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You, Happier: The 7 Neuroscience Secrets of Feeling Good Based on Your Brain Type
#1 New York Times bestselling author Dr. Daniel Amen reveals the seven neuroscience secrets to becoming more than 30 percent happier in just 30 days—regardless of your age, upbringing, genetics, or current situation.
Happiness is a brain function. With a healthier brain always comes a happier life.
After studying more than 200,000 brain scans of people from 155 countries, Dr. Amen has discovered five primary brain types and seven neuroscience secrets that influence happiness. In You, Happier, he explains them and offers practical, science-based strategies for optimizing your happiness. Dr. Amen will teach you how to:
- discover your brain type based on your personality and create happiness strategies best suited to you;
- improve your overall brain health to consistently enhance your mood;
- protect your happiness by distancing yourself from the “noise” in your head; and
- make seven simple decisions and ask seven daily questions to enhance your happiness.
Creating consistent happiness is a daily journey. In You, Happier, Dr. Amen walks you through neuroscience-based habits, rituals, and choices that will boost your mood and help you live each day with clearly defined values, purpose, and goals.
Happiness is a brain function. With a healthier brain always comes a happier life.
After studying more than 200,000 brain scans of people from 155 countries, Dr. Amen has discovered five primary brain types and seven neuroscience secrets that influence happiness. In You, Happier, he explains them and offers practical, science-based strategies for optimizing your happiness. Dr. Amen will teach you how to:
- discover your brain type based on your personality and create happiness strategies best suited to you;
- improve your overall brain health to consistently enhance your mood;
- protect your happiness by distancing yourself from the “noise” in your head; and
- make seven simple decisions and ask seven daily questions to enhance your happiness.
Creating consistent happiness is a daily journey. In You, Happier, Dr. Amen walks you through neuroscience-based habits, rituals, and choices that will boost your mood and help you live each day with clearly defined values, purpose, and goals.
341 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2022
1098 people are currently reading
5249 people want to read
About the author
Daniel G. Amen
176 books1,484 followersThe Washington Post called Dr. Daniel Amen the most popular psychiatrist in America and Sharecare.com named him the web's most influential expert and advocate on mental health.
Daniel Amen is a life-long Christian and graduate of Oral Roberts University School of Medicine. He is a double board-certified psychiatrist and multiple NY Times bestselling author, with such blockbuster books as Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, Healing ADD, Change Your Brain, Change Your Body, and The Daniel Plan, co-authored by Pastor Rick Warren and Dr. Mark Hyman. In November 2016, he and his wife Tana published The Brain Warrior's Way.
Dr. Amen is the founder of Amen Clinics, which has 6 locations across the United States. Amen Clinics has the world's largest database of brain scans related to behavior, totaling more than 125,000 SPECT scans on patients from 111 countries.
Dr. Amen's research team has published more than 70 scientific articles on a wide variety of topics related to brain health. He is the lead researcher on the largest brain imaging study on active and retired NFL players and was a consultant on the movie Concussion starring Will Smith. In 2016, Discover Magazine named his brain imaging work for psychiatric diagnoses as one of the top 100 stories in all of science.
Dr. Amen has also hosted 11 national public television shows about the brain, which have aired more than 80,000 times across North America and raised more than 75 million dollars for stations.
You can connect with Dr. Amen on Facebook and Twitter
Daniel Amen is a life-long Christian and graduate of Oral Roberts University School of Medicine. He is a double board-certified psychiatrist and multiple NY Times bestselling author, with such blockbuster books as Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, Healing ADD, Change Your Brain, Change Your Body, and The Daniel Plan, co-authored by Pastor Rick Warren and Dr. Mark Hyman. In November 2016, he and his wife Tana published The Brain Warrior's Way.
Dr. Amen is the founder of Amen Clinics, which has 6 locations across the United States. Amen Clinics has the world's largest database of brain scans related to behavior, totaling more than 125,000 SPECT scans on patients from 111 countries.
Dr. Amen's research team has published more than 70 scientific articles on a wide variety of topics related to brain health. He is the lead researcher on the largest brain imaging study on active and retired NFL players and was a consultant on the movie Concussion starring Will Smith. In 2016, Discover Magazine named his brain imaging work for psychiatric diagnoses as one of the top 100 stories in all of science.
Dr. Amen has also hosted 11 national public television shows about the brain, which have aired more than 80,000 times across North America and raised more than 75 million dollars for stations.
You can connect with Dr. Amen on Facebook and Twitter
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April 26, 2022
You, Happier: The 7 Neuroscience Secrets of Feeling Good Based on Your Brain Type by psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen was interesting (of the raised eyebrow variety). I was vaguely aware that his first book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life was popular, but that was all I knew as background information before I started this book.
Alarm bells started going off in my head very quickly—right at the beginning of chapter one, in fact. Dr. Amen writes that he encourages all his patients to watch a video by Dennis Prager with the message that happiness is a “moral obligation.” Excuse me? As someone with major depressive disorder, I would have zero desire to see a psychiatrist who comes out with that nonsense. Then I checked Wikipedia to find out who this Dennis Prager character is. Turns out he’s a conservative talk show host, and from some of the quotes included on the Wikipedia page, he sounds like quite the wing nut, like gay marriage being on par with incest kind of stuff.
The book begins by introducing readers to Dr. Amen’s seven secrets of happiness. These are then explored further in the book’s five parts: the neuroscience of brain types and happiness, the biology of happiness, the psychology of happiness, the social connections of happiness, and the spirituality of happiness.
Part one talks about brain types that Dr. Amen has identified based on activation patterns in brain SPECT scans. The five primary brain types are balanced, spontaneous, persistent, sensitive, and cautious. There are also eleven combination types. A “happiness prescription” was given for each type, including supplements and activities to affect different neurotransmitter systems. What I found weird about this is that it jumbled personality and illness in together, when they don’t necessarily have anything to do with one another.
