Book review: Hardwiring Happiness
Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson*
This is another book in the burgeoning genre of how to apply the latest research in neuroscience and/or positive psychology to improving your life. The title is misleading, because it's not just about getting "happier" (or more content, or more fulfilled, or however you want to define "happy"). It's about a mental practice that can be used to build your capacity for any of a wide range of emotions or traits: confidence, contentment, resiliency, and so on.
The best thing about this book is, in fact, the practice that it describes. It's simple, it's short -- like, 30 to 60 seconds long -- and you can do it anywhere, anytime. If you want to mould your brain more to your liking and you have trouble fitting in more intensive or time-consuming practices, this is the one for you.
The worst thing about the book is that it describes the practice over and over again. I started skipping past the directed exercises pretty early on, since they were all variations on the same thing, it seemed. I also wish he'd spent much more time on the science behind it all (which seems to be considerable, if the fact that the reference notes take up one fifth of the book is any indication). I found the language simplistic, even twee at times. But the upside is that makes it a quick and easily digestible read.
Final verdict: Recommended.
*For Canadians: no, not Rick Hansen
This is another book in the burgeoning genre of how to apply the latest research in neuroscience and/or positive psychology to improving your life. The title is misleading, because it's not just about getting "happier" (or more content, or more fulfilled, or however you want to define "happy"). It's about a mental practice that can be used to build your capacity for any of a wide range of emotions or traits: confidence, contentment, resiliency, and so on.
The best thing about this book is, in fact, the practice that it describes. It's simple, it's short -- like, 30 to 60 seconds long -- and you can do it anywhere, anytime. If you want to mould your brain more to your liking and you have trouble fitting in more intensive or time-consuming practices, this is the one for you.
The worst thing about the book is that it describes the practice over and over again. I started skipping past the directed exercises pretty early on, since they were all variations on the same thing, it seemed. I also wish he'd spent much more time on the science behind it all (which seems to be considerable, if the fact that the reference notes take up one fifth of the book is any indication). I found the language simplistic, even twee at times. But the upside is that makes it a quick and easily digestible read.
Final verdict: Recommended.
*For Canadians: no, not Rick Hansen