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The Science of Positivity: Stop Negative Thought Patterns by Changing Your Brain Chemistry
Learn the scientific benefits of positivism! Sometimes it's easiest to look for the worst in every situation--our brains have evolved to scan for problems in order to help avoid them. But you can transcend this natural negativity--if you know how.The Science of Positivity teaches you how cynical thought habits are formed, and how you can rewire yourself to go beyond them. Neurochemical expert Loretta Graziano Breuning, PhD, empowers you to transcend negativity by creating new thought habits. You'll learn simple, practical actions you can take to shift your thinking to a way that causes your brain to reward optimism with the release of happy chemicals. You can even permanently replace cynical thought patterns with realistic and optimistic thoughts. In just minutes a day for six weeks, you will build new pathways to see the world in new ways. Frustration is an inevitable part of life, but rather than using cynicism to manage frustration, you can rewire your brain to get beyond it.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2013
201 people are currently reading
1634 people want to read
About the author
Loretta Graziano Breuning
17 books238 followersLoretta is the author of Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin and Endorphin Levels. She's Founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and Professor Emerita of Management at California State University, East Bay. Dr. Breuning's many books, videos and podcasts explain the brain chemistry we've inherited from earlier mammals. She shows that our "happy chemicals" are not designed to be on all the time. They evolved to do specific jobs, so we always have to do more to get more. Dr. Breuning's work explains the natural way to enhance our power over these chemicals. Her nine books have been translated into sixteen languages. Before teaching, Loretta worked for the United Nations in Africa. Today, she gives zoo tours on animals behavior, after serving as a Docent at the Oakland Zoo. She is a graduate of Cornell University and Tufts. The Inner Mammal Institute offers videos, podcasts, books, blogs, multimedia, a training program, and a free five-day happy-chemical jumpstart. Details are available at InnerMammalInstitute.org.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
April 10, 2023
I've read her book ''Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin, Endorphin Levels'' and I loved it. I decided to read everything written by her.
This book wasn't as good as the first one, but still, I've learned a lot. I'm mesmerized by how our brain works, almost everything we do is part of a pattern, something that we all do for a specific reason. I love learning the whys of our actions.
This book wasn't as good as the first one, but still, I've learned a lot. I'm mesmerized by how our brain works, almost everything we do is part of a pattern, something that we all do for a specific reason. I love learning the whys of our actions.
Read
November 23, 2018Too many pages for too little information. The repetition got to me.
June 1, 2018
Alright this book was awful.
It was like a house song with a beat that never dropped.
I couldn’t relate to the whole premise, because even though I do agree that our brain is already wired from primitive times, I can’t really relate to an elephant or a chimpanzee for 5 whole chapters. Then, when the book went into the part that I wanted to read (the “how to become a positive thinker” part); I felt like the Mother Theresa of positivity.
I just did not get her examples of “progress is a negative word” or “people relate food to negative thoughts” or “you might think to yourself everyone is horrible”.... and every single example was this extreme of negativism, that I, personally, do not relate to.
The only reason why Im giving it two stars instead of one, it’s because I did learn one useful tool: schedule a minute 3 times a day for a purposeful- positive thought. I’ll do that.
I guess it’s not a complete waste if your learn at least one thing! <—— you see???? Positivity! It really aint that hard!
It was like a house song with a beat that never dropped.
I couldn’t relate to the whole premise, because even though I do agree that our brain is already wired from primitive times, I can’t really relate to an elephant or a chimpanzee for 5 whole chapters. Then, when the book went into the part that I wanted to read (the “how to become a positive thinker” part); I felt like the Mother Theresa of positivity.
I just did not get her examples of “progress is a negative word” or “people relate food to negative thoughts” or “you might think to yourself everyone is horrible”.... and every single example was this extreme of negativism, that I, personally, do not relate to.
The only reason why Im giving it two stars instead of one, it’s because I did learn one useful tool: schedule a minute 3 times a day for a purposeful- positive thought. I’ll do that.
I guess it’s not a complete waste if your learn at least one thing! <—— you see???? Positivity! It really aint that hard!
December 29, 2013
This book is great. It's got some problems, chiefly in the editing department, but what ever. The premise is really original. Her idea is that adopting a cynical perspective is self protective in the short term. It makes us feel better (i.e it raises our happy chemicals and lowers our unhappy chemicals). But In the long term it is ineffective and harmful in the sense that it subverts our drive to take life affirming action.
Her antidote to cynicism is Personal Agency and Realistic Expectations. Forgive me if all this sounds like nonsense. Her ideas are difficult to summarize in short form. I recommend reading the book if you're still curious. You won't regret it.