Some of the advice was… different. Dr. Amen recounted some very particular advice to someone to get a persistent type female all hot and horny (my words, not his), including a rather interesting assertion about baby powder being an aphrodisiac. He wasn’t fully anti-medication, but he wasn’t especially keen on them, either. He wrote that these SPECT scans showed certain medications, like benzodiazepines and opiates, “had toxic effects on brain function, making brains look older and less healthy than they should be.” I don’t think toxic means what he wants it to, and this idea of brains looking older and less healthy is all very subjective and seems to be his own concoction, so just no. I also didn’t like that he was recommending St. John’s wort without talking about it interacting with antidepressants. I’m not at all anti-SJW, but if one is talking about it for mood, it’s only responsible to mention that interaction.
There was a chapter on “happy nutraceuticals.” Dr. Amen recommends “four basics everyone needs to be happy”: a broad-spectrum multi-vitamin/mineral, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics. That’s some pretty pricey happiness. He makes a lot of other supplement recommendations, with particular recommendations for different brain types. One could very easily spend a whole lot of money on all the recommendations for things that don’t necessarily have evidence to back them up.
The part of the book devoted to the psychology of happiness talked about automatic negative thoughts and being Pollyanna-positive (Pollyanna was actually used as an example). There were also recommendations to work on “disciplining your mind” and choose to “focus your thoughts on true and noble things.” I’m not sure what to say to that besides hmm….
In the “Happy Connections” chapter, Dr. Amen promises to “give you a brain-based blueprint to more blissful connections with the important people in your life.” Maybe I’m just cynical, but really? We also get another Dennis Prager quote that ends with the line, “Obviously, we can control our moods.” Thank you for that expert opinion…
Throughout the book, there are a lot of references to and testimonials for Dr. Amen’s 30 Day Happiness Challenge, which costs $49 US. Besides that, there were a lot of references to his Amen Clinics, and a great deal of encouragement for people to get SPECT brain scans, not once, but on a regular basis. The Amen Clinics website doesn’t provide a price. A 2016 Observer article noted a price of $3950 for an exam, which involves two scans, one while resting and the other while concentrating. A 2012 Washington Post article gave a figure of $3500 for “a full initial session, including two scans.”
According to the Washington Post article and the Daniel Amen Wikipedia page, SPECT scanning for psychiatric diagnostic purposes is not generally accepted as being useful. A Google Scholar search for “SPECT scan major depressive disorder” doesn’t turn up anything in terms of diagnostic validity. So that’s a lot of cashish for something of questionable value, especially when Dr. Amen encourages people to get them done regularly.
Besides that, he plugs the podcast he and his wife do, his many other books, and his branded supplements (a 30-day supply of the “Daily Essentials Bundle” from his BrainMD site costs $114.62). I can see why one Goodreads reviewer described this book as a “long format advertisement.” It does feel rather like the written version of an infomercial.
Near the beginning of the book, Dr. Amen writes, “My prayer for young people is often, ‘Please, God, do not let them be famous before their brains are developed,'” because the brain’s dopamine control centre isn’t fully developed until around age 25. That sounds like an awfully privileged group of young people he’s working with for that to even be a thing. There’s some famous name-dropping, too, like big-name influencers that I’ve never heard of because I don’t care about influencers. There was a fair bit of my friend-ing, too, like “my friend Tony Robbins.”
So yeah, that was the book. The infomercial-ness was tacky, and given how much money Dr. Amen is making off these probably unnecessary brain scans, he’s not so hard up for cash that he needs to push the promotion angle. But he’s sold a lot of books, and I’m sure people will buy this one. I’m also fairly sure that a lot of those people aren’t going to pick up on a lot of the book’s weaknesses, and that’s fine. But just like the saying that money can’t buy you happiness, I don’t think all the money that Dr. Amen is urging you to spend is going to make your life wonderful.
I received a reviewer copy from the publisher through Netgalley.
Alarm bells started going off in my head very quickly—right at the beginning of chapter one, in fact. Dr. Amen writes that he encourages all his patients to watch a video by Dennis Prager with the message that happiness is a “moral obligation.” Excuse me? As someone with major depressive disorder, I would have zero desire to see a psychiatrist who comes out with that nonsense. Then I checked Wikipedia to find out who this Dennis Prager character is. Turns out he’s a conservative talk show host, and from some of the quotes included on the Wikipedia page, he sounds like quite the wing nut, like gay marriage being on par with incest kind of stuff.
The book begins by introducing readers to Dr. Amen’s seven secrets of happiness. These are then explored further in the book’s five parts: the neuroscience of brain types and happiness, the biology of happiness, the psychology of happiness, the social connections of happiness, and the spirituality of happiness.
Part one talks about brain types that Dr. Amen has identified based on activation patterns in brain SPECT scans. The five primary brain types are balanced, spontaneous, persistent, sensitive, and cautious. There are also eleven combination types. A “happiness prescription” was given for each type, including supplements and activities to affect different neurotransmitter systems. What I found weird about this is that it jumbled personality and illness in together, when they don’t necessarily have anything to do with one another.
Some of the advice was… different. Dr. Amen recounted some very particular advice to someone to get a persistent type female all hot and horny (my words, not his), including a rather interesting assertion about baby powder being an aphrodisiac. He wasn’t fully anti-medication, but he wasn’t especially keen on them, either. He wrote that these SPECT scans showed certain medications, like benzodiazepines and opiates, “had toxic effects on brain function, making brains look older and less healthy than they should be.” I don’t think toxic means what he wants it to, and this idea of brains looking older and less healthy is all very subjective and seems to be his own concoction, so just no. I also didn’t like that he was recommending St. John’s wort without talking about it interacting with antidepressants. I’m not at all anti-SJW, but if one is talking about it for mood, it’s only responsible to mention that interaction.
There was a chapter on “happy nutraceuticals.” Dr. Amen recommends “four basics everyone needs to be happy”: a broad-spectrum multi-vitamin/mineral, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics. That’s some pretty pricey happiness. He makes a lot of other supplement recommendations, with particular recommendations for different brain types. One could very easily spend a whole lot of money on all the recommendations for things that don’t necessarily have evidence to back them up.
The part of the book devoted to the psychology of happiness talked about automatic negative thoughts and being Pollyanna-positive (Pollyanna was actually used as an example). There were also recommendations to work on “disciplining your mind” and choose to “focus your thoughts on true and noble things.” I’m not sure what to say to that besides hmm….
