What do you think?
What's Going Right: A Powerful New Method for Optimizing Your Mental Health
"A peerless mental health guide that belongs in every home." ―Andrew D. Huberman, PhD, professor of neurobiology, Stanford School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab Podcast.
This affirming book from world-renowned and celebrity-endorsed psychiatrist, Dr. Paul Conti, offers a paradigm-shifting approach to optimizing mental health, offering readers a proven way towards a joyful life—based on the popular series on Andrew Huberman's podcast.
More than one in five US adults are living with a mental illness. Since 2010, adults ages eighteen to twenty-five have experienced a 139 percent increase in anxiety. For all of the increasing and well-intended mental health resources at our immediate disposal, we could easily ask where we are going wrong. Yet, Dr. Paul Conti wants to know, “what's going right?”
Backed by celebrities and esteemed colleagues such as Lady Gaga, Mel Robbins, and Kim Kardashian, Dr. Conti poses that the key to embracing this new narrative is tapping into our often ignored and long over-looked generative drive, the primary factor that’s already going right in each of us. The generative drive helps you get things done, solve problems creatively, help others and feel connected to something larger than yourself. When activated, it brings you peace, contentment, and delight.
With Dr. Conti’s notorious straightforward sincerity, he shares the exact method he uses on his patients and celebrity clients to help them tap into their generative drives including:
The 5 Part Function of Self: When you alter your function you alter your life trajectory
Cultivating a daily self-inquiry practice
Learning compassionate curiosity
Progressive muscle relaxation
Rewiring Life Narratives
What’s Going Right offers readers a proven offramp from the toxic pursuits that keep them stuck and an onramp towards happiness.
This affirming book from world-renowned and celebrity-endorsed psychiatrist, Dr. Paul Conti, offers a paradigm-shifting approach to optimizing mental health, offering readers a proven way towards a joyful life—based on the popular series on Andrew Huberman's podcast.
More than one in five US adults are living with a mental illness. Since 2010, adults ages eighteen to twenty-five have experienced a 139 percent increase in anxiety. For all of the increasing and well-intended mental health resources at our immediate disposal, we could easily ask where we are going wrong. Yet, Dr. Paul Conti wants to know, “what's going right?”
Backed by celebrities and esteemed colleagues such as Lady Gaga, Mel Robbins, and Kim Kardashian, Dr. Conti poses that the key to embracing this new narrative is tapping into our often ignored and long over-looked generative drive, the primary factor that’s already going right in each of us. The generative drive helps you get things done, solve problems creatively, help others and feel connected to something larger than yourself. When activated, it brings you peace, contentment, and delight.
With Dr. Conti’s notorious straightforward sincerity, he shares the exact method he uses on his patients and celebrity clients to help them tap into their generative drives including:
The 5 Part Function of Self: When you alter your function you alter your life trajectory
Cultivating a daily self-inquiry practice
Learning compassionate curiosity
Progressive muscle relaxation
Rewiring Life Narratives
What’s Going Right offers readers a proven offramp from the toxic pursuits that keep them stuck and an onramp towards happiness.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published May 5, 2026
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February 22, 2026Thank you to NetGalley, Balance/Grand Central Publishing, and Dr. Paul Conti for the advance copy of this book.
As someone who is generally a happy, optimistic person (it’s easier if you avoid the news, honestly), I really appreciated the central reframing of this book: instead of endlessly dissecting what’s wrong, it asks you to notice and build on what’s already going right. Depending on your perspective, that can feel a bit repetitive or reinforcing, but for me it landed in a comforting, steady way rather than a shallow “just think positive” spin.
What stood out most were the questions and the low‑pressure, guided reflection exercises. They’re simple without being simplistic, and they invite genuine self‑inquiry rather than demanding that you overhaul your entire life overnight. The mix of gentle structure and independent self‑reflection made this one of the more practically helpful self‑help books I’ve read in a while.
If you’re looking for a clinical deep dive or something radically new, this may not be the book for you. But if you’re interested in a grounded, hopeful approach that helps you notice your existing strengths and lean into them with more intention, this is a thoughtful and encouraging place to start.
As someone who is generally a happy, optimistic person (it’s easier if you avoid the news, honestly), I really appreciated the central reframing of this book: instead of endlessly dissecting what’s wrong, it asks you to notice and build on what’s already going right. Depending on your perspective, that can feel a bit repetitive or reinforcing, but for me it landed in a comforting, steady way rather than a shallow “just think positive” spin.
What stood out most were the questions and the low‑pressure, guided reflection exercises. They’re simple without being simplistic, and they invite genuine self‑inquiry rather than demanding that you overhaul your entire life overnight. The mix of gentle structure and independent self‑reflection made this one of the more practically helpful self‑help books I’ve read in a while.
If you’re looking for a clinical deep dive or something radically new, this may not be the book for you. But if you’re interested in a grounded, hopeful approach that helps you notice your existing strengths and lean into them with more intention, this is a thoughtful and encouraging place to start.