I can't help but love her books. Total guilty pleasure. Meet your happy chemicals is great too. She has this charming and totally effective way of boiling immensely complex subjects down to their ridiculously simple essence. Some intellectuals and academics may dismiss this approach as "dumbing down" the subject. But this book isn't meant to be complete or technically precise.
You wouldn't want to prescribe psychotropic medications based on the information in this book. But it is a wonderful, simple, solid "toy" model of affective neurochemistry that can be upgraded with more detailed or sophisticated information at a later time if necessary.
Danieal Siegel does similar work with his model of brain structure and function. You wouldn't want to perform brain surgery based on his writing. But it's a completely appropriate level of complexity for helping laypeople understand why humans behave the way they do, and how to modify said behavior when it is maladaptive.
This is, in my opinion, the only way to teach and learn for most people (myself included). Build a simple model, and gradually add to it as necessary. I use these teaching strategies in my undergraduate psych classes and in my psychotherapy practice all the time.
I'm a neuro psych nerd. I love complex, detailed and precise information about the brain and behavior. But as I progress in my learning and teaching, I am finding that simplicity and clarity is ultimately more effective most of the time. Simplicity is the new complexity. Read this book. It's really thought provoking and a lot of fun too:)
As an addendum I will say that the book appears to be self published, which is a great thing in many ways, but in this particular instance, perhaps some expert editing would enhance the readers experience. Particularly readers who are less forgiving or generous. I was able to appreciate the argument and delivery of the material and forgive some of the formal shortcomings of the book. Others may not.
Her antidote to cynicism is Personal Agency and Realistic Expectations. Forgive me if all this sounds like nonsense. Her ideas are difficult to summarize in short form. I recommend reading the book if you're still curious. You won't regret it.
I can't help but love her books. Total guilty pleasure. Meet your happy chemicals is great too. She has this charming and totally effective way of boiling immensely complex subjects down to their ridiculously simple essence. Some intellectuals and academics may dismiss this approach as "dumbing down" the subject. But this book isn't meant to be complete or technically precise.
You wouldn't want to prescribe psychotropic medications based on the information in this book. But it is a wonderful, simple, solid "toy" model of affective neurochemistry that can be upgraded with more detailed or sophisticated information at a later time if necessary.
Danieal Siegel does similar work with his model of brain structure and function. You wouldn't want to perform brain surgery based on his writing. But it's a completely appropriate level of complexity for helping laypeople understand why humans behave the way they do, and how to modify said behavior when it is maladaptive.
This is, in my opinion, the only way to teach and learn for most people (myself included). Build a simple model, and gradually add to it as necessary. I use these teaching strategies in my undergraduate psych classes and in my psychotherapy practice all the time.
I'm a neuro psych nerd. I love complex, detailed and precise information about the brain and behavior. But as I progress in my learning and teaching, I am finding that simplicity and clarity is ultimately more effective most of the time. Simplicity is the new complexity. Read this book. It's really thought provoking and a lot of fun too:)
As an addendum I will say that the book appears to be self published, which is a great thing in many ways, but in this particular instance, perhaps some expert editing would enhance the readers experience. Particularly readers who are less forgiving or generous. I was able to appreciate the argument and delivery of the material and forgive some of the formal shortcomings of the book. Others may not.
May 6, 2020
Finally a book that explains why we are caught in the vicious cycle of negativity and how to get out of it!
The book explains in layman's terms how hormones influence our perceptions and mood and vice versa. I'm a sucker for clear explanations and this book delivers. Of course, one might scoff at the simplicity of the language, but I was interested in the explanations, not in how sophisticated the style of the author is (I prefer this for fiction, not science-based books).
What I liked most about this book was the fact that there were some very new-to-me ideas in it. For instance "you think this with your verbal cortex, which does not control your happy chemicals" or "The big human cortex is especially good at scanning for evidence of threat. We have ten times more neurons going from our brain to our eyes than we have from our eyes to our brain." Oh and the parallels with the animal kingdom, very eye-opening too.
I also liked the tips in chapter six (I won't spoil the fun of discovering them) and the appendix which gives examples of the PARE (I won't give away too many details as this is a review, not a summary) in popular culture - books and movies.
Since this book hasn't been written for entertainment (although it's very enjoyable), time will tell if it has had any effect as I need to practice the tips for a while, but something did change: I don't pay as much attention to the negative stuff anymore (and by that I mean the trivial stuff: people not cleaning after their dogs, driving with the healdights off in the rain) and now that I've said it (wrote it), it looks like the book has already had a positive effect on me.
The book explains in layman's terms how hormones influence our perceptions and mood and vice versa. I'm a sucker for clear explanations and this book delivers. Of course, one might scoff at the simplicity of the language, but I was interested in the explanations, not in how sophisticated the style of the author is (I prefer this for fiction, not science-based books).