In the “Happy Connections” chapter, Dr. Amen promises to “give you a brain-based blueprint to more blissful connections with the important people in your life.” Maybe I’m just cynical, but really? We also get another Dennis Prager quote that ends with the line, “Obviously, we can control our moods.” Thank you for that expert opinion…
Throughout the book, there are a lot of references to and testimonials for Dr. Amen’s 30 Day Happiness Challenge, which costs $49 US. Besides that, there were a lot of references to his Amen Clinics, and a great deal of encouragement for people to get SPECT brain scans, not once, but on a regular basis. The Amen Clinics website doesn’t provide a price. A 2016 Observer article noted a price of $3950 for an exam, which involves two scans, one while resting and the other while concentrating. A 2012 Washington Post article gave a figure of $3500 for “a full initial session, including two scans.”
According to the Washington Post article and the Daniel Amen Wikipedia page, SPECT scanning for psychiatric diagnostic purposes is not generally accepted as being useful. A Google Scholar search for “SPECT scan major depressive disorder” doesn’t turn up anything in terms of diagnostic validity. So that’s a lot of cashish for something of questionable value, especially when Dr. Amen encourages people to get them done regularly.
Besides that, he plugs the podcast he and his wife do, his many other books, and his branded supplements (a 30-day supply of the “Daily Essentials Bundle” from his BrainMD site costs $114.62). I can see why one Goodreads reviewer described this book as a “long format advertisement.” It does feel rather like the written version of an infomercial.
Near the beginning of the book, Dr. Amen writes, “My prayer for young people is often, ‘Please, God, do not let them be famous before their brains are developed,'” because the brain’s dopamine control centre isn’t fully developed until around age 25. That sounds like an awfully privileged group of young people he’s working with for that to even be a thing. There’s some famous name-dropping, too, like big-name influencers that I’ve never heard of because I don’t care about influencers. There was a fair bit of my friend-ing, too, like “my friend Tony Robbins.”
So yeah, that was the book. The infomercial-ness was tacky, and given how much money Dr. Amen is making off these probably unnecessary brain scans, he’s not so hard up for cash that he needs to push the promotion angle. But he’s sold a lot of books, and I’m sure people will buy this one. I’m also fairly sure that a lot of those people aren’t going to pick up on a lot of the book’s weaknesses, and that’s fine. But just like the saying that money can’t buy you happiness, I don’t think all the money that Dr. Amen is urging you to spend is going to make your life wonderful.
I received a reviewer copy from the publisher through Netgalley.
April 12, 2022
I paid 25 dollars to read a long format advertisement for a brain scan clinic :/
December 30, 2022
Eeh, this is basically a plug for scans and supplements he sells and in too many places it reads like written by a swarmy salesman.
Also apparently his brain scans are pretty out there but I guess it was a different and sometimes interesting perspective.
Also apparently his brain scans are pretty out there but I guess it was a different and sometimes interesting perspective.
May 11, 2022
The entire time while reading this book, I couldn’t stop talking about it. It is absolutely brilliant. I’m a nerd for anatomy and physiology so this book grabbed my attention from the start.
Dr. Amen had me asking myself a lot of questions about my own diet and perspective on happiness. I immediately felt encouraged to eat healthy and “make the produce section my candy store.” I feel accountable, aware and responsible for my behaviors and daily outlook.
This is the first book anyones asked me to borrow and I’ve said no. It’s filled with highlights that I plan on reflecting back to anytime I’m in a diet or attitude slump.
Lastly, my husband has an appointment this Friday with Amen clinics. I feel so prepared and involved already just from reading this book and cannot wait to see how a natural approach helps his mental health.
Dr. Amen had me asking myself a lot of questions about my own diet and perspective on happiness. I immediately felt encouraged to eat healthy and “make the produce section my candy store.” I feel accountable, aware and responsible for my behaviors and daily outlook.
This is the first book anyones asked me to borrow and I’ve said no. It’s filled with highlights that I plan on reflecting back to anytime I’m in a diet or attitude slump.
Lastly, my husband has an appointment this Friday with Amen clinics. I feel so prepared and involved already just from reading this book and cannot wait to see how a natural approach helps his mental health.
April 12, 2022
I have been following Dr Amen for a couple years now and was thrilled to have an opportunity to read and review his latest book; You, Happier. Some of the information I had heard before (and is always a good reminder) and some of it was new.
In the introduction he shares the Lies and the Secrets to happiness. For each secret he provides a question to ask yourself. The book addresses each of the secrets.
He breaks the book into 5 parts.
Part 1 The Neuroscience of Brain Types. He will address each brain type; Balanced, Spontaneous, Persistent, Sensitive and Cautious.
Part 2 The Biology of Happiness. He shares natural ways to feel good and addresses the impact of food.
Part 3 The Psychology of Happiness (Mindset). He provides actionable steps to take to create a positive mindset. You don’t have to say I am just born negative.
Part 4 The Social Connections of Happiness. I found it interesting to understand how your brain type can impact your relationships. I related it to understanding love languages. There are reasons you and your spouse, friends, family etc are different and it isn’t necessarily bad, it is just different. Understanding that can help you not take things personally.
Part 5 The Spirituality of Happiness addresses values, purpose and goals and how they impact happiness.
This book is a wealth of information. It can be overwhelming. Just take it one part or question at a time and you will be so glad you learned this info that others are not talking about.
In the introduction he shares the Lies and the Secrets to happiness. For each secret he provides a question to ask yourself. The book addresses each of the secrets.
He breaks the book into 5 parts.
Part 1 The Neuroscience of Brain Types. He will address each brain type; Balanced, Spontaneous, Persistent, Sensitive and Cautious.
Part 2 The Biology of Happiness. He shares natural ways to feel good and addresses the impact of food.
Part 3 The Psychology of Happiness (Mindset). He provides actionable steps to take to create a positive mindset. You don’t have to say I am just born negative.
Part 4 The Social Connections of Happiness. I found it interesting to understand how your brain type can impact your relationships. I related it to understanding love languages. There are reasons you and your spouse, friends, family etc are different and it isn’t necessarily bad, it is just different. Understanding that can help you not take things personally.
