Scan barcode
morgan_blackledge's review against another edition
4.0
This book is great. It's got some problems, chiefly in the editing department, but what ever. The premise is really original. Her idea is that adopting a cynical perspective is self protective in the short term. It makes us feel better (i.e it raises our happy chemicals and lowers our unhappy chemicals). But In the long term it is ineffective and harmful in the sense that it subverts our drive to take life affirming action.
Her antidote to cynicism is Personal Agency and Realistic Expectations. Forgive me if all this sounds like nonsense. Her ideas are difficult to summarize in short form. I recommend reading the book if you're still curious. You won't regret it.
I can't help but love her books. Total guilty pleasure. Meet your happy chemicals is great too. She has this charming and totally effective way of boiling immensely complex subjects down to their ridiculously simple essence. Some intellectuals and academics may dismiss this approach as "dumbing down" the subject. But this book isn't meant to be complete or technically precise.
You wouldn't want to prescribe psychotropic medications based on the information in this book. But it is a wonderful, simple, solid "toy" model of affective neurochemistry that can be upgraded with more detailed or sophisticated information at a later time if necessary.
Danieal Siegel does similar work with his model of brain structure and function. You wouldn't want to perform brain surgery based on his writing. But it's a completely appropriate level of complexity for helping laypeople understand why humans behave the way they do, and how to modify said behavior when it is maladaptive.
This is, in my opinion, the only way to teach and learn for most people (myself included). Build a simple model, and gradually add to it as necessary. I use these teaching strategies in my undergraduate psych classes and in my psychotherapy practice all the time.
I'm a neuro psych nerd. I love complex, detailed and precise information about the brain and behavior. But as I progress in my learning and teaching, I am finding that simplicity and clarity is ultimately more effective most of the time. Simplicity is the new complexity. Read this book. It's really thought provoking and a lot of fun too:)
As an addendum I will say that the book appears to be self published, which is a great thing in many ways, but in this particular instance, perhaps some expert editing would enhance the readers experience. Particularly readers who are less forgiving or generous. I was able to appreciate the argument and delivery of the material and forgive some of the formal shortcomings of the book. Others may not.
Her antidote to cynicism is Personal Agency and Realistic Expectations. Forgive me if all this sounds like nonsense. Her ideas are difficult to summarize in short form. I recommend reading the book if you're still curious. You won't regret it.
I can't help but love her books. Total guilty pleasure. Meet your happy chemicals is great too. She has this charming and totally effective way of boiling immensely complex subjects down to their ridiculously simple essence. Some intellectuals and academics may dismiss this approach as "dumbing down" the subject. But this book isn't meant to be complete or technically precise.
You wouldn't want to prescribe psychotropic medications based on the information in this book. But it is a wonderful, simple, solid "toy" model of affective neurochemistry that can be upgraded with more detailed or sophisticated information at a later time if necessary.
Danieal Siegel does similar work with his model of brain structure and function. You wouldn't want to perform brain surgery based on his writing. But it's a completely appropriate level of complexity for helping laypeople understand why humans behave the way they do, and how to modify said behavior when it is maladaptive.
This is, in my opinion, the only way to teach and learn for most people (myself included). Build a simple model, and gradually add to it as necessary. I use these teaching strategies in my undergraduate psych classes and in my psychotherapy practice all the time.
I'm a neuro psych nerd. I love complex, detailed and precise information about the brain and behavior. But as I progress in my learning and teaching, I am finding that simplicity and clarity is ultimately more effective most of the time. Simplicity is the new complexity. Read this book. It's really thought provoking and a lot of fun too:)
As an addendum I will say that the book appears to be self published, which is a great thing in many ways, but in this particular instance, perhaps some expert editing would enhance the readers experience. Particularly readers who are less forgiving or generous. I was able to appreciate the argument and delivery of the material and forgive some of the formal shortcomings of the book. Others may not.
kwitshadie's review
5.0
I have been reading about "happiness" for about 15 years, ever since a really low point in my life. This is one of the 3 most important books I have ever read, period, because now I have a model that fits exactly with my ups and downs and a clear understanding of how to manage and even steer them successfully. I recently let myself get drawn into a huge FaceBook bun-throwing fight over "cyclists" and now I understand the mechanics of that cynical interaction and how I might successfully manage those frustrating run ins in the future. Her other titles are "Meet Your Happy Chemicals" and "I, Mammal". Do yourself a huge favour and read all 3.
More...