What I liked most about this book was the fact that there were some very new-to-me ideas in it. For instance "you think this with your verbal cortex, which does not control your happy chemicals" or "The big human cortex is especially good at scanning for evidence of threat. We have ten times more neurons going from our brain to our eyes than we have from our eyes to our brain." Oh and the parallels with the animal kingdom, very eye-opening too.
I also liked the tips in chapter six (I won't spoil the fun of discovering them) and the appendix which gives examples of the PARE (I won't give away too many details as this is a review, not a summary) in popular culture - books and movies.
Since this book hasn't been written for entertainment (although it's very enjoyable), time will tell if it has had any effect as I need to practice the tips for a while, but something did change: I don't pay as much attention to the negative stuff anymore (and by that I mean the trivial stuff: people not cleaning after their dogs, driving with the healdights off in the rain) and now that I've said it (wrote it), it looks like the book has already had a positive effect on me.
June 22, 2020
No thank you, way to repetitive. Way to many pages with very little information.
June 6, 2015
I have been reading about "happiness" for about 15 years, ever since a really low point in my life. This is one of the 3 most important books I have ever read, period, because now I have a model that fits exactly with my ups and downs and a clear understanding of how to manage and even steer them successfully. I recently let myself get drawn into a huge FaceBook bun-throwing fight over "cyclists" and now I understand the mechanics of that cynical interaction and how I might successfully manage those frustrating run ins in the future. Her other titles are "Meet Your Happy Chemicals" and "I, Mammal". Do yourself a huge favour and read all 3.
August 4, 2018
If you’re competitive, dominant, cynical, restless-now you can figure out why.
Five stars because if everyone read this book in primary school or a version of it. Found three things they considered good three times a day. It would be a revolution. Lives would be changed forever. New ideas would bud and blossom. And the chronic endemic unhappiness that benefits the media, and salesmen would diminish. (But who wants that?)
That’s the default-Serotonin is metabolized much faster and we are on the treadmill searching harder to get that high once again.
She writes like she’s teaching nursery school kids and I appreciate that. It’s the only way to get kids to eat vegetables.
Five stars because if everyone read this book in primary school or a version of it. Found three things they considered good three times a day. It would be a revolution. Lives would be changed forever. New ideas would bud and blossom. And the chronic endemic unhappiness that benefits the media, and salesmen would diminish. (But who wants that?)
That’s the default-Serotonin is metabolized much faster and we are on the treadmill searching harder to get that high once again.
She writes like she’s teaching nursery school kids and I appreciate that. It’s the only way to get kids to eat vegetables.
January 13, 2021
Great message and a deep dive of brain chemicals and mechanics. I love that in the end of the book, the author give perspective how life now compared to the life our ancestors live and yet we take the peace, convenience and speed for granted, while our brains continue to seek danger and conflict. I've been practicing gratitude for many years and totally in agreement with the author, reading the book helps strengthen the habit. The only drawback is it's a little repetitive to her other books, at one point I forgot if I'm reading this book or the previous book ("Am I reading the same book again?")
December 11, 2021
Another fantastic book by Loretta Graziano Breuning that was hard to put down. I learned so much about the neurological workings that not only impact our personal behavior and our choices, but also helps understand sociological trends and even global developments. For instance, the growing cynicism and negativity we witness on social media are, in the light of this neurological approach, a form of addiction that helps us feel good (albeit in a way that won’t make us happy in the long run). You would think that an approach that focuses on the huge impact of brain chemistry, on the often subconscious influence of neurological pathways we formed at a young age, or behavior that stems from the evolution of many generations before us would display a deterministic view of our behavior. Something I’ve seen at times in the writings of other brain specialists. But Loretta Breuning ends the book with a very inspiring chapter on how we can change and rewire our brains once we become aware of the role our ‘mammal brain’ plays in behavior that seeks reward and comfort in negativity. In her other book, Habits of a Happy Brain, she explains in further detail how you can do that. I highly recommend both books, reading them has been an eye-opening experience.
January 29, 2020
This wasn’t a bad book, it just focused too much on simplifying something in a dozen different ways to make it make sense. Some of the simplifications were fun and easy to follow while being informative. But after 5 times of telling me what would happened between the different hormones when mammals made certain actions got boring fast.
I am glad I know more about the mammal brain and I didn’t find myself learning something even if I don’t fully compute it all.
I am glad I know more about the mammal brain and I didn’t find myself learning something even if I don’t fully compute it all.