Part 5 The Spirituality of Happiness addresses values, purpose and goals and how they impact happiness.
This book is a wealth of information. It can be overwhelming. Just take it one part or question at a time and you will be so glad you learned this info that others are not talking about.
October 16, 2022
Really torn on this one. On one hand the author has a theory backed by cases and facts. The primary cause behind many of our mental issues and short comings is fundamentally brain chemistry and physical. The psychological behaviors are results of imbalances and even trauma alters the wain our brain is wired. As such, attacking these root causes helps in alleviating the issues. We are born with brain types which often impact our feelings and behaviors as much, if not more than our experiences and circumstances. So far, so good. Kind of. There are critics of this theory and the use of brain scans, but it seems to hold water in many ways.
He offers practical tips on diet and supplements which can help each case. These can be useful and seem to work for many cases. And if not, the downside is you wasted money on spices and supplements, hardly a tragedy.
However, he sells his brand, products and services hard. The book is filled with sites to log on to, his line of supplements to buy etc. one reference maybe two… but the constant selling wears thin and undermines credibility.
Secondly as a European the sappy family stuff is too thick. Pronouncing your love to your wife is great but it is a little much here. Similar with other family members…
The recipient for healthy chocolate smoothies and such would have been better placed in an appendix.
In the end, the book is thought provoking and a useful one to understand. But you need to crawl through the patches of salesmanship and fly pads of overly emotional honey to get there.
He offers practical tips on diet and supplements which can help each case. These can be useful and seem to work for many cases. And if not, the downside is you wasted money on spices and supplements, hardly a tragedy.
However, he sells his brand, products and services hard. The book is filled with sites to log on to, his line of supplements to buy etc. one reference maybe two… but the constant selling wears thin and undermines credibility.
Secondly as a European the sappy family stuff is too thick. Pronouncing your love to your wife is great but it is a little much here. Similar with other family members…
The recipient for healthy chocolate smoothies and such would have been better placed in an appendix.
In the end, the book is thought provoking and a useful one to understand. But you need to crawl through the patches of salesmanship and fly pads of overly emotional honey to get there.
May 19, 2022
Some good content in here but it’s basic CBT that he rebrands as his own invention. The brain scan material that takes up half the book is largely disputed in the medical field as it was not done with double blind studies. As others mentioned he pretty much name drops on every page one of his products, achievements or famous clients very off putting.
I do like some of the content but I think there is a more efficient way to get to it.
I do like some of the content but I think there is a more efficient way to get to it.
January 21, 2024
Dr Amen gives great insight into the brain and how to keep it healthy! I found this book very insightful about how the brain works and all the things that can disrupt your happiness and how to get back on track to enjoying your life and finding happiness
January 28, 2023
Started this book almost a year ago and just picked it back up again to finish.
The beginning was great - I had never learned about the different brain types and so I enjoyed learning about my brain type. We all have different brains, which control our actions and thought processes, and learning how to work with your brain and love it is so important.
The middle sections was meh material in my opinion - I had already heard it and it seemed to drag a bit, especially the section on what foods to eat to support your brain. I also don’t agree with the author’s strict opinion on no processed foods, limit sugar, restrict calories, etc. This advice is extremely harmful to individuals who have gone through an eating disorder. I wish the author could have incorporated notes of intuitive eating in this section as his advice upholds diet culture, which is toxic. I did order some new supplements (fish oil, a multivitamin) from his advice though.
I enjoyed the ending with the core value exercise and reflecting on how our actions align with our core values and greater purpose. That was a nice way to end.
The beginning was great - I had never learned about the different brain types and so I enjoyed learning about my brain type. We all have different brains, which control our actions and thought processes, and learning how to work with your brain and love it is so important.
The middle sections was meh material in my opinion - I had already heard it and it seemed to drag a bit, especially the section on what foods to eat to support your brain. I also don’t agree with the author’s strict opinion on no processed foods, limit sugar, restrict calories, etc. This advice is extremely harmful to individuals who have gone through an eating disorder. I wish the author could have incorporated notes of intuitive eating in this section as his advice upholds diet culture, which is toxic. I did order some new supplements (fish oil, a multivitamin) from his advice though.
I enjoyed the ending with the core value exercise and reflecting on how our actions align with our core values and greater purpose. That was a nice way to end.
Read
August 22, 2025Listened to the audiobook. For me, this is one I would have rather had in front of me to study as it reads more like a textbook on brain health that I'd have liked to highlight and refer back to. Good information though, and the narrator was engaging.
February 11, 2025
Des choses à prendre et des choses à laisser, intéressant d’annoter avec des post it sur les passages qui nous serviront au long terme
January 1, 2023
Daniel G. Amen, MD, is a well-known psychiatrist that believes happiness starts with a healthy brain. The book aims to guide you in knowing your brain type and how to boost your energy, productivity, and satisfaction. Key takeaways include Dr. Amen’s seven secrets to happiness, avoiding the BRIGHT MINDS 11 risk factors, and the happier diet rules. I would recommend this book to those interested in improving brain health and willing to put in the effort to discern your brain type and follow through with the recommendations.
There is a lot of good, solid content that promotes overall wellness and, in particular, brain health. I especially enjoyed the chapter, Happiness Around the World, and learning how different cultures describe and celebrate happiness.
The brain type assessment (online) does not seem that discerning. I thought I had pegged myself accurately, but I took the test twice and still didn’t get the expected response. Then I doubted what to follow and wondered if I should pay for an actual brain scan. The never-ending self-promoting advertisements for his clinics, SPEC scans, happiness transformation program, etc., were prevalent and off-putting. Additionally, there are many recommendations--this is not a quick fix, easy-to-implement plan for a renewed brain. Be prepared to put in the work.
There is a lot of good, solid content that promotes overall wellness and, in particular, brain health. I especially enjoyed the chapter, Happiness Around the World, and learning how different cultures describe and celebrate happiness.
