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The Wonder Switch: The Difference Between Limiting Your Life and Living Your Dream
"A powerful, generous and unforgettable book." - Seth Godin "A wondrous lens on healing ourselves and our world in this strangest and hardest of times." - Krista Tippett We are all born with the wonder switch in the "on" position, but somewhere along the way, our wonder is crushed. And that's when we begin to live out of a self-limiting mindset that shuts down our sense of possibility and purpose. Yet reclaiming your wonder--and with it, your life--is within reach. In The Wonder Switch, join world-renowned storyteller and professional illusionist Harris III in a journey to bring you back to the magic you fear you've lost--not the sleight of hand he performs across world stages, but real love, hope, joy, belonging, meaning, and purpose. One of wonder's greatest powers is that it changes the stories we tell ourselves, writes Harris. With the help of his power-packed Transformation Map, you'll gain the tools you need to switch from the old story that leaves you unfulfilled to the new story that will make you a healthier, happier, all-around better human being. In this book, you'll
224 pages, Hardcover
Published October 13, 2020
32 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 7, 2020
I bought this book after seeing Candace Cameron Bure mention it. It sounded like what I'd need to help switch some things around. But I found it read more like a biography than a self-help book. But it was an interesting read as such.
October 19, 2020
While there are some slow parts for science, this one had me getting up out of my comfy chair looking for post it's and texting my boyfriend at 1:30am to remind me to tell him about a part.
Harris III shares about how life can turn off our sense of wonder, how we can turn it back on, and the benefits that come from living with that perspective.
Harris III shares about how life can turn off our sense of wonder, how we can turn it back on, and the benefits that come from living with that perspective.
March 3, 2021
The main idea of this book is changing my life day by day. We start with wonder fully on and open, then inciting incidences (trauma of any kind, shame) switch off wonder and we are stuck in shame. Then incidences/events/perceptions give birth to wonder again - and turn the switch back on. His diagram (a map) alone is worth the price of the book. He is also trying to create community for healing, challenging, turning wonder back on - contact him through his website. He has a startling enthusiasm which comes through and is completely genuine.
September 6, 2021
My quest to learn about (and awaken to) WONDER in 2021 through a Word-related book each season led me this summer to metaphorically sit under the tutelage of someone who is well acquainted with producing magical moments that inspire wonder in others. As a professional illusionist, Harris III is known around the world for creating magic onstage. And his magical illusions might be just that—illusions; but that doesn’t make them any less magical or deserving of wonder from his audience.
After years spent manufacturing wonder for others, Harris III realized his own Wonder Switch had been turned off. His amazement at the goodness, truth, and purpose around him had vanished, crippled by trauma, external pressures, and a limiting mindset that kept him from dreaming, loving, or living life to its fullest. In The Wonder Switch, Harris unpacks the steps he took to maneuver his personal Wonder Switch back to the ON position, and he guides readers in doing the same.
The idea of seeking out wonder might seem fairly inconsequential, a nice quality to pursue when it’s convenient but certainly not crucial to our existence or even our well-being. However, Harris makes the case that living a life marked by wonder (a life he describes as one in which our innate Wonder Switch is flipped on) is a critical component of our curiosity, imagination, creativity, and capacity for belief, hope, and resilience. Wonder can be a catalyst for change, an illuminator of potential, and a pathway to connection and belonging. Possessing wonder makes us better leaders, parents, innovators, and humans. And when wonder dies, we open ourselves up to cynicism, stress, anxiety, and shame, which has a disastrous affect on our stories.
I think that most of us are familiar with the importance and power of story—both the stories we encounter through fiction and the lives of other individuals, and the stories we believe about ourselves. We are all born with our Wonder Switches set to “on” which enables us to embrace true and positive narratives about ourselves. Unfortunately, life has a way of dimming our Wonder Switches, and as our wonder is stifled, we begin to craft untrue narratives about the world and ourselves.
These stories we’ve embraced matter because they drive our thinking and behavior, which in turn play into the next stories we begin to live out. Without wonder, this cycle of stories breeding behaviors that fuel stories can quickly become toxic. Thankfully, transformation is possible; we possess the potential to envision and pursue a better, more magical story for ourselves. For this to occur, it is crucial that we allow wonder to do its work in us.