August 15, 2025
Not the most actionable book on topic
January 25, 2020
This book frustrated the heck out of me. It's heavy on neither science nor techniques to help you, and it certainly doesn't teach you to "stop negative thought patterns by changing your brain chemistry". The book slogs on and on about the "mammal brain", taking up more than half of the entire book. I'm not going to say the author was wrong, but it was needlessly repetitive and somehow lacking in crucial information that would both help and inform people. It's written entirely for the layman, with no prerequisites of scientific literacy, which would be great if it actually attempted to enlighten us with the hard facts. Instead, we have nonstop anecdotes about how mammals live, how they react, how they view predators, how they fear, and how this causes us to fear and by extension be negative.
I grasped these concepts in the first paragraph of each section, I don't need to read over 100 pages of the same content. There were a total of 22 pages of content geared towards actually changing our thought processes. That means approximately 10 percent of the entire book contained content that could be called self-help.
To make an annoying book even worse, it ends by criticizing so-called "cynics" for having what the author calls "crisis goggles". There are very important criticisms that people make of how we're handling the climate crisis, especially when placed in a wider critique of the capitalist framework. Those are conversations that need to be had and blowing them off as "cynical" or deriding those who speak up because they're being "too negative" is counter to progress. She addressed both economic and environmental crises and essentially shot down all criticism of them.
The author made a few points about a critical mindset that are relatively helpful, but the way she did so was dismissive and telling people not to think critically and not to criticize anything is counter to creating a better world. Yes, people do suffer from a narrow worldview as a result of their mortality, but that doesn't mean that all efforts to improve the world for future generations are, as she insinuates, just extensions of individuals' egos wanting to perpetuate their legacy. Progressive changes made to save the environment as we know it, which includes species and habitats untouched by humans (nullifying the "legacy" argument), are not at all equivalent to human biological reproduction, something driven by a selfish drive to perpetuate one's genetic code. I don't want to save the planet for fame (and neither does Greta), I want to do it because it's crucial to the survival of every species I hold dear and even the ones I don't. As far as we know, life as we know it may exist only on this planet, so why on Earth would we destroy our global habitat? What person of conscience recommends we do so for the sake of happiness? It's incredibly selfish and ignorant to sell a philosophy that sacrifices the greater good for the needs of the individual. And really, is it worth it? If you die happy at an old age while future generations are born into a world that's literally burning (Australia), filled with toxic smog (China), and that's actively intellectually regressing due to fundamental scientific and historical illiteracy (the United States), what do you have to be happy about and why do you get to be the only happy one?
There are a lot of psychological benefits of a positive mindset but the path to get there should never rely on ignorance.
I grasped these concepts in the first paragraph of each section, I don't need to read over 100 pages of the same content. There were a total of 22 pages of content geared towards actually changing our thought processes. That means approximately 10 percent of the entire book contained content that could be called self-help.
To make an annoying book even worse, it ends by criticizing so-called "cynics" for having what the author calls "crisis goggles". There are very important criticisms that people make of how we're handling the climate crisis, especially when placed in a wider critique of the capitalist framework. Those are conversations that need to be had and blowing them off as "cynical" or deriding those who speak up because they're being "too negative" is counter to progress. She addressed both economic and environmental crises and essentially shot down all criticism of them.
The author made a few points about a critical mindset that are relatively helpful, but the way she did so was dismissive and telling people not to think critically and not to criticize anything is counter to creating a better world. Yes, people do suffer from a narrow worldview as a result of their mortality, but that doesn't mean that all efforts to improve the world for future generations are, as she insinuates, just extensions of individuals' egos wanting to perpetuate their legacy. Progressive changes made to save the environment as we know it, which includes species and habitats untouched by humans (nullifying the "legacy" argument), are not at all equivalent to human biological reproduction, something driven by a selfish drive to perpetuate one's genetic code. I don't want to save the planet for fame (and neither does Greta), I want to do it because it's crucial to the survival of every species I hold dear and even the ones I don't. As far as we know, life as we know it may exist only on this planet, so why on Earth would we destroy our global habitat? What person of conscience recommends we do so for the sake of happiness? It's incredibly selfish and ignorant to sell a philosophy that sacrifices the greater good for the needs of the individual. And really, is it worth it? If you die happy at an old age while future generations are born into a world that's literally burning (Australia), filled with toxic smog (China), and that's actively intellectually regressing due to fundamental scientific and historical illiteracy (the United States), what do you have to be happy about and why do you get to be the only happy one?
There are a lot of psychological benefits of a positive mindset but the path to get there should never rely on ignorance.
January 12, 2021
Мені книга дуже сподобалась.
Пів року тому читала її вперше, зараз вдруге. Тоді у мене було емоційне вигорання на роботі і бажання кинути все (два тижні відпустки, відпочинок, ця книга і здорове харчування мій стан таки пофіксили і робота стала в кайф).
Зараз же я прочитала її для профілактики, щоб не забувати позитивно мислити і тримати себе вкупці.
