for doing a 'desktop clean up' and an explanation of the biophilia effect (why getting close to nature makes us feel better). Relationships and stress are covered, as is the effect of ageing on the brain. Malfunctions and disorders are explained - with information about how to avoid them, how to cope with their effects and how to perform a system restoration. Configuration problems, such as the effects of a stroke, are also included. And there's a useful guide to the likely effects of alcohol and other recreational drugs. As with other Haynes family manuals, Jim Campbell's cartoons and Haynes technical illustrations complement the text.

Of course, many people prefer to ignore what is happening inside their computer but they are dismissing a serious problem. Nearly 13 million working days were lost to stress-related illness in 2004. Some of the causes of stress are not obvious - deaths from heart attack or stroke increase significantly on the day of a big football match, for instance. And the World Cup kicks off in June.

Some of the many "fact or fiction?" questions answered in the Brain Manual:

All brains start life as girl brains.
True! The default brain in the developing foetus is female.

People can hear colour.
Strange as this may sound, it is fact. Approximately 1 in 25,000 people have this condition called synaesthesia - meaning joined sensation.

Humans only use 10% of their brains.
This is a popular myth but false.

Haynes is the world's foremost publisher of automotive repair manuals and renowned for teaching millions of car owners how to carry out routine maintenance and repairs. Haynes publishes manuals for more than 500 cars and vans as well as useful glovebox guides such as Your Car and family manuals such as the Man Manual, the Woman Manual, the Baby Manual, the Sex Manual, the Cancer Manual and the HGV Man Manual.

Notes to Editors:

National Men's Health Week (NMHW) is 12-18 June, with mental wellbeing being the focus this year - Mind Your Head is the slogan. NMHW is one week before the start of the football World Cup and the Football Association is involved with the promotion. For further details regarding National Men's Health Week, please contact Rachel Powell at Consolidated PR on 020 7287 2087

On the internet there's a lot you can't see: is this site really trying to sell you something?

Over 40 prestigious charities and organisations are involved with the collaboration of the Haynes Brain Manual, including: The FA, Department of Health, Royal Mail, Alzheimer's Society, Samaritans, Stroke Association, Age Concern and BIVDA.

The information above is supplied courtesy of Haynes Publishing, please credit accordingly if you intend to use it. For further information, please contact Rebecca Nicholls on Tel: 01452 260063 or email: pr@haynes.co.uk

Dr Ian Banks is available for interview