In this book, Dr. Peter Attia draws on the latest science to deliver innovative nutritional interventions, techniques for optimizing exercise and sleep, and tools for addressing emotional and mental health. The book aims to replace the outdated medical framework with a personalized, proactive strategy for longevity, focusing on creating the best individual plan for long-term health. It covers topics such as the limitations of cholesterol tests, underdiagnosed liver conditions, the importance of exercise, and the integration of overall health with relational health.
In this seminal work, Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross delves into the emotional and psychological experiences of terminally ill patients through extensive interviews and conversations. The book introduces the now-famous five stages of grief: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. It challenges the medical culture of the time by emphasizing the importance of listening to and supporting the unique experiences and needs of dying patients. The book has had a profound impact on clinical practice, contributing to the development of hospice and palliative care, and has transformed how society approaches conversations about death and dying[2][4][5].
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.
In 'Build the Life You Want,' Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey offer a research-based approach to improving one's life by focusing on emotional self-management. The book emphasizes building the four pillars of happiness: family, friendship, work, and faith. It provides practical, science-backed strategies to manage emotions, turn challenges into opportunities, and find inner peace. The authors share their own experiences and those of others who have found joy despite hardships, highlighting the importance of enjoyment, satisfaction, and purpose in achieving a happier life.
In 'Awe', Dacher Keltner presents a sweeping investigation and deeply personal inquiry into the elusive feeling of awe. The book reveals new research alongside an examination of awe across history, culture, and within Keltner's own life. It shows how awe transforms thoughts of self, one’s relationship to the world, and physical reactions to it. Keltner also explores how awe has propelled human evolution, is beneficial to mental and physical health, and can heal grief, build communal bonds, and humble us by making us feel part of something larger than ourselves.
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Arthur Brooks is a social scientist, professor at Harvard University, columnist for The Atlantic, and bestselling author. In this episode, Arthur returns to the podcast to discuss his new book, Build the Life You Want. He delves into the nuanced concept of happiness, differentiating between momentary feelings and overall wellbeing. He explains the importance of understanding one’s personality pattern with respect to positive and negative emotions in order to better self-manage emotions. He delves into the three key elements of happiness, offering practical strategies for enhancing those specific domains through methods such as metacognition, transcendent experiences, discipline, minimizing self-focus while directing attention outward, and more. Through personal examples, Arthur demonstrates that one can actively track well-being levels and take intentional steps to cultivate happiness and enhance overall well-being.
We discuss:
- Happiness vs. happy feelings, and how happiness and unhappiness can coexist [4:30];
- The six fundamental emotions [8:00];
- The evolution and heritability of happiness, and the four personality patterns with respect to positive and negative emotions [17:30];
- Navigating relationships: the power of complementarity over compatibility [23:30];
- The importance of self-managing your mental habits [25:30];
- Enjoyment: one of the three macronutrients of happiness [32:00];
- Satisfaction: one of the three macronutrients of happiness [43:45];
- The reverse bucket list, metacognition, and other techniques to protect yourself from your limbic system [51:00];
- Meaning: one of the three macronutrients of happiness [57:30];
- The four quarters of your life and how that relates to the meaning of your life [1:05:00];
- Putting metacognition into practice [1:09:00];
- What might explain the societal downdrift in happiness over the last few decades? [1:17:00];
- Taking charge of your happiness: discipline, transcendent experiences, and other deliberate actions for happiness [1:30:30];
- Tracking happiness: biomarkers and micronutrients behind the macronutrients of happiness [1:42:00];
- The value in minimizing the self and looking outward [1:49:45];
- How Arthur surprised himself with his ability to improve his happiness [1:54:00]; and
- More.
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