Мабуть головна думка тут у тому, що ніколи не з'явиться слушного моменту, щоб почуватись щасливим, якщо ви не приймете вольове рішення бути щасливим. Відповідати за себе повністю, починаючи з їжі, спорту, звичок і закінчуючи тим як ми приймаємо рішення і реагуємо й діємо в різних приємних та неприємних ситуаціях.
В цій книзі є інструменти, які допоможуть жити в злагоді зі своїм внутрішнім ссавцем і керувати своїми гормональними сплесками. Тому тут є багато прикладів з дослідження життя тварин і як це перекликається з тим, як живемо ми.
В тексті помітні часті повтори, проте я думаю це обґрунтовано й доречно. Зараз поясню. Інформація тут не художня, а саме наукова. Таку інформацію легко сприйняти через гарну подачу, але й дуже легко забути зразу після прочитання. Саме тому певні повтори чи повернення до попередніх прикладів допомагають краще запам'ятати та засвоїти прочитане. Також я часто вилітала з читання через свої думки і порівняння з власним досвідом, тому книга мені зайшла ще й як момент рефлексії і переосмислення всякого.
Загалом, для мене це та книга, яка з'явилась саме тоді, як було потрібно, за що я дуже вдячна. Дякую.
Пів року тому читала її вперше, зараз вдруге. Тоді у мене було емоційне вигорання на роботі і бажання кинути все (два тижні відпустки, відпочинок, ця книга і здорове харчування мій стан таки пофіксили і робота стала в кайф).
Зараз же я прочитала її для профілактики, щоб не забувати позитивно мислити і тримати себе вкупці.
Мабуть головна думка тут у тому, що ніколи не з'явиться слушного моменту, щоб почуватись щасливим, якщо ви не приймете вольове рішення бути щасливим. Відповідати за себе повністю, починаючи з їжі, спорту, звичок і закінчуючи тим як ми приймаємо рішення і реагуємо й діємо в різних приємних та неприємних ситуаціях.
В цій книзі є інструменти, які допоможуть жити в злагоді зі своїм внутрішнім ссавцем і керувати своїми гормональними сплесками. Тому тут є багато прикладів з дослідження життя тварин і як це перекликається з тим, як живемо ми.
В тексті помітні часті повтори, проте я думаю це обґрунтовано й доречно. Зараз поясню. Інформація тут не художня, а саме наукова. Таку інформацію легко сприйняти через гарну подачу, але й дуже легко забути зразу після прочитання. Саме тому певні повтори чи повернення до попередніх прикладів допомагають краще запам'ятати та засвоїти прочитане. Також я часто вилітала з читання через свої думки і порівняння з власним досвідом, тому книга мені зайшла ще й як момент рефлексії і переосмислення всякого.
Загалом, для мене це та книга, яка з'явилась саме тоді, як було потрібно, за що я дуже вдячна. Дякую.
January 8, 2019
Know Thyself
This is a great book. It is deceptively simple; there is much scientific knowledge packed into well-organized chapters and easy-to-read sentences. The author clearly speaks not only from her deep study of the science (logos), but also from her personal struggles with negativity (ethos), and the broader implications to society of people stuck in negative thought patterns (pathos). She makes it seem that turning negativity into positivity is as much a social responsibility as a personal one.
In this book, and others, she talks in detail about the brain’s “happy” chemicals, oxytocin (bonding and belonging), serotonin (achieving social status), and dopamine (meeting survival needs). She also talks about cortisol, the brain’s stress or danger chemical, which appears alongside threats to belonging, status, and survival. And while the big cortex we have in our human brains makes us better able to recognize the patterns behind various threats to our survival and thriving, thus multiplying the potential risk to our brains and bodies of the unnecessary release of cortisol, it seems that those happy chemicals often fail to keep up. She gives good strategies for “tricking” the brain into releasing more of those happy chemicals.
Anyone who wants to understand how their brain works, and how to get the most out of it, should read this book.
This is a great book. It is deceptively simple; there is much scientific knowledge packed into well-organized chapters and easy-to-read sentences. The author clearly speaks not only from her deep study of the science (logos), but also from her personal struggles with negativity (ethos), and the broader implications to society of people stuck in negative thought patterns (pathos). She makes it seem that turning negativity into positivity is as much a social responsibility as a personal one.
In this book, and others, she talks in detail about the brain’s “happy” chemicals, oxytocin (bonding and belonging), serotonin (achieving social status), and dopamine (meeting survival needs). She also talks about cortisol, the brain’s stress or danger chemical, which appears alongside threats to belonging, status, and survival. And while the big cortex we have in our human brains makes us better able to recognize the patterns behind various threats to our survival and thriving, thus multiplying the potential risk to our brains and bodies of the unnecessary release of cortisol, it seems that those happy chemicals often fail to keep up. She gives good strategies for “tricking” the brain into releasing more of those happy chemicals.