It’s common for us humans to live our entire lives writing and redefining our personal stories, giving little thought to how much of our personal narratives are actually true or how these narratives might be affecting our daily existence and future trajectories. In The Wonder Switch, Harris invites us to step back and examine our histories and the stories they have birthed. When was wonder lost within our story? Where are we settling for counterfeit versions of the lives we were meant to live? Where was wonder crushed and how can it be reclaimed? And how can this rediscovered wonder breath life into bigger dreams and wonder-laden futures?
I realize that those concepts might come across as esoteric, steeped in mysticism and very “feel-good-self-help“-y. But Harris’s explanations are easy to follow and relatable thanks to Harris’s candidness about his own trauma, insecurities, and life-altering quest to reclaim wonder for himself and his family. He provides action steps for rediscovering wonder—”the childlike state we find ourselves in when we are awake to possibility and rescued from the ordinary, granting us permission to believe in what we have yet to see”—and he makes doing so seem not only desirable but entirely possible!
When I chose Wonder as my word for 2021, I had a vague understanding of how I was hoping this might play out. I had not anticipated the ways wonder would set the stage for pivotal transformation in nearly every facet of my life. In embracing wonder, I have been living out the story-rewriting that Harris describes in this book. I personally have experienced many of the truths Harris lays out in Wonder Switch: that wonder is fuel for wisdom and curiosity, a source of inspiration and ingenuity, and a birthplace for passion, vigor, inspiration, joy, and purpose. I’ve observed the lack of wonder in myself and in our culture, and am beginning to witness how adopting a wonder mindset is one of the best decisions a person can make for one’s physical, emotional, spiritual, and interpersonal wellbeing.
One of my favorite takeaways from this book is the idea of becoming a WOW person instead of just a HOW person: in other words, allowing myself to simply be amazed at what I see rather than trying to understand, scrutinize, or control my experiences and especially God’s work within them. There is value in accepting the world as it presents itself—for all of its flaws but also all of its glory—and responding not with judgment or cynicism, but with amazement and gratitude and WONDER.
I don’t know that I would naturally associate beauty with mystery, but according to Harris, the two go hand in hand. He writes, “beautiful things contain elements of mystery, because there is always more to discover.” And the inverse is also true: mysteries are beautiful because mysteries can leave us in wonder. . . a wonder that has the potential to turn our lives for the better if we allow it. Wonder in and of itself is beautiful and mysterious, more attainable than we assume if only we are willing to flip the wonder switch. Harris III is here to help us do just that. As he concludes in his book, “Now you know most of my secrets. I guess we’re both magicians now. Use your powers wisely—they won’t just change your life; they might just change the world too.”
My Rating: 5 Stars
After years spent manufacturing wonder for others, Harris III realized his own Wonder Switch had been turned off. His amazement at the goodness, truth, and purpose around him had vanished, crippled by trauma, external pressures, and a limiting mindset that kept him from dreaming, loving, or living life to its fullest. In The Wonder Switch, Harris unpacks the steps he took to maneuver his personal Wonder Switch back to the ON position, and he guides readers in doing the same.
The idea of seeking out wonder might seem fairly inconsequential, a nice quality to pursue when it’s convenient but certainly not crucial to our existence or even our well-being. However, Harris makes the case that living a life marked by wonder (a life he describes as one in which our innate Wonder Switch is flipped on) is a critical component of our curiosity, imagination, creativity, and capacity for belief, hope, and resilience. Wonder can be a catalyst for change, an illuminator of potential, and a pathway to connection and belonging. Possessing wonder makes us better leaders, parents, innovators, and humans. And when wonder dies, we open ourselves up to cynicism, stress, anxiety, and shame, which has a disastrous affect on our stories.
I think that most of us are familiar with the importance and power of story—both the stories we encounter through fiction and the lives of other individuals, and the stories we believe about ourselves. We are all born with our Wonder Switches set to “on” which enables us to embrace true and positive narratives about ourselves. Unfortunately, life has a way of dimming our Wonder Switches, and as our wonder is stifled, we begin to craft untrue narratives about the world and ourselves.