The brain type assessment (online) does not seem that discerning. I thought I had pegged myself accurately, but I took the test twice and still didn’t get the expected response. Then I doubted what to follow and wondered if I should pay for an actual brain scan. The never-ending self-promoting advertisements for his clinics, SPEC scans, happiness transformation program, etc., were prevalent and off-putting. Additionally, there are many recommendations--this is not a quick fix, easy-to-implement plan for a renewed brain. Be prepared to put in the work.
March 2, 2022
From the first time I saw a PBS program by Dr. Amen I have been a fan.
I have read several of his previous books, so some of the content in You, Happier was familiar to me.
Still, I enjoyed hearing the anecdotes again. The information comes across as fresh and enlightening.
Besides giving us excellent information on ways we can take action to improve our individual brain health, actions are offered for ways to make our relationships, whether at home, school, work, with family, friends or associates, function more smoothly or cause less friction.
Who doesn't want to be happier? Feel more energized? Experience less stress or reduce stress more quickly? Discover what works for you from this excellent reference.
Buy a copy for your kids!
I suggest you also watch his life presentation next time you have the opportunity.
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book early. The opinions expressed are my own. I will read sections of this book again and again.
I have read several of his previous books, so some of the content in You, Happier was familiar to me.
Still, I enjoyed hearing the anecdotes again. The information comes across as fresh and enlightening.
Besides giving us excellent information on ways we can take action to improve our individual brain health, actions are offered for ways to make our relationships, whether at home, school, work, with family, friends or associates, function more smoothly or cause less friction.
Who doesn't want to be happier? Feel more energized? Experience less stress or reduce stress more quickly? Discover what works for you from this excellent reference.
Buy a copy for your kids!
I suggest you also watch his life presentation next time you have the opportunity.
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book early. The opinions expressed are my own. I will read sections of this book again and again.
April 27, 2022
If I could give this book 3.5 stars I would.
Pros:
The brain types were spot on! I was a mixed brain type 6 but definitely lean towards brain type 3, persistent. The descriptions were very accurate and I appreciated the recommendations on how to take care of your brain type.
Other bits of information were interesting to know which leads me to the cons…
Cons:
The majority of the information Doctor Amen includes in this book is fairly common knowledge if you’re trying to live a healthy life (i.e. “avoid eating foods with pesticides on them” “eat organic whenever possible”).
Also, this book was one long advertisement for Amen clinics as others have mentioned. I got tired of hearing about his clinic every other page and tried of hearing the celebrities that came to his clinic.
My recommendation? Borrow this as an audio book and write down the pertinent parts for you. That way you won’t waste your money (like I did) or time.
Pros:
The brain types were spot on! I was a mixed brain type 6 but definitely lean towards brain type 3, persistent. The descriptions were very accurate and I appreciated the recommendations on how to take care of your brain type.
Other bits of information were interesting to know which leads me to the cons…
Cons:
The majority of the information Doctor Amen includes in this book is fairly common knowledge if you’re trying to live a healthy life (i.e. “avoid eating foods with pesticides on them” “eat organic whenever possible”).
Also, this book was one long advertisement for Amen clinics as others have mentioned. I got tired of hearing about his clinic every other page and tried of hearing the celebrities that came to his clinic.
My recommendation? Borrow this as an audio book and write down the pertinent parts for you. That way you won’t waste your money (like I did) or time.
June 4, 2025
2.5, 3 at its best parts, 2 at its worst. This is a lot of opinions - most of which probably won’t hurt you and some might even help you-mixed with occasional truth and wisdom and sprinkled in. He nearly lost me completely when he quoted the Prager guy as saying we have a moral (MORAL?!) obligation to others to be happy, because if we are sad, it makes others sad, and that’s wrong. WTH. As a mental health professional, I just want to make it completely clear that we don’t need to be happy for other people. It’s tough enough to be happy for ourselves. There’s a few decent ideas that I’ll hang onto- mainly the idea that I could be more mindful about what will be good for my brain. But mostly, it’s too long winded and talks way too much about his clinics and supplements.
July 10, 2022
This book gets 4 stars because overall it has the potential to be a very helpful book. Lots of great information. However, it was like sitting in on a lengthy sales pitch meeting. I will say I am interested in getting brain scanned and seeing how healthy my brain actually is. My favorite take away is that “taking responsibility doesn’t equal taking the blame. When you don’t take responsibility you leave your happiness in other peoples hands” Dr.Amén
September 28, 2023
Some credible psychological information, but take this book with a grain of salt. This narrative has fat phobic, Christian, and conservative undertones. I would say this is harmful content for people with eating disorders and neurodivergence. This books intentions are to sell you more Dr. Amen products. What a quack
Read
March 3, 2024Hard to rate this book. I admit I skimmed it so I really shouldn’t give it a rating.
I had gotten this book from the library after I started following Dr Amen on Instagram. Way before I started skimming though (I renewed it many times!), I had already unfollowed him so that may have impacted how I feel about the book. I don’t believe we as humans are necessarily wired to be happy- that is part of the why and how we’ve survived as a species. So it is something we really have to work and strive for. That way of thinking for me combined with my love for learning about all things brain/human body is what makes me want to read what the “experts” recommend.
This didn’t grab me with any life changing advice and went into some of the usual themes of eat well, take supplements (that he of course happens to sell), exercise, get sleep, limit negative thoughts, practice gratitude, etc. Along with his recommendations based on 5 brain types he has established. Interesting-ish.
I had gotten this book from the library after I started following Dr Amen on Instagram. Way before I started skimming though (I renewed it many times!), I had already unfollowed him so that may have impacted how I feel about the book. I don’t believe we as humans are necessarily wired to be happy- that is part of the why and how we’ve survived as a species. So it is something we really have to work and strive for. That way of thinking for me combined with my love for learning about all things brain/human body is what makes me want to read what the “experts” recommend.
This didn’t grab me with any life changing advice and went into some of the usual themes of eat well, take supplements (that he of course happens to sell), exercise, get sleep, limit negative thoughts, practice gratitude, etc. Along with his recommendations based on 5 brain types he has established. Interesting-ish.