Anyone who wants to understand how their brain works, and how to get the most out of it, should read this book.
July 14, 2017
Dr. Breuning sets the foundation for why negativity is an easy and very common trap to fall into: as mammals, we are wired to look for the bad around us. No, an adorable sugar glider isn’t a guaranteed pessimist, but he does constantly scan for the threats that would keep him from surviving. And we do the same. This makes sense to me since the theory can easily be applied to driving a car. You don’t drive a car taking in the lovely scenery, technologically savvy automobiles around you, and the complicated harmony of your favorite song. You drive – or at least should drive – constantly checking your mirrors, speedometer, and your relationship to the lane you’re in and other drivers. Survival threats are all around us and have changed a lot over time.
Survival threats are all around us and have changed a lot over time. We have developed so many devices and machines to help us mitigate and even eliminate many of these threats. (Backup camera anyone?) But our biological makeup has been developing and fine tuning our natural threat detection and elimination systems for longer than we’ve been inventing.
Read the rest of my review here: https://www.middaymornings.com/the-sc...
Survival threats are all around us and have changed a lot over time. We have developed so many devices and machines to help us mitigate and even eliminate many of these threats. (Backup camera anyone?) But our biological makeup has been developing and fine tuning our natural threat detection and elimination systems for longer than we’ve been inventing.
Read the rest of my review here: https://www.middaymornings.com/the-sc...
December 19, 2016
I can't seem to get enough of Loretta Breuning. This book is close to magical in that it has given me a new way to understand my own up's and down's as well as others. Breuning style is clear and direct, and the way she gets her ideas across, through simple explanation, stories, and analogies makes it totally accessible. The author has created a guidebook to everyday use of the brain that has improved my life.
April 29, 2020
Well. Not what I thought it was going to be about. To much.... in the Animal Kingdom this happens for a reason. And this was like every page. 😴 I thought it was a book to help me be positive in 30 days? Skimming threw pages I found the part I was looking for I have to think something positive for a minute 3 times a day. That's it. That's the wisdom the book has offered amongst the rest of the reptile and Animal world who are out there fighting for survival. Just think positive human
November 21, 2018
I did not care for this book. I found it confusing with them talking about mammals etc. I also was not fond of the readers voice.
June 30, 2021
This was our June book club pick and we had a great discussion about this topic even though most of us hadn't read it. (I'd read the first half of the book when we had our meeting last week and finished it later.)
I was looking forward to reading this book because I have a child who has seemed to have a negative predisposition since she was very young. I like the idea that we have control over this and hoped I'd find some practical ways to help my daughter be more positive. However, The Science of Positivity left me wanting for more. Turns out I wanted less science and more psychology, less talk about "the mammal brain" and more about creating "the positivity habit." I love the idea and concept of this book much more than the actual content. I would have liked a whole book based on chapter 7 - The Pathway to a Positive Brain. The 18-page chapter has some great information and fell short of its potential.
That said, I do feel like I have a better understanding of how brain chemicals affect our emotions, and there were several nuggets in the final chapter.
"The mammal brain is designed to compare itself to others and to release a bad feeling when it sees itself in the one-down position. As much as you try to avoid this bad feeling, it keeps coming back because you can't be in the one-up position every moment. Humans have lived with social frustration since the beginning of time, and if your other needs are met, you may focus on it relentlessly. It will feel like a crisis and your brain will find evidence that fits. Of course you will end up feeling worse. Fortunately, you can learn to take off the crisis goggles and find ways of feeling good about your place in the world" (184).
I was looking forward to reading this book because I have a child who has seemed to have a negative predisposition since she was very young. I like the idea that we have control over this and hoped I'd find some practical ways to help my daughter be more positive. However, The Science of Positivity left me wanting for more. Turns out I wanted less science and more psychology, less talk about "the mammal brain" and more about creating "the positivity habit." I love the idea and concept of this book much more than the actual content. I would have liked a whole book based on chapter 7 - The Pathway to a Positive Brain. The 18-page chapter has some great information and fell short of its potential.
That said, I do feel like I have a better understanding of how brain chemicals affect our emotions, and there were several nuggets in the final chapter.
"The mammal brain is designed to compare itself to others and to release a bad feeling when it sees itself in the one-down position. As much as you try to avoid this bad feeling, it keeps coming back because you can't be in the one-up position every moment. Humans have lived with social frustration since the beginning of time, and if your other needs are met, you may focus on it relentlessly. It will feel like a crisis and your brain will find evidence that fits. Of course you will end up feeling worse. Fortunately, you can learn to take off the crisis goggles and find ways of feeling good about your place in the world" (184).
June 6, 2025
There is a difference between focusing on the good and toxic positivity. This book is the later.