These stories we’ve embraced matter because they drive our thinking and behavior, which in turn play into the next stories we begin to live out. Without wonder, this cycle of stories breeding behaviors that fuel stories can quickly become toxic. Thankfully, transformation is possible; we possess the potential to envision and pursue a better, more magical story for ourselves. For this to occur, it is crucial that we allow wonder to do its work in us.
It’s common for us humans to live our entire lives writing and redefining our personal stories, giving little thought to how much of our personal narratives are actually true or how these narratives might be affecting our daily existence and future trajectories. In The Wonder Switch, Harris invites us to step back and examine our histories and the stories they have birthed. When was wonder lost within our story? Where are we settling for counterfeit versions of the lives we were meant to live? Where was wonder crushed and how can it be reclaimed? And how can this rediscovered wonder breath life into bigger dreams and wonder-laden futures?
I realize that those concepts might come across as esoteric, steeped in mysticism and very “feel-good-self-help“-y. But Harris’s explanations are easy to follow and relatable thanks to Harris’s candidness about his own trauma, insecurities, and life-altering quest to reclaim wonder for himself and his family. He provides action steps for rediscovering wonder—”the childlike state we find ourselves in when we are awake to possibility and rescued from the ordinary, granting us permission to believe in what we have yet to see”—and he makes doing so seem not only desirable but entirely possible!
When I chose Wonder as my word for 2021, I had a vague understanding of how I was hoping this might play out. I had not anticipated the ways wonder would set the stage for pivotal transformation in nearly every facet of my life. In embracing wonder, I have been living out the story-rewriting that Harris describes in this book. I personally have experienced many of the truths Harris lays out in Wonder Switch: that wonder is fuel for wisdom and curiosity, a source of inspiration and ingenuity, and a birthplace for passion, vigor, inspiration, joy, and purpose. I’ve observed the lack of wonder in myself and in our culture, and am beginning to witness how adopting a wonder mindset is one of the best decisions a person can make for one’s physical, emotional, spiritual, and interpersonal wellbeing.
One of my favorite takeaways from this book is the idea of becoming a WOW person instead of just a HOW person: in other words, allowing myself to simply be amazed at what I see rather than trying to understand, scrutinize, or control my experiences and especially God’s work within them. There is value in accepting the world as it presents itself—for all of its flaws but also all of its glory—and responding not with judgment or cynicism, but with amazement and gratitude and WONDER.
I don’t know that I would naturally associate beauty with mystery, but according to Harris, the two go hand in hand. He writes, “beautiful things contain elements of mystery, because there is always more to discover.” And the inverse is also true: mysteries are beautiful because mysteries can leave us in wonder. . . a wonder that has the potential to turn our lives for the better if we allow it. Wonder in and of itself is beautiful and mysterious, more attainable than we assume if only we are willing to flip the wonder switch. Harris III is here to help us do just that. As he concludes in his book, “Now you know most of my secrets. I guess we’re both magicians now. Use your powers wisely—they won’t just change your life; they might just change the world too.”
My Rating: 5 Stars
November 13, 2025
This book is a human exploration of rediscovering the magic within ourselves—the childlike curiosity, creativity, and authenticity that often fade under the weight of adulthood and expectations. Harris invites readers to turn their “wonder switch” back on, to reawaken the sense of possibility that transforms life from a routine checklist into a meaningful story waiting to unfold.
The book challenges the status quo by urging readers to live authentically and break free from the societal scripts that define success and happiness. Through engaging stories, psychological insights, and thoughtful reflection, Harris III shows that we all have the power to rewrite our narratives—to move from fear and cynicism toward awe and purpose.
Reading The Wonder Switch feels like a personal rediscovery. It reconnects us with our truest selves—the ones who dream boldly, believe deeply, and create freely. Harris reminds us that our shared human experience is a mix of wonder and wounds, and that healing begins when we allow ourselves to be curious again.
In a world that constantly pushes us to perform, compare, and conform, this book is a timely reminder to pause and listen to the quiet voice within us. Ultimately, The Wonder Switch isn’t just a book—it’s a mirror that reflects who we are meant to be. It inspires readers to live with intention, authenticity, and renewed wonder.
