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Finding Happiness, Success and Deep Purpose with Arthur Brooks

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Mar 9, 2022

Guest

Arthur C. Brooks

In this conversation, Arthur Brooks, a Harvard professor and Atlantic columnist known for his insights on happiness and success, dives into the science behind fulfillment. He discusses the dangers of hustle culture and the importance of genuine relationships over superficial pursuits. Brooks introduces a three-step approach to cultivating happiness and warns against the pitfalls of social comparison amplified by social media. He emphasizes embracing vulnerability and prioritizing meaningful experiences as true sources of joy in life.

55:57

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INSIGHT

Happiness Defined

Happiness isn't just a feeling, but a combination of enjoyment, satisfaction, and purpose.
Unhappiness often stems from an imbalance in one of these areas.

insights

INSIGHT

Two Types of Intelligence

Psychologists have identified two types of intelligence: fluid and crystallized.
Fluid intelligence peaks in your 30s, while crystallized intelligence increases in your 40s.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Darwin vs. Bach

Charles Darwin, an early bloomer, struggled in his later years as his field evolved.
Johann Sebastian Bach successfully transitioned from innovator to teacher, embracing his crystallized intelligence.

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The Pursuit of Happiness in Aging

02:59 • 18min

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The Pillars of Genuine Happiness

21:15 • 7min

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The Pursuit of Happiness: A Three-Step Approach

28:21 • 9min

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The Dark Side of Social Comparison and Its Impact on Happiness

37:11 • 3min

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Beyond the Bucket List

40:38 • 12min

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Navigating Job Satisfaction and Career Decisions

53:03 • 2min

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Exploring Barcelona and the Paradox of Success

54:56 • 4min

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Happy Money

The Science of Happier Spending

Michael Norton

Elizabeth Dunn

In this book, Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton explain how money can buy happiness if spent according to five core principles. These principles include buying experiences over material goods, making purchases a treat, buying time, paying now and consuming later, and investing in others. The authors draw on cutting-edge research in behavioral science to show how these principles can be applied by individuals and companies to create happier employees and customers. They also highlight how companies like Google, Pepsi, and Charmin have implemented these ideas successfully.

The Brothers Karamazov

Larissa Volokhonsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Richard Pevear

Set in 19th-century Russia, 'The Brothers Karamazov' is a novel that delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on the three brothers—Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha—and their complex relationships with their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov. The novel is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry, faith, doubt, and reason. It examines the human psyche, moral dilemmas, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with suffering and uncertainty. The story revolves around the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich and the subsequent trial of Dmitri, accused of the crime, while exploring deeper themes of Russian life, social and spiritual striving, and the clash between faith and reason.

Unknown

Kate DiCamillo

From Strength to Strength

Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life

Arthur C Brooks

In 'From Strength to Strength', Arthur C. Brooks addresses the inevitable decline in abilities that comes with aging and provides a practical guide on how to transform this period into an opportunity for growth. Drawing on social science, philosophy, biography, theology, and eastern wisdom, as well as interviews with everyday men and women, Brooks advocates for refocusing on priorities such as deep wisdom, detachment from empty rewards, connection and service to others, and spiritual progress. He argues that by adapting our expectations and focusing on these areas, we can achieve increased happiness and purpose in our later years.

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor Frankl

The book is divided into two parts. The first part recounts Frankl's harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945. He describes the inhumane conditions and the psychological and emotional struggles of the prisoners. The second part introduces Frankl's theory of logotherapy, which posits that the primary human drive is the search for meaning, rather than pleasure. Frankl argues that meaning can be found through three main avenues: work (doing something significant), love (caring for another), and suffering (finding meaning in one's own suffering). The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the most adverse conditions, as a key factor in survival and personal growth.

Confessions

Augustine

Written in Latin between AD 397 and 400, 'Confessions' is a blend of autobiography, philosophy, theology, and critical exegesis of the Christian Bible. The first nine books are autobiographical, tracing Augustine's life from his birth to his conversion to Catholicism. He recounts his sinful youth, his involvement with Manicheism and Neoplatonism, and his eventual conversion in a Milanese garden. The last four books focus on philosophical and theological issues, including memory, time, eternity, and the interpretation of the Book of Genesis. The work is structured as a series of prayers to God, reflecting Augustine's journey of redemption and his understanding of God's grace and providence.