It seems to me that author is an expert in mammal behaviour and I agree with everything that was said about chemicals, neural pathways and why we behave the way we do. However the application seems very narrow due to expertise being lacking in other areas. It feeds toxic attitudes and ignorance.
We have a problem? Sure, but look at all the good things. No. Sometimes you have to acknowledge the problem fully so you can put your brain into looking for a solution rather than sweeping it under a rug just because it feels better.
Just like in her other book, author is normalising unethical behaviour because it’s “typical to mammals”.
Humans are capable of rising above our egos and our mammalian ways. We are capable of spiritual awakening (and I don’t mean religion), and we are capable of doing the right thing - not for a reward or social higher up. Simply because sometimes really bad things are happening around us and nobody wants to do anything and your compassion is stronger than the herd instinct so you do whatever you can to help. This book doesn’t celebrate such behaviours, it encourages the opposite and has a no quibble “I’m right, you are wrong” attitude. Ableism, victim blaming and similar themes. This does not inspire me to be more positive. I feel more positive by practicing meditation and being in nature.
I acknowledge the need to seek positive sides of the situation but it can’t be a blanket response to every problem in life.
It seems to me that author is an expert in mammal behaviour and I agree with everything that was said about chemicals, neural pathways and why we behave the way we do. However the application seems very narrow due to expertise being lacking in other areas. It feeds toxic attitudes and ignorance.
We have a problem? Sure, but look at all the good things. No. Sometimes you have to acknowledge the problem fully so you can put your brain into looking for a solution rather than sweeping it under a rug just because it feels better.
Just like in her other book, author is normalising unethical behaviour because it’s “typical to mammals”.
Humans are capable of rising above our egos and our mammalian ways. We are capable of spiritual awakening (and I don’t mean religion), and we are capable of doing the right thing - not for a reward or social higher up. Simply because sometimes really bad things are happening around us and nobody wants to do anything and your compassion is stronger than the herd instinct so you do whatever you can to help. This book doesn’t celebrate such behaviours, it encourages the opposite and has a no quibble “I’m right, you are wrong” attitude. Ableism, victim blaming and similar themes. This does not inspire me to be more positive. I feel more positive by practicing meditation and being in nature.
I acknowledge the need to seek positive sides of the situation but it can’t be a blanket response to every problem in life.
February 22, 2025
Уявіть, що у вашій голові є така міні-лабораторія, яка виробляє коктейль з гормонів. З одного боку - дофамін, серотонін, окситоцин та ендорфіни, а з іншого - кортизол, який включає режим "все пропало, капець".
Основний посил книги простий: хочеш бути щасливішим - думай про хороше і не думай про погане. (Так я пам'ятаю де і в який час ми живемо) Знаю, звучить як порада від фахівця, який пройшов двотижневі курси з психології в інстаграмі, але тут є наукове підґрунтя. Якщо протриматись 2-3 місяці без негативних думок, мозок почне будув��ти нові нейронні зв'язки.
І тут цікавий момент про ці нейронні зв'язки - вони активно формуються в дитинстві, тому малечі так легко дається все нове: від вивчення іноземних мов до інтуїтивного розуміння будь-якої техніки. В дорослому віці переналаштувати ці зв'язки складніше, але цілком можливо. Просто потрібно більше часу і терпіння 🧠
Але є один прикол - наш мозок той ще любитель драми. Навіть коли все супер, він через якийсь час почне нити "мало-мало-мало!". Не отримав більше - привіт, кортизол, давно не бачились!
Підсумок: є цікаві моменти, але багато "води" Хоча деякі думки дійсно змушують замислитись.
До речі, тепер я розумію, чому після однієї пляшки пива завжди хочеться ще одну. Це не я алкаш, це все гормони!🤣
Основний посил книги простий: хочеш бути щасливішим - думай про хороше і не думай про погане. (Так я пам'ятаю де і в який час ми живемо) Знаю, звучить як порада від фахівця, який пройшов двотижневі курси з психології в інстаграмі, але тут є наукове підґрунтя. Якщо протриматись 2-3 місяці без негативних думок, мозок почне будув��ти нові нейронні зв'язки.
І тут цікавий момент про ці нейронні зв'язки - вони активно формуються в дитинстві, тому малечі так легко дається все нове: від вивчення іноземних мов до інтуїтивного розуміння будь-якої техніки. В дорослому віці переналаштувати ці зв'язки складніше, але цілком можливо. Просто потрібно більше часу і терпіння 🧠
Але є один прикол - наш мозок той ще любитель драми. Навіть коли все супер, він через якийсь час почне нити "мало-мало-мало!". Не отримав більше - привіт, кортизол, давно не бачились!
