A fascinating exploration of the ways in which our ancient neurologic wiring is mismatched for the modern ecosystem. By understanding depression and anxiety through the lens of evolution, we can make sense of the growing despair in the world today and do something about it. This is a must read for anyone hoping to understand the human brain. Dr. Anna Lembke, New York Times bestselling author of Dopamine Nation

Drawing on cutting-edge research, award-winning journalist Jonathan Rauch answers all these questions. He shows that from our 20s into our 40s, happiness follows a U-shaped trajectory, a “happiness curve,” declining from the optimism of youth into what’s often a long, low slump in middle age, before starting to rise again in our 50s.

The Happiness Cure

This is a well-researched work simplifies multiple sources of research, into clearly defined easy ro digest chapters. These are clearly mapped to explain the different factors impacting the individual's need for happiness.

The Happiness Cure offers a radical new way to think about fulfilment. Blending neuroscientific research and empirical breakthroughs with stories of ordinary individuals, leading psychiatrist and viral TedX speaker Dr Anders Hansen reveals that by adopting an evolutionary take on life, we can re-set our perspective on happiness to find longer-term meaning and lasting contentment. About the author Meanwhile, Anders Hansen’s Brain Blues and Måns Mosesson’s Tim – The Official Biography of Avicii features on the Non-fiction list, and David Sundin’s audiobook The Audiobook That Did Not Want To End – Part 2, from the same universe as The Book That Did Not Want To Be Read, is in the running for the Children’s books’ award. I interviewed dozens of people for this book trying to understand in an intimate, textured way how they experience life satisfaction over time. I have learned what we all already know. There is no single, standard trajectory for human happiness.”

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Anders Hansen is a highly regarded scientific communicator who, in this book, seeks the keys to our well-being through human evolution. It is both an encouraging and a comforting message which describes how our brains are wired for survival, rather than constant well-being. Thomas Perlmann, Professor of Molecular Developmental Biology, Karolinska Institute, Sweden and Member of the Nobel Assembly Are you an upper-middle class/wealthy white male who lives in an urban setting and is successful in your career? If so, then this is the book for you! It reminds me a lot of Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In - focusing on a narrow, highly successful group of people and then acting like their situation is applicable to all. It's not. The Swedish psychiatric specialists’ books are both out now, with his latest, The Happiness Cure, explaining why the human brain isn't evolutionarily wired for happiness - and how we can take practical steps to feel better. He told Chris: “Most people think of happiness as constant feelings of pleasure, and we are not built that way.”

He added: “This feeling of pleasure is something that should be short-term, but we are fooled by advertising that we should experience it all the time. If you think that happiness is feeling good all the time, then you will be disappointed because we've not built that way.Psychiatric specialist Dr Anders Hansen joined The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with cinch to impart wisdom from his two books, The Happiness Cure and The Attention Fix. Exercise is something that we as a species have evolved for. So, exercise is something that we should try to build into our lives, such as walking to work, riding your bike to work, walking in stairs instead of taking the elevators, all these things. The Happiness Cure offers a radical new way to think about fulfilment. Blending neuroscientific research and empirical breakthroughs with stories of ordinary individuals, leading psychiatrist and viral TedX speaker Dr Anders Hansen reveals that by adopting an evolutionary take on life, we can re-set our perspective on happiness to find longer-term meaning and lasting contentment.