The Bible

Various Authors

The Bible is a comprehensive collection of texts that form the central religious text of Christianity and Judaism. It is divided into the Old Testament, which includes books such as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and others that narrate the creation of the world, the history of the Israelites, and the prophetic messages. The New Testament focuses on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, along with the early Christian church and its spread. The Bible contains a wide range of genres, including historical narratives, poetry, wisdom literature, prophetic writings, and epistles.

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

The Miracle of Mindfulness

An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation

Thich Nhat Hanh

This book, originally written as a long letter to a fellow Buddhist monk in 1974, provides a clear and simple introduction to the practice of mindfulness. Thich Nhat Hanh uses gentle anecdotes and practical exercises to teach readers how to be fully aware and awake in each moment, whether it be washing dishes, answering the phone, or peeling an orange. The book emphasizes the importance of living in the present and finding opportunities for self-understanding and peacefulness in everyday activities. It also includes practical advice on breathing techniques and other meditative practices to reduce stress and enhance focus and self-compassion.

#47: Behavioral social scientist Arthur Brooks joins Chris to explore happiness and the different types of intelligence. They also explore the hustle culture, the science of satisfaction, the reverse bucket list, the four good idols (friends, family, faith, and work) and the four to watch out for (money, power, pleasure, and pain)

Arthur C. Brooks (@arthurbrooks) is a Harvard Professor, musician, and columnist for the Atlantic. He is also the bestselling author of 11 books on topics ranging from economic opportunity to human happiness. In February 2022, Arthur released From Strength to Strength, a book on finding meaning, success, and deep purpose in the second half of life.

Full show notes at: https://allthehacks.com/happiness-arthur-brooks and you can watch this episode on YouTube

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Resources Mentioned

Connect with Arthur: Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Some of Arthur's Books

From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt
Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism -- America's Charity Divide -- Who Gives, Who Doesn't, and Why It Matters

Selected Works from the Atlantic

How to Build a Life - Arthur's Column
Are you Epicurus or Epictetus Article

Books Referenced

Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending by Elizabeth Dunn and Dr Michael Norton
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Confessions by Saint Augustine
The Bible

Podcasts Referenced

#36: Bucket Lists, Audacious Goals and Living the Life You Want with Ben Nemtin

Barcelona Recommendations

Roman Ruins
Sagrada Familia
Romanesque Churches and Gothic Cathedrals

Full Show Notes

(02:54) Defining Happiness According to Arthur

(03:50) Assessing Happiness through Tests

(04:47) Seven Habits of Happier Aging

(05:42) Navigating the Success Curve

(06:30) Understanding Fluid Intelligence

(07:35) Grasping Crystalized Intelligence

(07:50) Pivotal Importance of the Right Curve

(08:50) Transitioning and Preparing for a Success Curve Jump

(10:44) Darwin and Bach: Lessons from Their Curves

(13:30) Success Addiction, Dopamine, and Balance

(16:30) Hustle Culture and Metacognition

(18:00) Optimal Journaling Frequency for Benefits

(20:30) The Pitfall of Bad Idols

(21:10) Embracing the Good Idols

(24:25) Actionable Steps for Immediate Happiness

(25:15) Unveiling the Happiness Algorithm

(25:25) Faith Beyond Organized Religion

(29:40) Embracing Lectio Divina - Divine Reading

(30:36) Science of Satisfaction Uncovered

(32:00) Hedonic Treadmill and Social Comparison

(33:47) Crafting a More Fulfilling Bucket List

(35:25) Reflecting on the Reverse Bucket List

(37:30) Investing in Happiness: How to Buy It

(40:52) Navigating Technology's Impact on Happiness

(42:40) Transforming Weakness into Strength

(45:36) Hope and the Role of Negative Emotions

(47:00) The Courage to Quit for Happiness

(48:30) Recommendations for Barcelona Exploration

(49:12) The Genesis of Arthur's Recent Book

(52:00) Concluding with Arthur Brooks and Online Connections

Connect with All the Hacks

All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email

Chris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn

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