Підсумок: є цікаві моменти, але багато "води" Хоча деякі думки дійсно змушують замислитись.
До речі, тепер я розумію, чому після однієї пляшки пива завжди хочеться ще одну. Це не я алкаш, це все гормони!🤣
February 16, 2019
I really liked the simplicity of the author's explanation of how our brain works from an evolutionary biology perspective—especially the section about the neurological pathways formed during our youth. I've read about this before, but her writing is clear and concise, and it really helped clarify recent events in my life.
The chapter about wiring your brain for positivity is helpful and actionable, although I personally lean more towards meditation for similar results. In fact, I think this book pairs well with another book I'm reading, Sharon Salzberg's "Real Love: The Art of Mindful Connection". Sharon's book covers compassion, both for self and for others, and I think that subject is missing in this book. I am going to try the six-week PARE exercise the author outlines though.
The appendix listing books and movies about inspiration, as opposed to cynicism, is a nice bonus!
The chapter about wiring your brain for positivity is helpful and actionable, although I personally lean more towards meditation for similar results. In fact, I think this book pairs well with another book I'm reading, Sharon Salzberg's "Real Love: The Art of Mindful Connection". Sharon's book covers compassion, both for self and for others, and I think that subject is missing in this book. I am going to try the six-week PARE exercise the author outlines though.
The appendix listing books and movies about inspiration, as opposed to cynicism, is a nice bonus!
July 27, 2021
Essential reading. Millenia of people have evolved to produce this social science knowledge and we are fortunate to read it in our lifetime. This is so much more than a boring example of how to feel good; it is an understanding of how human social behavior works and what to do with it. The story drags a bit in the middle but the end discusses other books and then explains their relevance to this book. Amazing! I'm excited to read "The Doctor's Plague" and maybe circle back to some others. I now understand more about people to stop judging behavior I previously viewed as immoral or unenlightened. I am free to feel the way I feel, let go of unnecessary expectations, and choose the greater good because of it, not despite it.
October 19, 2017
Mammal good politics not
The inner mammal theory makes perfect sense and it helps me daily to understand human interactions with this in mind. She lost me at the end by saying we do not need to be concerned about overpopulation and environmental woes. The world population will decrease? This is not born out by real science anywhere that I can find. It was a media sound bite a few years ago. Tell the people whose island home is now underwater that these problems will somehow solve themselves with the help of science and smart people. If that was true we would already have reversed global warming.
The inner mammal theory makes perfect sense and it helps me daily to understand human interactions with this in mind. She lost me at the end by saying we do not need to be concerned about overpopulation and environmental woes. The world population will decrease? This is not born out by real science anywhere that I can find. It was a media sound bite a few years ago. Tell the people whose island home is now underwater that these problems will somehow solve themselves with the help of science and smart people. If that was true we would already have reversed global warming.
August 17, 2017
The Science of Positivity talks about five hormones and neurotransmitters: serotonin, oxytocin, dopamine, endorphin and cortisol and how they affect our everyday behaviour and rationality. The book draws parallels between human brain and an early mammal brain when it comes to decision making. As for me, it helped me be more conscious of negative thought patterns and make an active effort to be more positive.
August 16, 2019
Audiobook: At first the initial contents flew right over my head. But I just kept on listening finally with the author putting more scientific jargon in with real life examples, it started to connect. I don't know if I would of continued reading if it were not an audio book. But I am glad I continued to listen (it's the least I could to with a self improvement book.) I know want to own the physical book so I can write my own personal notes for future references!
January 22, 2023
Title Misleading, 3 Pages in Chapter 6 May be Helpful
Meh! It took 67% of this book to get through the exaggerated explanations of cortisol, dopamine, seratonin, oxytocin on & on. The premise was interesting but could have been condensed. The best part of the book was buried in 3 pages in Chapter 6. Having said that, I am going to try the PARE ideas - they may be helpful for stopping negative thought patterns.
Meh! It took 67% of this book to get through the exaggerated explanations of cortisol, dopamine, seratonin, oxytocin on & on. The premise was interesting but could have been condensed. The best part of the book was buried in 3 pages in Chapter 6. Having said that, I am going to try the PARE ideas - they may be helpful for stopping negative thought patterns.
September 17, 2018
More of a study on how our brain chemistry is wired to think negatively and less a discussion on how to change that chemistry. Very fascinating discussion on neurotransmitters in the mammal brain and interesting case studies presented throughout. Chapters one, five, and six were the meat of the book. More a book on making peace with how our brain is wired.
March 7, 2019
This book is fascinating. I feel like I've been given keys to a secret room! Beginning to understand my brain chemistry has helped me process how and why I look at the world so negatively and how to change those neural pathways. Not everything is a crisis, and living that way has affected me negatively. I hope to make new habits, using the information gained from this book.
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