HARDWIRING HAPPINESS The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence

The author reads his cutting-edge book with the laid-back enthusiasm of a kind and experienced mental health professional. He scores big with his boyish sincerity and clean-sounding voice, though better direction or editing might have reduced the number of timing glitches. Still, this is an empowering neuroscience presentation that is easy to hear and rich with practical suggestions. Hanson says that paying more attention to our day-to-day joys can rewire our brains to create more well-being, resiliency, and satisfaction. Intentionally focusing on these moments makes them more prominent than our more easily internalized negative experiences. It’s a believable argument that what we think about can help us feel more consistently confident, cared about, and happy—no matter what’s going on around us. T.W. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2013]