The Skills of Being Happier, with Happiness Researcher and Expert Declan Edwards

Osher Günsberg's memoir, "Back After the Break," offers a raw and honest account of his struggles with addiction, mental health challenges, and the arduous path toward self-discovery. The book details his experiences with psychosis, substance abuse, and the emotional toll these battles took on him. It also highlights his journey of recovery, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and embracing vulnerability. Günsberg shares hard-earned lessons and insights, offering hope and inspiration to others facing similar struggles. The book's intimate and unflinching portrayal of mental health challenges makes it a powerful and moving read.

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.

In 'Stumbling on Happiness,' Daniel Gilbert delves into the human capacity to imagine the future and why we are often poor at predicting what will make us happy. Gilbert argues that our imagination is flawed in several ways: it adds or removes details, extrapolates from the present, and fails to account for the psychological immune system that helps us cope with undesired outcomes. The book uses scientific research from psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and behavioral economics to explain why we consistently misjudge our future satisfaction and how this affects our decisions. Gilbert also suggests that understanding these biases can help us make better choices and gain more control over our pursuit of happiness.