The book challenges the status quo by urging readers to live authentically and break free from the societal scripts that define success and happiness. Through engaging stories, psychological insights, and thoughtful reflection, Harris III shows that we all have the power to rewrite our narratives—to move from fear and cynicism toward awe and purpose.
Reading The Wonder Switch feels like a personal rediscovery. It reconnects us with our truest selves—the ones who dream boldly, believe deeply, and create freely. Harris reminds us that our shared human experience is a mix of wonder and wounds, and that healing begins when we allow ourselves to be curious again.
In a world that constantly pushes us to perform, compare, and conform, this book is a timely reminder to pause and listen to the quiet voice within us. Ultimately, The Wonder Switch isn’t just a book—it’s a mirror that reflects who we are meant to be. It inspires readers to live with intention, authenticity, and renewed wonder.
March 10, 2024
I deeply appreciated Harris' vulnerability in sharing his story and I found all his assertions about how we should approach life compelling. That said, the scope of what he calls readers to - gratitude, mindfulness, humility, creativity, wonder, awe, etc. - felt a bit unwieldy. The Transformation Map he introduces and regularly references is very intriguing but there didn't seem to be a presentation of the logical progression of the intricate elements within the Map; instead, Harris shared a series of emotionally compelling stories that represented times his "wonder switch" was on or off, or in the process of being switched.
I imagine many people will love this book as there is certainly something in it for everyone. I simply have a personal preference for books with a more narrow scope.
I imagine many people will love this book as there is certainly something in it for everyone. I simply have a personal preference for books with a more narrow scope.
November 14, 2023
Good book on recapturing imagination...
Was suggested this book by a friend who heard the author speak ata conference. I felt like his story was compelling enough (secondhand) to hear it in his book. The author offers some good nuggets and encourages the reader to turn on the wonder switch (like a light switch) to help transform one’s life story. My favorite thought from the book is the reminder to distinguish “wow” meetings (visioning ones) from “how” meetings (logistical ones). A decent read for anyone needing a push on their creative journey.
Was suggested this book by a friend who heard the author speak ata conference. I felt like his story was compelling enough (secondhand) to hear it in his book. The author offers some good nuggets and encourages the reader to turn on the wonder switch (like a light switch) to help transform one’s life story. My favorite thought from the book is the reminder to distinguish “wow” meetings (visioning ones) from “how” meetings (logistical ones). A decent read for anyone needing a push on their creative journey.
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January 13, 2025My first book finished in 2025. The author is an ex magician/ illusionist who tells his story and his perspective on "Wonder" and the "Wonder Switch" and how it determines your outlook on life as well as your beliefs and limitations. Most of us crippled by trauma, external pressures, and a limiting mindset that keep us from dreaming, loving, or living life to its fullest - turning your wonder switch ON can be a critical component of our curiosity, imagination, creativity, and capacity for belief, hope, and resilience. He tells readers how to do this in his book.
February 5, 2024
This was a wonderful book that I highly recommend. Harris III was open and honest, almost to a fault. Some of the stories were painful, but the redemption coupled with forgiveness gave closure to the torture of his youth.
Take my advice and latch on to anything Harris III produces in any format. Books, coaching, live presentations, etc. I bet his scribbled shopping list would be note-worthy. We all need some Harris III in our lives.
Take my advice and latch on to anything Harris III produces in any format. Books, coaching, live presentations, etc. I bet his scribbled shopping list would be note-worthy. We all need some Harris III in our lives.
January 13, 2022
Harris III is a world-renown storyteller and illusionist. His work has afforded him with a special interest in the stories we tell ourselves and how they affect our human behavior. He’s experienced crowds respond to his magic and has identified the true magic of our lives as wonder, which is the feeling we get when we experience something we really can’t put into words. These concepts include the realities of love, joy, hope, belonging, faith, meaning, and purpose. The stories he tells about his travels as an illusionist further his point in describing the wonder mindset. He combines this storytelling with research in the field of neuroscience to explain how our mindsets are determined by the power of stories. The wonder switch, and whether it is turned on or off, is the intersection of these stories and our behaviors.