January 16, 2023
Tbh, this was a DNF for me. I got 60% of the way done and then my hold on the book expired. Here’s the thing, it’s a very interesting book. I took a free brain test and found out my brain type (through his book) and then I was able to read about the things I need to help my brain and keep it healthy. It was very informative in a good way, but where I didn’t like it was that it felt like a big advertisement for his clinic. And at times it felt too educational. Super interesting read, but I got bored and couldn’t get myself to pick it back up. I would highly recommend listening to Jay Shetty’s podcast where he interviews Dr. Aman. I learned just as much there and found the interview format way more interesting.
April 2, 2024
If you've read "Change Your Brain Change Your Life" by Dr. Amen, you'll find a lot of familiarity here. That's not necessarily a bad thing as it did help to add additional context, reinforce key points and topics, and remind me of all the things I told myself I would begin to try but have failed to incorporate. In general, this book is a very practical guide to increasing brain health and longevity. Now if I could just get myself to actually put these habits into practice!
February 8, 2024
this felt like a guy really trying to sell something. mostly self-agrandizing, anecdotal, and reductive, but moments that became thought-provoking, scientific, creative, and inspiring. this book was- on the whole- a good push to better my life which i really needed
June 13, 2022
Interesting to learn about different brain types and what you can do to get a healthier brain
July 16, 2023
Book offered a lot of good tips. I took a lot of notes and want to grab the supplements he suggested.
August 4, 2023
The book provides some useful information, but the book mostly felt like an advertisement for Amen Clinics, his supplements, and his other products.
June 2, 2024
Summary:
You Happier by Daniel G. Amen discussed that achieving lasting happiness requires understanding and working with your unique brain type and its associated neurological patterns. There are five primary brain types – balanced, spontaneous, persistent, sensitive and cautious – each with distinct strengths, challenges and neurochemical patterns. By tailoring strategies like diet, exercise, mindfulness practices and cognitive techniques to optimise brain health and chemical balances for your specific brain type, you can unlock your full potential for joy, resilience and fulfilment.
You Happier by Daniel G. Amen discussed that achieving lasting happiness requires understanding and working with your unique brain type and its associated neurological patterns. There are five primary brain types – balanced, spontaneous, persistent, sensitive and cautious – each with distinct strengths, challenges and neurochemical patterns. By tailoring strategies like diet, exercise, mindfulness practices and cognitive techniques to optimise brain health and chemical balances for your specific brain type, you can unlock your full potential for joy, resilience and fulfilment.
January 31, 2023
Choose foods you love that love you back.
when you accept that it is your moral obligation to be happy for the others in your life, then you are more motivated to work on your relationships to make them stronger.
Everyone should take a broad-spectrum multivitamin/mineral supplement daily.
Do you want 50 percent responsibility for your happiness or 100 percent? How much power and control over the outcome do you want?
Based on their research, it is generally accepted that happiness is about 40 percent genetic (you inherit it from your ancestors), 10 percent your situation in life or what happens to you, and 50 percent habits and mindset. This means you have a higher degree of control over happiness than most people think.
Notice the good the boys are doing - “whenever Freddy does anything I want him to do, I notice him. I give him a hug, and I give him a fish.’”
Why is the world a better place because you breathe? If you don’t know the answer to this question, think it over. Ask those closest to you for their insights. What skills do you have that could be helpful to someone today? What can you do to make the world a better place?
Note: Dark chocolate seems to balance all the chemicals of happiness.
All forms of sugar—even natural honey or maple—cause blood sugar levels to spike and then crash. This negatively impacts mood; increases anxiousness, irritability, and stress; makes you feel fatigued; and causes cravings.
2013 study in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging showed that fasting and calorie restriction significantly decreases anger, tension, confusion, and other mood disturbances while increasing vigor.
A study out of the University of Warwick found that the number of vegetables and fruits you eat has a linear correlation to your level of happiness. For each serving of vegetables or fruits you eat (up to eight servings a day) the happier you become, and it happens almost instantly.
as your weight goes up, the physical size and function of your brain goes down.[
start the day by directing your attention to what you are excited about, what you like, what you want, what you hope for, and what makes you happy,
Write down three things you are grateful for each day and try to find one person to appreciate.
2. Eat a high-protein, lower-carbohydrate diet.
3. Exercise regularly. In general, physical exercise is one of the best things you can do for your brain. It increases the production of new brain cells and your levels of dopamine, while slowing down brain cell aging. Exercise has also been associated with improved mood and overall a better outlook on life. Exercise helps to balance all the chemicals of happiness.
4. Learn to pray and meditate. Hundreds of research studies have demonstrated the overall health benefits of prayer and meditation (or focusing your mind).
5. Get a massage. To counter the effects of stress, research has demonstrated that massage therapy increases dopamine levels by about 30 percent while decreasing the stress hormone cortisol.
6. Sleep.
7. Listen to music. It is no surprise that listening to calming music can increase pleasurable feelings, improve mood, reduce stress, and help with focus and concentration.
8. Get more sunshine.
9. Supplements. The herbals ashwagandha, rhodiola, and panax ginseng have been found to increase dopamine levels, promoting improved focus and increased energy while enhancing endurance and stamina.
10. Set goals.
obesity is strongly linked to depression, lower self-esteem, and poor body image, as well as psychiatric issues such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and addictions.[
Saffron - Improved attention and behavior problems in children after only three weeks, as judged by both parents and teachers. saffron’s most proven application is mood enhancement.
Turmeric - The turmeric root (really a rhizome or underground stem) parallels saffron in being revered as a panacea for at least 2,600, perhaps as many as 4,000 years.
if you shift the focus of your money toward giving to causes and people that matter to you, money can contribute to happiness. Likewise, spending money to have experiences with others actually gives us greater happiness than buying stuff.
a recent study about some very poor nations found that those citizens experienced happiness by being connected to their community and family and spending time in nature.
Hippocampus: mood and the formation of new memories
Amygdala: emotions, including fear, as well as signaling the presence of food, sexual partners, rivals, or children in distress
Hypothalamus: helps control body temperature, appetite, sexual behavior, and emotions
Basal ganglia: motivation, pleasure, smoothing motor movements
Anterior cingulate gyrus: shifting attention and error detection
cerebral cortex - built around the reptilian and limbic neighborhoods. This part of the brain is involved in creating and understanding language, abstract thought, imagination, and culture. It has endless learning possibilities and creates the story of why we are happy or sad,
Neurotransmitters - the molecules used by the nervous system to transmit messages between neurons or from neurons to target cells in muscles, glands, or other nerves. Since these chemical messengers communicate information between the brain and our bodies, they are incredibly important to good health.
Dopamine - is the principal neurotransmitter that makes you feel good.
Serotonin- This brain chemical is involved with mood, sleep, and flexibility, and it helps you to be open and adaptable to change.
Serotonin and dopamine counterbalance each other.
Oxytocin- called the “chemical of love” for the way it enhances bonding and trusting relationships. This powerful neurotransmitter has a reputation for playing Cupid because it’s released when you snuggle up, have sex, or socially bond with friends.
Endorphins- These “feel good” brain chemicals released by your body during a workout or physical exertion cause your immune cells to flood the cardiovascular system, which protects your body against illness and lifts your mood.
GABA - primary role is to reduce brain cell excitability and slow down the firing of neurons. It helps balance more stimulating neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and adrenaline.
Endocannabinoids - These molecules play a role in regulating mood, sleep, and appetite. Excessive endocannabinoid activity contributes to overeating and obesity, while low activity is a risk factor for developing depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, inflammation, and immune system problems.
Cortisol - Cortisol is the body’s “stress hormone,” and chronically high levels are linked to depression, anxiety, grief, memory loss, and weight gain as well as conditions like type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The body also releases cortisol whenever you feel like you’re in danger or involved in a fight-or-flight response.
7 Tenets to Happiness - It is critical to target happiness strategies to your unique brain type—a one-size-fits-all approach will never work. 2. Brain health (the actual physical functioning of the organ) is the most important foundational requirement of happiness. 3. Your brain needs targeted nutrients every day to boost happiness. 4. The foods you choose to eat either elevate happiness or steal it. 5. Mastering your mind and gaining separation or psychological distance from the noise in your head is essential to protecting happiness. 6. Noticing what you like about others more than what you don’t is a recipe for happy relationships and happiness overall. 7. Having clearly defined values, purpose, and goals are essential to a strong foundation for happiness.
Comparing yourself to others in a negative way is the most predictable way to lower your self-esteem.
Take a yoga class. Decades of studies point to yoga’s ability to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress while improving sleep and enhancing overall quality of life.
Gum disease is a major cause of inflammation, and poor oral health has been linked to depression and anxiety.[
Test your genes with 23andMe or other genetic testing services to know your vulnerabilities, and meet with a medical professional to help you interpret the results.
when you accept that it is your moral obligation to be happy for the others in your life, then you are more motivated to work on your relationships to make them stronger.
Everyone should take a broad-spectrum multivitamin/mineral supplement daily.
Do you want 50 percent responsibility for your happiness or 100 percent? How much power and control over the outcome do you want?
Based on their research, it is generally accepted that happiness is about 40 percent genetic (you inherit it from your ancestors), 10 percent your situation in life or what happens to you, and 50 percent habits and mindset. This means you have a higher degree of control over happiness than most people think.
Notice the good the boys are doing - “whenever Freddy does anything I want him to do, I notice him. I give him a hug, and I give him a fish.’”
Why is the world a better place because you breathe? If you don’t know the answer to this question, think it over. Ask those closest to you for their insights. What skills do you have that could be helpful to someone today? What can you do to make the world a better place?
Note: Dark chocolate seems to balance all the chemicals of happiness.
All forms of sugar—even natural honey or maple—cause blood sugar levels to spike and then crash. This negatively impacts mood; increases anxiousness, irritability, and stress; makes you feel fatigued; and causes cravings.
2013 study in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging showed that fasting and calorie restriction significantly decreases anger, tension, confusion, and other mood disturbances while increasing vigor.
A study out of the University of Warwick found that the number of vegetables and fruits you eat has a linear correlation to your level of happiness. For each serving of vegetables or fruits you eat (up to eight servings a day) the happier you become, and it happens almost instantly.
as your weight goes up, the physical size and function of your brain goes down.[
start the day by directing your attention to what you are excited about, what you like, what you want, what you hope for, and what makes you happy,
Write down three things you are grateful for each day and try to find one person to appreciate.
2. Eat a high-protein, lower-carbohydrate diet.
3. Exercise regularly. In general, physical exercise is one of the best things you can do for your brain. It increases the production of new brain cells and your levels of dopamine, while slowing down brain cell aging. Exercise has also been associated with improved mood and overall a better outlook on life. Exercise helps to balance all the chemicals of happiness.
4. Learn to pray and meditate. Hundreds of research studies have demonstrated the overall health benefits of prayer and meditation (or focusing your mind).
5. Get a massage. To counter the effects of stress, research has demonstrated that massage therapy increases dopamine levels by about 30 percent while decreasing the stress hormone cortisol.
6. Sleep.
7. Listen to music. It is no surprise that listening to calming music can increase pleasurable feelings, improve mood, reduce stress, and help with focus and concentration.
8. Get more sunshine.
9. Supplements. The herbals ashwagandha, rhodiola, and panax ginseng have been found to increase dopamine levels, promoting improved focus and increased energy while enhancing endurance and stamina.
10. Set goals.
obesity is strongly linked to depression, lower self-esteem, and poor body image, as well as psychiatric issues such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and addictions.[
Saffron - Improved attention and behavior problems in children after only three weeks, as judged by both parents and teachers. saffron’s most proven application is mood enhancement.
Turmeric - The turmeric root (really a rhizome or underground stem) parallels saffron in being revered as a panacea for at least 2,600, perhaps as many as 4,000 years.
if you shift the focus of your money toward giving to causes and people that matter to you, money can contribute to happiness. Likewise, spending money to have experiences with others actually gives us greater happiness than buying stuff.
a recent study about some very poor nations found that those citizens experienced happiness by being connected to their community and family and spending time in nature.
