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The Happy Brain

The Science of Where Happiness Comes From, and Why

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The Happy Brain

By: Dean Burnett
Narrated by: Matt Addis
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Do you want to be happy?

If so - listen. This audiobook has all the answers!

Not really. Sorry. But it does have some very interesting questions and at least the occasional answer.

The enthusiasm for and expectation of happiness are so widespread today that fundamental questions about it are often overlooked. For starters, the most basic question of all: where does happiness come from? Is it your brain - a mere concoction of chemicals or network of neurons? Is it in fact your gut? (Spoiler alert: yes. Sort of) Or is it external? Is it love or sex or money or success? And what are these doing to our brains anyway?

In The Happy Brain, Neuroscientist Dean Burnett delves into our most private selves to investigate what causes happiness, where it comes from and why we are so desperate to hang on to it. The questions he raises are ones we so rarely ask today, but they address a major part of what it means to be a modern-day human.

©2018 Dean Burnett (P)2018 Audible, Ltd Biological Sciences Brain & Nervous System Career Success Motivation & Self-Improvement Neuroscience & Neuropsychology Personal Development Personal Success Physical Illness & Disease Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science Happiness Human Brain Career Inspiring Mental Health Thought-Provoking Health
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The Happy Brain tickled my dopamine neurons and made my brain happy. The book is superbly written by Dean Burnett with his mix of high quality science writing, making complex ideas easier to understand, punctuated with sharp yet good natured humour. Matt Addis deserves great credit for his narration too, his perfect pace, rhythm and tone bring the words to life. Most impressive is how both Dean & Matt move between the science and the humour so effortlessly, there is a cheeky grin behind both the writing and delivery I'm sure. Writing and narration in perfect harmony.

The book is a real adventure into the multiple complex causes of happiness and just how different we all are. The book journeys through the whole range of life experiences from childhood, to home, work & fame, money, sex, drugs, social connection, the darker sides of happiness, health and ultimately mortality. The overriding message is that we have find out what makes us happy, there is as far as science knows, no one single answer.

The book added to my understanding of the current neuroscience and there are a number of studies referenced that were new to me. What Dean adds is his ability to make all that science so human with real world stories, his own sometimes painful emotional experiences which he then breaks up with some unexpected humorous twist, some skill that.

For me, The Happy Brain accords with the better science-based books on positive psychology that suggest many ways people have found meaning and happiness in their lives. Just like the best of those books the conclusion is that you have to try the ideas for yourself and see what works for you. Even then the happiness may be fleeting and will almost certainly change over time. The one theme that remains constant across all the work I've seen to date is our need for social connection and to be part of something.

A fact filled, honest, truthful and balanced book that can help us understand that most human search for happiness and just how individual a journey it is for each of us to find it.

More simply, I flippin loved it, thanks lads.

A neuro adventure, facts, honesty and fun

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i can't begin to imagine how much research went into this book but honestly its not much a of story, rather a rambling of facts that ends up semi answering the question-which I guess its as good as it gets when answering such a hard question. well done

first audiobook, a bit of a convoluted book

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nicely read and easy to follow. very interesting book! I'll be looking for more of his for my next purchase.

explains a lot!

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I liked humor and science being so close and at ease with each other. I think the only thing missing is to provide a bit more of advise on what to try to improve all things which make you happy. But then, author is not a life coach, he is scientist!

good book to understand brain better

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I bought this book because I’d previously read The Idiot Brain and could barely put it down, but while I also found the subjects covered in this book fascinating, I found the book itself much heavier going both in print and as an audio book.

Now this looks more like a review of me than the book, but there you are. Top marks for the content of the book, not so many for the readability and delivery.

Felt heavier than The Idiot Brain

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