October 9, 2023
This book can’t decide if it’s a memoir or a self-help book. Harris III doesn’t close the loop on several of his anecdotes. Some of the scientific studies he references, though, are intriguing. He also references other books whose premises intrigued me enough to put them on my Amazon wish list. Several of the assertions in here and the way he illustrated them landed as fresh thoughts to me.
November 20, 2020
This book was great! I enjoyed the author’s perspective and sense of humor.
The book helped provide hope and insight on something that is incredibly powerful; our sense of wonder.
The book helped provide hope and insight on something that is incredibly powerful; our sense of wonder.
March 2, 2021
Really good, it explains a lot of things i never though of before and uh yea pretty interesting.
March 12, 2021
Absolutely fantastic. A must read for every human.
July 17, 2021
My big take away, stay optimistic and full of wow.
December 23, 2021
I've read a lot of books. This one actually makes me want to read it over and over again. I listened to the audio book, and now I need to buy a copy to write notes in.
This book is valuable.
This book is valuable.
March 29, 2022
Everyone is born with a sense of wonder! But somewhere along the way, we lose it. Harris uses magician analogies to help you regain your sense of wonder!
September 10, 2021
"The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller. The storyteller sets the vision, values, and agenda of an entire generation that is to come." - Steve Jobs
We are constantly telling ourselves stories about our life in our inner thoughts. I believe with all my heart the author's premise that these stories we tell ourselves have power. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, the author thinks that often we are comparing ourselves to our ideal selves: the person we wish we were. This book starts with flipping the script, recapturing that inner sense of wonder, and tapping into your inner creativity to live the life you dream of.
The book also dives into how trauma, boredom and drama can sap our creative energy. I found the section on drama to be the most powerful, as I've been lucky enough to live a relatively trauma-free life thus far. But I've definitely lived some drama! And I have to admit, the periods of my life where I got caught up in drama were my least productive and creative. Drama saps your best energy.
As the author says, "When your imagination gets bored, it looks for something to feed on. The human brain was created to solve problems. And if you don't have a high-level problem worthy of solving, the brain will create one, usually in the form of the drama."
I'd much rather be creating and achieving than worrying about drama!
I appreciated the author's scientific approach, with every statement backed up with numerous studies and examples. Wonder allows us to appreciate the beauty and magic in the world around us, bringing a childlike sense of awe. This is proven to boost peacefulness and creativity. It's the opposite of a jaded, cynical perspective, which leads to anxiety and stress. Wonder restores our equilibrium.
The book ends with a roadmap to regain your sense of wonder. You'll want a journal for this part, as I filled pages with notes and reflection. I plan to return to this roadmap again and again.
We are constantly telling ourselves stories about our life in our inner thoughts. I believe with all my heart the author's premise that these stories we tell ourselves have power. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, the author thinks that often we are comparing ourselves to our ideal selves: the person we wish we were. This book starts with flipping the script, recapturing that inner sense of wonder, and tapping into your inner creativity to live the life you dream of.
The book also dives into how trauma, boredom and drama can sap our creative energy. I found the section on drama to be the most powerful, as I've been lucky enough to live a relatively trauma-free life thus far. But I've definitely lived some drama! And I have to admit, the periods of my life where I got caught up in drama were my least productive and creative. Drama saps your best energy.
As the author says, "When your imagination gets bored, it looks for something to feed on. The human brain was created to solve problems. And if you don't have a high-level problem worthy of solving, the brain will create one, usually in the form of the drama."
I'd much rather be creating and achieving than worrying about drama!
I appreciated the author's scientific approach, with every statement backed up with numerous studies and examples. Wonder allows us to appreciate the beauty and magic in the world around us, bringing a childlike sense of awe. This is proven to boost peacefulness and creativity. It's the opposite of a jaded, cynical perspective, which leads to anxiety and stress. Wonder restores our equilibrium.
The book ends with a roadmap to regain your sense of wonder. You'll want a journal for this part, as I filled pages with notes and reflection. I plan to return to this roadmap again and again.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews