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The Other Side of Happiness

Embracing a More Fearless Approach to Living
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( 306 ratings, 32 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Other Side of Happiness by Dr. Brock Bastian explores the concept that discomfort and suffering can play crucial roles in experiencing joy and fulfilment. It challenges the notion that constant happiness is the ultimate goal, instead advocating for the value of embracing life's full spectrum of emotions to enhance overall well-being. The book provides insightful examples from psychology and real-life experiences to illustrate how adversity can actually enrich life.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you are interested in exploring the complex relationship between pain and happiness, as it reveals how discomfort and adversity contribute to personal growth and fulfilment. Dr. Brock Bastian delves into the science and psychology behind how experiencing negatives can lead to richer, more meaningful lives.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An internationally acclaimed social psychologist offers a counter-intuitive approach to finding happiness.

In Western culture, we have become addicted to positivity. We try to eradicate pain through medication and by insulating ourselves and our children from risk, even though we are the safest generation that ever lived. Yet in his research, renowned social psychologist Brock Bastian has found that hardship and sadness are neither antithetical to pleasure nor incidental; they are a necessary ingredient for happiness.

Drawing on psychology, neuroscience and internationally acclaimed findings from Bastian's own lab, The Other Side of Happiness encourages us to take a more fearless approach to living that acknowledges the value of pain in our lives. As Bastian shows us, the most thrilling moments of our lives are usually balanced on a knife edge between pleasure and pain, whether it is finding your true love, holding your new-born for the first time, finishing a marathon or even taking a dip in an icy sea. This is because hardship quite literally increases our capacity for happiness, making us stronger, more resilient, and more connected to those around us.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Other Side of Happiness by Dr. Brock Bastian explores the positive aspects of pain, suffering, and struggle, arguing that they contribute to pleasure, kindness, focus, and life's meaning. Reviewers praise Bastian for challenging the positive thinking trend by demonstrating the importance of hardship in leading a fulfilling life. The book is described as a marvellous and thought-provoking exploration of how well-being often emerges in unexpected contexts.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141982106

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 31 January 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 12.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 160g

Pages: 208

About the Author

Dr. Brock Bastian is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Melbourne. His studies have been reviewed in leading news outlets such as Time Magazine, Huffington Post, Economist, New Scientist, Scientific American, CNN, ABC, Globe and Mail, The New Yorker and New York Magazine. Brock's pioneering approach to research has been acknowledged with the Wegner Theoretical Innovation Prize, and his presentations have been included on the ABC Radio National Big Ideas podcast.

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