April 30, 2026
I’m digging the books I’ve been reading lately about how to live a good and meaningful life; instead of addressing negative things, they’re helping you focus on what you can do to build meaning. That said, I think I liked a couple recent reads a little better than this one (How to Live a Meaningful Life & Why We Suffer and How We Heal). This book is about what drives you. The author says that we all have an assertive drive, a pleasure drive and a generative drive. The assertive & pleasure drives need to be balanced - a lot of unhappiness comes from imbalance in these drives. But the most important is the generative drive, where more is always better. I’ve been hearing more & more lately about the generative drive, so if that’s a particular interest to you, you’ll like this book. The other thing I did really love about this book are the appendixes. Embedded in the chapters, Conti asks questions, and then there’s an appendix for each chapter that lists all the questions in one place. Great idea!
July 17, 2026
If you want to improve your body, you know the routine: exercise, eat well, sleep, repeat. But emotional well-being isn’t so obvious. You may’ve even tried therapy, medication, or various self-help techniques and found little benefit. When that happens, people often start blaming themselves instead of realising that mental health, like physical health, requires patience, flexibility, support, and a deeper understanding of how the mind actually works.
more important notes:
- salience – this is the part of your function of self that determines what captures and dominates your attention. From moment to moment, salience decides what feels most emotionally resonant. It’s that part of you that can take a passing comment from someone and hold onto it, replaying in your head for hours on end while other details leave zero impression.
- assertion, pleasure and generative
- - assertion drive pushes us to pursue goals, solve problems, and compete.
- comfort, gratification, enjoyment, and connection. It’s the desire for the good things in life.
- This is the impulse we have to do things that are uniquely human, such as creating art just for the sake of it, to help a stranger in need, to be altruistic, to learn about history or to mentor someone. The generative drive represents our curiosity, our compassion, and our generosity. It’s why we stay up late comforting a friend or why we feel compelled to create something beautiful for no other reason than to see it exist. When you’re leading with the generative drive, it’s a different feeling than the other two drives
- What delights me lately? What drains me? What am I avoiding? What makes me cynical?
- What dreams have I been postponing? These are the kinds of questions that can get you closer to the hidden architecture beneath your daily behavior: the unconscious fears, protective defenses, and emotional triggers
- The final message here is that mental health is often a matter of restoring balance, and this begins with honest, compassionate self-awareness. Pay attention to what’s happening internally. Notice the patterns. Observe where you’ve lost touch with meaning, connection, pleasure, or agency
notes:
- Ultimately, we tend to rely on instinct more than reflection, and as a result our sense of self gets fuzzy.
- Growth frequently begins when we stop asking, “What’s wrong with me? ” and start asking, “What’s going right? ” So here’s another question to consider: “What has happened to me, and how have I adapted to survive it? ” We’re going to be asking a lot of questions like this.
- You can start that process by getting to know your defense mechanisms. Every day, your mind is constantly trying to protect itself from emotional danger. In doing so, it will react quickly – often automatically.
- the essential purely human element of meaning and direction. When life feels off, like something isn’t working the way it should, it’s often because the generative drive is lacking.
- Stress and anxiety are common because modern life keeps our nervous system in a near-constant state of activation. Financial pressure, digital overload, social comparison, loneliness, political instability and uncertainty – all of it adds up to creating an environment where these feelings can flourish. The consequences are felt in both the mind and body.
- Anxiety can lead to inflammation, poor sleep, chronic pain, exhaustion, and digestive issues. To make it all even more complicated, these issues can in turn lead to more stress. It’s a textbook example of a vicious cycle. That’s why managing it all requires more than trying to “think positive. ” It involves caring for the entire system – body, mind, habits, relationships, and internal dialogue together. Sleep and relaxation matters.
- Empowerment grows from self-knowledge. It’s the ability to be aware of what supports your well-being and what undermines it.
- A humble person can acknowledge mistakes, recognize old patterns, and continue growing without being overly critical. From those qualities comes agency – the understanding that your choices genuinely matter.
- Keep in mind, too, that finding and keeping balance is an ongoing process. We’re constantly recalibrating in response to life’s pressures and changes, and we all drift off course sometimes. Stress, illness, rejection, disappointment, grief, and exhaustion will disrupt the internal system from time to time.
more important notes:
- salience – this is the part of your function of self that determines what captures and dominates your attention. From moment to moment, salience decides what feels most emotionally resonant. It’s that part of you that can take a passing comment from someone and hold onto it, replaying in your head for hours on end while other details leave zero impression.
- assertion, pleasure and generative
- - assertion drive pushes us to pursue goals, solve problems, and compete.
- comfort, gratification, enjoyment, and connection. It’s the desire for the good things in life.
- This is the impulse we have to do things that are uniquely human, such as creating art just for the sake of it, to help a stranger in need, to be altruistic, to learn about history or to mentor someone. The generative drive represents our curiosity, our compassion, and our generosity. It’s why we stay up late comforting a friend or why we feel compelled to create something beautiful for no other reason than to see it exist. When you’re leading with the generative drive, it’s a different feeling than the other two drives
- What delights me lately? What drains me? What am I avoiding? What makes me cynical?
- What dreams have I been postponing? These are the kinds of questions that can get you closer to the hidden architecture beneath your daily behavior: the unconscious fears, protective defenses, and emotional triggers
- The final message here is that mental health is often a matter of restoring balance, and this begins with honest, compassionate self-awareness. Pay attention to what’s happening internally. Notice the patterns. Observe where you’ve lost touch with meaning, connection, pleasure, or agency
notes:
- Ultimately, we tend to rely on instinct more than reflection, and as a result our sense of self gets fuzzy.
- Growth frequently begins when we stop asking, “What’s wrong with me? ” and start asking, “What’s going right? ” So here’s another question to consider: “What has happened to me, and how have I adapted to survive it? ” We’re going to be asking a lot of questions like this.
- You can start that process by getting to know your defense mechanisms. Every day, your mind is constantly trying to protect itself from emotional danger. In doing so, it will react quickly – often automatically.
- the essential purely human element of meaning and direction. When life feels off, like something isn’t working the way it should, it’s often because the generative drive is lacking.
- Stress and anxiety are common because modern life keeps our nervous system in a near-constant state of activation. Financial pressure, digital overload, social comparison, loneliness, political instability and uncertainty – all of it adds up to creating an environment where these feelings can flourish. The consequences are felt in both the mind and body.
- Anxiety can lead to inflammation, poor sleep, chronic pain, exhaustion, and digestive issues. To make it all even more complicated, these issues can in turn lead to more stress. It’s a textbook example of a vicious cycle. That’s why managing it all requires more than trying to “think positive. ” It involves caring for the entire system – body, mind, habits, relationships, and internal dialogue together. Sleep and relaxation matters.
- Empowerment grows from self-knowledge. It’s the ability to be aware of what supports your well-being and what undermines it.
- A humble person can acknowledge mistakes, recognize old patterns, and continue growing without being overly critical. From those qualities comes agency – the understanding that your choices genuinely matter.
- Keep in mind, too, that finding and keeping balance is an ongoing process. We’re constantly recalibrating in response to life’s pressures and changes, and we all drift off course sometimes. Stress, illness, rejection, disappointment, grief, and exhaustion will disrupt the internal system from time to time.
August 15, 2026
I wish five stars were enough to capture how much this book has meant to me. This is one of those life-changing books that I wish everyone would read. Paul Conti’s What’s Going Right? offers a practical framework for understanding ourselves and changing how we move through the world. At the center of the book is his idea of the generative drive, our drive to create, contribute, connect, and make the world better. Conti argues that when the generative drive is leading us, our other drives, including assertion and pleasure, can come into better balance. As he puts it, “The key to success is recognizing and nurturing the supremacy of the generative drive.”
The advice is remarkably practical. Conti gives you tools for understanding your own “structure of self” and “function of self,” developing a regular practice of self-inquiry, approaching yourself with compassionate curiosity, paying attention to your self-talk, and even rewriting the narratives you carry about your life. One of the things I especially appreciated is that he isn’t suggesting that we simply focus on the positive or ignore what is difficult. His starting point, “What’s going right?”, is about looking at ourselves from a position of strength and then using that perspective to understand what needs to change. He argues that this isn’t Pollyanna thinking. It is “consistent with truth.”
I came away thinking about how I could be more the person I want to be by better activating my generative drive, doing regular self-inquiry with compassionate curiosity, dialing down my assertion drive in some settings, and being more humble and a better listener.
I also feel like this book was written for where I am today. It gave me a new way to understand how I have come through some of life’s challenges. I’ve spent much of my life focused on what I now understand as the generative drive, exercised compassionate curiosity in my self-inquiry, and had a regular self-inquiry practice of journaling since my 20s, when I went through The Artist’s Way. That doesn’t mean I didn’t learn anything from this book. Quite the opposite. It helped me understand why many of my life choices have helped me move through challenging times, and gave me language and a framework for things I have intuitively been doing for years.
I especially love Conti’s idea that the goal isn’t to arrive at some final, perfected version of yourself. We are always going to have a tomorrow, and tomorrow will bring something new. The work is to have a regular practice of self-inquiry that involves compassionate curiosity and humility. We are never done becoming the person we want to be.
I read this twice in a row, once on Kindle and once as an audiobook. Both are excellent. It is not read by the author, but the narrator does a wonderful job.
I plan to spend a lot more time with this book, using many of the journaling prompts he gives throughout the book and then includes altogether in the appendices (so helpful!). I loved it so much that I have a physical copy coming in the mail soon. We don’t often buy books, but this is one of those rare ones that is worth buying. I can’t recommend this book enough.
The advice is remarkably practical. Conti gives you tools for understanding your own “structure of self” and “function of self,” developing a regular practice of self-inquiry, approaching yourself with compassionate curiosity, paying attention to your self-talk, and even rewriting the narratives you carry about your life. One of the things I especially appreciated is that he isn’t suggesting that we simply focus on the positive or ignore what is difficult. His starting point, “What’s going right?”, is about looking at ourselves from a position of strength and then using that perspective to understand what needs to change. He argues that this isn’t Pollyanna thinking. It is “consistent with truth.”
I came away thinking about how I could be more the person I want to be by better activating my generative drive, doing regular self-inquiry with compassionate curiosity, dialing down my assertion drive in some settings, and being more humble and a better listener.
I also feel like this book was written for where I am today. It gave me a new way to understand how I have come through some of life’s challenges. I’ve spent much of my life focused on what I now understand as the generative drive, exercised compassionate curiosity in my self-inquiry, and had a regular self-inquiry practice of journaling since my 20s, when I went through The Artist’s Way. That doesn’t mean I didn’t learn anything from this book. Quite the opposite. It helped me understand why many of my life choices have helped me move through challenging times, and gave me language and a framework for things I have intuitively been doing for years.
I especially love Conti’s idea that the goal isn’t to arrive at some final, perfected version of yourself. We are always going to have a tomorrow, and tomorrow will bring something new. The work is to have a regular practice of self-inquiry that involves compassionate curiosity and humility. We are never done becoming the person we want to be.
I read this twice in a row, once on Kindle and once as an audiobook. Both are excellent. It is not read by the author, but the narrator does a wonderful job.
I plan to spend a lot more time with this book, using many of the journaling prompts he gives throughout the book and then includes altogether in the appendices (so helpful!). I loved it so much that I have a physical copy coming in the mail soon. We don’t often buy books, but this is one of those rare ones that is worth buying. I can’t recommend this book enough.
August 31, 2026
Dr. Paul Contis „What’s Going Right“ ist kein Buch, das man in ein paar Tagen an einem Stück durchliest. Es ist vielmehr ein tiefgründiger Begleiter für den Alltag, den man am besten in kleine Häppchen aufteilt und wirken lässt.
Im Zentrum stehen zwei fundamentale Fragen: Wer sind Sie eigentlich und Wer könnten Sie sein? Anhand anschaulicher Beispiele und gezielter Fragen lädt das Buch zu einer intensiven Selbstreflexion ein. Das ist nicht immer ganz bequem und verlangt eine ehrliche Auseinandersetzung mit der eigenen Psyche, bietet dafür aber einen enormen Erkenntnisgewinn.
Was mir besonders gut gefallen hat: Komplexe psychologische Fachbegriffe werden absolut verständlich und nachvollziehbar erklärt, sodass man dem Text ohne Vorkenntnisse mühelos folgen kann. Das Buch beschreibt Schritt für Schritt, wie man Klarheit über das eigene Selbst gewinnt, seine mentale Gesundheit pflegt und den Weg zu einem erfüllteren Leben ebnet.
Als äußerst hilfreich erweisen sich dabei die kurzen Zusammenfassungen am Ende der Kapitel – die sogenannten „Zwischenstopps“. Sie bringen die Kernaussagen prägnant auf den Punkt und bieten eine ideale Gelegenheit, das Gelesene noch einmal sacken zu lassen.
Zusammenfassend dreht sich in diesem Buch alles um Selbsterkenntnis und bewusste Reflexion. Wer sich die Zeit nimmt, sich intensiv mit den Denkanstößen auseinanderzusetzen, findet hier einen wertvollen Kompass, um die eigene mentale Gesundheit nachhaltig zu stärken und mehr emotionale Stabilität zu erreichen.
Im Zentrum stehen zwei fundamentale Fragen: Wer sind Sie eigentlich und Wer könnten Sie sein? Anhand anschaulicher Beispiele und gezielter Fragen lädt das Buch zu einer intensiven Selbstreflexion ein. Das ist nicht immer ganz bequem und verlangt eine ehrliche Auseinandersetzung mit der eigenen Psyche, bietet dafür aber einen enormen Erkenntnisgewinn.
Was mir besonders gut gefallen hat: Komplexe psychologische Fachbegriffe werden absolut verständlich und nachvollziehbar erklärt, sodass man dem Text ohne Vorkenntnisse mühelos folgen kann. Das Buch beschreibt Schritt für Schritt, wie man Klarheit über das eigene Selbst gewinnt, seine mentale Gesundheit pflegt und den Weg zu einem erfüllteren Leben ebnet.
Als äußerst hilfreich erweisen sich dabei die kurzen Zusammenfassungen am Ende der Kapitel – die sogenannten „Zwischenstopps“. Sie bringen die Kernaussagen prägnant auf den Punkt und bieten eine ideale Gelegenheit, das Gelesene noch einmal sacken zu lassen.
Zusammenfassend dreht sich in diesem Buch alles um Selbsterkenntnis und bewusste Reflexion. Wer sich die Zeit nimmt, sich intensiv mit den Denkanstößen auseinanderzusetzen, findet hier einen wertvollen Kompass, um die eigene mentale Gesundheit nachhaltig zu stärken und mehr emotionale Stabilität zu erreichen.
July 9, 2026
I really appreciated Dr. Conti’s approach and practical advice. I wouldn’t say this book is for someone deep in depression, anxiety, grief, or another more complex diagnosis. But this books is excellent for people who have a baseline of self-awareness and are wanting to improve their ability to cope with the challenges and opportunities of every day life. Great prompts included throughout!
July 4, 2026
This book was alright if you’re looking for a generic mental health book. The title of the book interested me, as I thought it’d be focused on some “glass half full” philosophy or something like that, but it was a little all over the place. The book is fine, but it’s not my top recommendation if someone was looking for a book to work on their mental health.
August 3, 2026
Core / Foundational Questions
• Who are you? (Or: Describe yourself in just one word.)
• What’s going right? / What’s going right in your life?
• What has happened to me, and how have I adapted to survive it?
• Would you like to improve your health? What did that question bring to mind?
• What’s most salient in your world right now?
Basic Self-Inquiry Starters (from an adapted book excerpt)
• What does it mean for you to feel happy?
• Where are you at your best in the world?
• What relationships lift you up and support you?
• What lingering losses or traumas are you still dealing with?
• What’s the difference between the “real” you and the version of you most people know?
• What kind of influence are you on your family and friends?
• What are some of the ways you self-sabotage and get in your own way?
• What dreams are you currently pushing to the side?
Exploring Structure of Self (Thoughts / Inner Architecture)
• What’s going on in my unconscious mind? Is there something potent I’m not currently aware of that’s influencing my thoughts and behaviors? If so, what is it? Am I aware of it at times but not others? How might I become more conscious of it?
• How much am I truly conscious of? What are the things I’m most commonly aware of? What do I habitually ruminate on? How does this serve me? Where else might I better focus? Is there any subject or memory I’m pushing away?
• What are my typical defense mechanisms? What are my patterns of self-protection? How do they serve me? How might they be holding me back?
• Does my character structure (how I relate and react to others) feel right? Are my interactions in line with who I want to be? Am I more or less distrustful/outgoing/emotional than usual—and why?
• Who am I right now? How do I feel like myself in this moment? Is there something fundamental about myself that I want to change? How much in touch with myself am I these days?
Exploring Function of Self (Actions / How You Operate)
• How much of my ongoing issues have to do with a lack of self-awareness? If I were more aware, what would I notice? How do I dull my awareness, and why?
• What defense mechanisms in action are alive for me right now? What are my automatic go-to responses? Which are unhealthy or getting in the way? What triggers them?
• What’s most salient for me in the current moment? What do I pay a lot of attention to, and why? Am I overly vigilant about certain things? What important information might I be overlooking? How might my salience include more positive input?
• What behaviors are going well for me? What am I doing that bolsters me versus what’s harmful or holding me back? What did I intend versus how it played out? What positive/negative habits am I practicing? What behaviors are new?
• What am I currently striving for? Does it line up with what I wanted last week/month? What’s the big picture for my goals, and how do my current behaviors align with it?
Other Recurring Practical Questions (from related discussions of the framework)
• How do I function and what actually works well for me?
• How do I think of myself and how do others think of me?
• Am I introverted, extroverted, or some combination depending on context?
• Is the way I’m living actually working for me in the big picture?
• Are there specific situations where I consistently feel uncomfortable or bad?
• What story do I tell about myself (to myself or others)? Does it match what’s actually true?
• What am I saying to myself in quiet moments?
• How much of what I’m doing day-to-day am I actually choosing versus accumulated momentum?
• When curating an image (e.g., on social media): What am I protecting against? Why do I want people to see me differently than I actually am?
• Who are you? (Or: Describe yourself in just one word.)
• What’s going right? / What’s going right in your life?
• What has happened to me, and how have I adapted to survive it?
• Would you like to improve your health? What did that question bring to mind?
• What’s most salient in your world right now?
Basic Self-Inquiry Starters (from an adapted book excerpt)
• What does it mean for you to feel happy?
• Where are you at your best in the world?
• What relationships lift you up and support you?
• What lingering losses or traumas are you still dealing with?
• What’s the difference between the “real” you and the version of you most people know?
• What kind of influence are you on your family and friends?
• What are some of the ways you self-sabotage and get in your own way?
• What dreams are you currently pushing to the side?
Exploring Structure of Self (Thoughts / Inner Architecture)
• What’s going on in my unconscious mind? Is there something potent I’m not currently aware of that’s influencing my thoughts and behaviors? If so, what is it? Am I aware of it at times but not others? How might I become more conscious of it?
• How much am I truly conscious of? What are the things I’m most commonly aware of? What do I habitually ruminate on? How does this serve me? Where else might I better focus? Is there any subject or memory I’m pushing away?
• What are my typical defense mechanisms? What are my patterns of self-protection? How do they serve me? How might they be holding me back?
• Does my character structure (how I relate and react to others) feel right? Are my interactions in line with who I want to be? Am I more or less distrustful/outgoing/emotional than usual—and why?
• Who am I right now? How do I feel like myself in this moment? Is there something fundamental about myself that I want to change? How much in touch with myself am I these days?
Exploring Function of Self (Actions / How You Operate)
• How much of my ongoing issues have to do with a lack of self-awareness? If I were more aware, what would I notice? How do I dull my awareness, and why?
• What defense mechanisms in action are alive for me right now? What are my automatic go-to responses? Which are unhealthy or getting in the way? What triggers them?
• What’s most salient for me in the current moment? What do I pay a lot of attention to, and why? Am I overly vigilant about certain things? What important information might I be overlooking? How might my salience include more positive input?
• What behaviors are going well for me? What am I doing that bolsters me versus what’s harmful or holding me back? What did I intend versus how it played out? What positive/negative habits am I practicing? What behaviors are new?
• What am I currently striving for? Does it line up with what I wanted last week/month? What’s the big picture for my goals, and how do my current behaviors align with it?
Other Recurring Practical Questions (from related discussions of the framework)
• How do I function and what actually works well for me?
• How do I think of myself and how do others think of me?
• Am I introverted, extroverted, or some combination depending on context?
• Is the way I’m living actually working for me in the big picture?
• Are there specific situations where I consistently feel uncomfortable or bad?
• What story do I tell about myself (to myself or others)? Does it match what’s actually true?
• What am I saying to myself in quiet moments?
• How much of what I’m doing day-to-day am I actually choosing versus accumulated momentum?
• When curating an image (e.g., on social media): What am I protecting against? Why do I want people to see me differently than I actually am?
August 27, 2026
Paul Conti is a hyped psychiatrist, the friend of all celebrities, and I read his work for the Starea Natiei book club. In What’s Going Right, he promises a new method, one that relies on the discovery of the self, helped by a set of structured questions, designed to go beyond defence mechanisms and so on. He also offers common-sense advice about meditation and related practices. It is OK, yet don’t expect too much if you have read any other psychology-related synthetic work.
According to Paul Conti, our personality has several layers, like attributes in a video game. They are about trust, cooperation, frustration, expressiveness, rationalism, denial, and altruism, and their opposites for each stat. All of us can be ranked between these extremes of a spectrum, and these seven factors combine to define our unique characters. In What’s Going Right, the author argues that they are the product of unconscious impulses, hidden by defence mechanisms, the classical ones debated by psychoanalysts.
Paul Conti argues that there are three main drives, impulses that move the constituents of our personality. The assertive is about how active I am, how I manage to control myself and the outside world in order to achieve my goals, or power, as Alfred Adler has argued. The pleasure drive is also easy to understand and it has been excessively debated since Freud. In What’s Going Right, the intention is to steer the reader towards the last drive, the generative one, a combination of self-creation and contribution, and half of the book is designed to make the reader more self-aware, by meditation and so on.
The coolest part of Paul Conti’s What’s Going Right contains four appendices with tests. They are about how the personality is structured, how it acts, its engines and how to contribute more. My results are greyish, being average (or balanced) with the three drives. The five criteria look like this: frustrated, introverted, rationalistic, in denial, so-and-so in the disposition to trust and in altruism. I have a recent example of major changes (lost 32 kilos, and cut alcohol and smoking), and I managed that by a combination of idealism and discipline.
I did have fun with these questions. Overall, What’s Going Right left the impression that it says what all other psychologists that I’ve read have written. Use science, “know thyself”, follow this or that method, which is structured and practical. I still try to understand the popularity of this book or of its author, but I do think that the message is reasonable, Paul Conti’s writing is simple and clear, and that it can be useful to motivate people to discover more about themselves and maybe, be better persons
According to Paul Conti, our personality has several layers, like attributes in a video game. They are about trust, cooperation, frustration, expressiveness, rationalism, denial, and altruism, and their opposites for each stat. All of us can be ranked between these extremes of a spectrum, and these seven factors combine to define our unique characters. In What’s Going Right, the author argues that they are the product of unconscious impulses, hidden by defence mechanisms, the classical ones debated by psychoanalysts.
Paul Conti argues that there are three main drives, impulses that move the constituents of our personality. The assertive is about how active I am, how I manage to control myself and the outside world in order to achieve my goals, or power, as Alfred Adler has argued. The pleasure drive is also easy to understand and it has been excessively debated since Freud. In What’s Going Right, the intention is to steer the reader towards the last drive, the generative one, a combination of self-creation and contribution, and half of the book is designed to make the reader more self-aware, by meditation and so on.
The coolest part of Paul Conti’s What’s Going Right contains four appendices with tests. They are about how the personality is structured, how it acts, its engines and how to contribute more. My results are greyish, being average (or balanced) with the three drives. The five criteria look like this: frustrated, introverted, rationalistic, in denial, so-and-so in the disposition to trust and in altruism. I have a recent example of major changes (lost 32 kilos, and cut alcohol and smoking), and I managed that by a combination of idealism and discipline.
I did have fun with these questions. Overall, What’s Going Right left the impression that it says what all other psychologists that I’ve read have written. Use science, “know thyself”, follow this or that method, which is structured and practical. I still try to understand the popularity of this book or of its author, but I do think that the message is reasonable, Paul Conti’s writing is simple and clear, and that it can be useful to motivate people to discover more about themselves and maybe, be better persons
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a refreshing read. Instead of constantly focusing on what’s wrong with our mental health (which can feel exhausting), this book flips the script and asks what’s already going right instead.
I really liked how straightforward and approachable Dr. Conti is. He introduces the idea of our “generative drive”, which is basically the part of us that wants to grow, help others, problem solve, and feel connected, and shows how tapping into that can bring more peace and contentment into daily life. Nothing felt overly clinical or preachy.
The tools he shares, like self-inquiry, compassionate curiosity, relaxing the body, and reframing life stories, felt practical and doable rather than overwhelming. This book felt more like a supportive guide than a lecture.
I felt like this is a hopeful, grounding read that reminds us that healing doesn’t always start with fixing ourselves, but sometimes it starts with recognizing the good that’s already there.
Thank you to NetGalley, Paul Conti, and Balance for the eARC of this book.
I really liked how straightforward and approachable Dr. Conti is. He introduces the idea of our “generative drive”, which is basically the part of us that wants to grow, help others, problem solve, and feel connected, and shows how tapping into that can bring more peace and contentment into daily life. Nothing felt overly clinical or preachy.
The tools he shares, like self-inquiry, compassionate curiosity, relaxing the body, and reframing life stories, felt practical and doable rather than overwhelming. This book felt more like a supportive guide than a lecture.
I felt like this is a hopeful, grounding read that reminds us that healing doesn’t always start with fixing ourselves, but sometimes it starts with recognizing the good that’s already there.
Thank you to NetGalley, Paul Conti, and Balance for the eARC of this book.
April 14, 2026
I’d like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of What’s Going Right by Paul Conti in exchange for an honest review.
This was a thoughtful and insightful read that I genuinely enjoyed. Dr. Conti explores the concept of “generative drive” in a way that feels both accessible and meaningful, encouraging readers to look inward through deep self-reflection. His message centers on the idea that by better understanding ourselves—our motivations, patterns, and emotional responses—we can not only improve our own lives, but also positively impact the world around us.
At times, the pacing felt a bit dense, which is what led me to settle at a 3.5-star rating rather than higher. However, the core message is powerful and worth sitting with. It’s the kind of book that invites you to slow down, reflect, and perhaps even revisit certain passages.
Overall, this is a valuable read for anyone interested in personal growth, emotional awareness, and the broader impact of individual well-being on society.
This was a thoughtful and insightful read that I genuinely enjoyed. Dr. Conti explores the concept of “generative drive” in a way that feels both accessible and meaningful, encouraging readers to look inward through deep self-reflection. His message centers on the idea that by better understanding ourselves—our motivations, patterns, and emotional responses—we can not only improve our own lives, but also positively impact the world around us.
At times, the pacing felt a bit dense, which is what led me to settle at a 3.5-star rating rather than higher. However, the core message is powerful and worth sitting with. It’s the kind of book that invites you to slow down, reflect, and perhaps even revisit certain passages.
Overall, this is a valuable read for anyone interested in personal growth, emotional awareness, and the broader impact of individual well-being on society.
June 22, 2026
What’s Going Right offers a really refreshing shift in how we think about mental health. Instead of only focusing on what’s wrong, Paul Conti encourages readers to also pay attention to what’s working—and how those strengths can be built on. The writing is clear and grounded, and even when the material gets more clinical, it stays accessible and easy to follow.
What I appreciated most was the balanced approach. It doesn’t ignore struggle or minimize it, but it also makes space for resilience, growth, and self-understanding in a way that feels practical rather than abstract. I came away with a better sense of how to think about my own patterns in a more constructive way, and a few tools that feel genuinely usable in everyday life.
What I appreciated most was the balanced approach. It doesn’t ignore struggle or minimize it, but it also makes space for resilience, growth, and self-understanding in a way that feels practical rather than abstract. I came away with a better sense of how to think about my own patterns in a more constructive way, and a few tools that feel genuinely usable in everyday life.
July 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing/ Balance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This one was a bit of a slog for me. As someone who reads a lot of self help and personal growth books, I failed to find anything in here that felt unique or had a spin different than anything I’ve read before. I have zero quotes highlighted which I usually do quite literally with self help books that move me. Overall I felt the emphasis on “have a good generative drive” was too strong without clearly really identifying what that is or how to accomplish it. There were a good number of really good journal prompts though which was nice.
This one was a bit of a slog for me. As someone who reads a lot of self help and personal growth books, I failed to find anything in here that felt unique or had a spin different than anything I’ve read before. I have zero quotes highlighted which I usually do quite literally with self help books that move me. Overall I felt the emphasis on “have a good generative drive” was too strong without clearly really identifying what that is or how to accomplish it. There were a good number of really good journal prompts though which was nice.
May 22, 2026
3.5 stars. Audiobook read by Seth Podowitz. DIY mental health. Focus on assertive, pleasure, and generative drives, with many other aspects of mental health as well. Paraphrased from the book: “The generative drive is considered intrinsic to humans, existing alongside other drives such as the aggressive drive, which relates to empowerment and the enactment of agency, and the pleasure drive, which is about seeking gratification and relief.” Listening to the material was worthwhile but I would like to get the book and work through the exercises.
August 20, 2026
Remember the old song, "It's Later than You Think!" That song encourages us all to enjoy ourselves in life. To similar effect, this book encourages us to make use of ourselves rather than lose ourselves in our troubles.
Conti presents a method for examining major aspects of our lives with a view toward clearing the underbrush to see what is really going on inside and what can be done. This method can be applied with regularity, and to good effect.
Very pleasant tone to this book. Life is not a series of obstacles to overcome, but a series of probative questions to explore.
Conti presents a method for examining major aspects of our lives with a view toward clearing the underbrush to see what is really going on inside and what can be done. This method can be applied with regularity, and to good effect.
Very pleasant tone to this book. Life is not a series of obstacles to overcome, but a series of probative questions to explore.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What's Going Right is a well written, encouraging book that walks through the stories of others, allowing you to learn from their experiences to apply to your own life. As humans, we often think about what's going wrong. Turning this perspective to what's going right allows us to see all the good in our lives and how to lean into them to continue to grow your strengths. This strategy gets you out of your head onto a path that probells you forward towards your personal goals.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What's Going Right by Paul Conti. A mental health book that focuses on what is going right instead of what is wrong. An enlightening and encouraging read that has the reader looking into the skillsets they already have and ways to use them.
Thank you to the author, Grand Central Publishing - Balance and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the author, Grand Central Publishing - Balance and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this book. It was sensible, but not boring, had good case studies, but not too many and also had reflective elements and tips. It’s a book about slow progress and whole transformation rather than a quick fix and I think this is why I enjoyed it so much. Thanks to NetGalley and Balance for the ATC.
July 16, 2026
Fantastic for people dipping their toes into understanding more about themselves and wanting to make a change. Very easy to understand and read. Had some great basic concepts and was thoughtful. 3 stars as I found it more generic than I was expecting and prefer more in depth/comprehensive books.
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March 7, 2026Advanced copy
May 11, 2026
A bit short, nothing too revolutionary, good advice nonetheless.
May 21, 2026
3.5 stars
May 31, 2026
I first learned about Paul Conti on a 4 part podcast on trauma on the Huberman Lab. I read his book Trauma and learned from it. What's going right is very practical and has good steps for anyone to take to continue their practice of wellness.
June 6, 2026
A wise and practical guide for anyone interested in mental well-being, self-development, and building a healthier relationship with themselves and others.
June 25, 2026
Ehhhhh. Not worth it.
July 2, 2026
Good, easy read. Helpful, not necessarily unique or ground breaking.
July 13, 2026
Found it very repetitive. 🤷
July 16, 2026
Thought this book had a lot of great insights and ideas and questions
July 29, 2026
Its only been a few days but this book has opened a lot of doors and feels like its going to make a huge impact. Comparable with think like a monk
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a book written by a psychiatrist to those who may be having mental health issues. It could be considered as a self-help guide, but also useful alongside treatment. The author's thesis is "the best place to start addressing our mental health isn't in focusing on what's going wrong, but what's going right". The first part of the book will allow the reader to start to analyze themselves by asking three questions: what am I doing?; what am I thinking?; and what's driving you?. Once they have some answers to these questions, then the author gives ideas on how to make improvements in their life. I particularly liked the section where he encourages the reader to understand their generative drive. This has to do with pro-social altruism, have a joy of learning new things, making art and appreciating beauty and desiring to leave the world a better place. This was a thought-provoking book and could be helpful for many.
I received a complementary copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
I received a complementary copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
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