Hippocampus: mood and the formation of new memories
Amygdala: emotions, including fear, as well as signaling the presence of food, sexual partners, rivals, or children in distress
Hypothalamus: helps control body temperature, appetite, sexual behavior, and emotions
Basal ganglia: motivation, pleasure, smoothing motor movements
Anterior cingulate gyrus: shifting attention and error detection
cerebral cortex - built around the reptilian and limbic neighborhoods. This part of the brain is involved in creating and understanding language, abstract thought, imagination, and culture. It has endless learning possibilities and creates the story of why we are happy or sad,
Neurotransmitters - the molecules used by the nervous system to transmit messages between neurons or from neurons to target cells in muscles, glands, or other nerves. Since these chemical messengers communicate information between the brain and our bodies, they are incredibly important to good health.
Dopamine - is the principal neurotransmitter that makes you feel good.
Serotonin- This brain chemical is involved with mood, sleep, and flexibility, and it helps you to be open and adaptable to change.
Serotonin and dopamine counterbalance each other.
Oxytocin- called the “chemical of love” for the way it enhances bonding and trusting relationships. This powerful neurotransmitter has a reputation for playing Cupid because it’s released when you snuggle up, have sex, or socially bond with friends.
Endorphins- These “feel good” brain chemicals released by your body during a workout or physical exertion cause your immune cells to flood the cardiovascular system, which protects your body against illness and lifts your mood.
GABA - primary role is to reduce brain cell excitability and slow down the firing of neurons. It helps balance more stimulating neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and adrenaline.
Endocannabinoids - These molecules play a role in regulating mood, sleep, and appetite. Excessive endocannabinoid activity contributes to overeating and obesity, while low activity is a risk factor for developing depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, inflammation, and immune system problems.
Cortisol - Cortisol is the body’s “stress hormone,” and chronically high levels are linked to depression, anxiety, grief, memory loss, and weight gain as well as conditions like type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The body also releases cortisol whenever you feel like you’re in danger or involved in a fight-or-flight response.
7 Tenets to Happiness - It is critical to target happiness strategies to your unique brain type—a one-size-fits-all approach will never work. 2. Brain health (the actual physical functioning of the organ) is the most important foundational requirement of happiness. 3. Your brain needs targeted nutrients every day to boost happiness. 4. The foods you choose to eat either elevate happiness or steal it. 5. Mastering your mind and gaining separation or psychological distance from the noise in your head is essential to protecting happiness. 6. Noticing what you like about others more than what you don’t is a recipe for happy relationships and happiness overall. 7. Having clearly defined values, purpose, and goals are essential to a strong foundation for happiness.
Comparing yourself to others in a negative way is the most predictable way to lower your self-esteem.
Take a yoga class. Decades of studies point to yoga’s ability to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress while improving sleep and enhancing overall quality of life.
Gum disease is a major cause of inflammation, and poor oral health has been linked to depression and anxiety.[
Test your genes with 23andMe or other genetic testing services to know your vulnerabilities, and meet with a medical professional to help you interpret the results.
June 2, 2024
I found this super insightful and not specific to ND or NT. There is no single brain pattern associated with any mental health condition; rather, diverse “brain types” shape how we think, feel, and find fulfilment. Note to self: persistent and cautious brain type combination.
Context/notes that didn't fit in other sub categories:
- Back in the ‘80s, the author, a psychiatrist, started to grow increasingly frustrated with traditional methods of diagnosing mental health. While doctors in other areas could directly examine the organs they treated, psychiatrists were forced to simply guess at the underlying biological mechanisms driving issues like depression, ADHD, and addiction. Wanting to get to the root of the problem, he started looking directly at the brain using cutting-edge technologies like quantitative EEG and SPECT imaging.
- Research shows that healthy relationships are the single greatest predictor of a happy life. In fact, a 2016 meta-analysis in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that interpersonal therapy was effective in preventing or easing depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
Brain types:
- Balanced - generally organized, flexible, and emotionally stable. Balanced types have symmetrical activity across the brain and well-regulated levels of important brain chemicals. Balanced individuals may come across as a bit conventional, but their stable emotional equilibrium allows them to adapt well to life’s curveballs, control their impulses, and remain positive.
- Spontaneous - lower activity in their brains’ frontal lobes, they are creative and curious, but also impulsive. Their naturally low dopamine levels lead them to seek out hits of this pleasurable brain chemical by pursuing thrills, creativity, and novelty – sometimes through risky behaviors like gambling or romantic affairs. Their adventurous spirits are admirable but accompanied by short attention spans, low motivation, boredom, and conflict-seeking tendencies.
- Persistent - the hardworking perfectionists. Persistent types have a highly active anterior cingulate gyrus, which causes them to get stuck on negative thoughts and struggle with change. Relatedly, they are typically deficient in the mood-stabilizing, stress-regulating hormone serotonin. As a result, they are thoughtful and have strong moral compasses – but they’re also stubborn, rigid, and argumentative.
- Sensitive - deeply empathetic and emotionally intelligent thanks to increased activity in the limbic, or emotional, areas of the brain. This, however, also makes them prone to sadness or clinical depression, negative thinking, and sleep and appetite issues. Sensitive types tend to be deficient in several brain chemicals, including dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. Low levels of oxytocin can lead to depression and the feeling that your survival is threatened, while low endorphin levels can cause anxiety, stress, and mood swings.
- Cautious - thoughtful, always prepared, and has high standards. But high activity in their brains’ anxiety centers – like the basal ganglia and amygdala – makes them prone to anxiety, risk aversion, and fine motor problems. Additionally, they tend to have low levels of the chemical GABA, which calms the brain, paired with high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. This imbalance causes Cautious types to excel at meticulous preparation but to also become paralyzed by worst-case scenarios and debilitating worry.
- It’s possible to have a combination brain type that blends multiple profiles. For example, the Spontaneous-Persistent individual may exhibit restlessness and risk-taking behavior combined with a strong-willed, perfectionistic streak. These hybrid brains often struggle with lower dopamine and serotonin levels, leading to distractibility and obsessive thoughts.
Action notes:
- Persistent types should work to intentionally support serotonin production. In addition to regular exercise, meditation, and massages, they could try using a bright light therapy lamp in the morning. Also, because Persistent types tend to fixate on negatives, they should make a concerted effort to compare themselves to others in positive ways and to focus on the silver linings of each situation.
- For Cautious brain types, the primary focus should be on increasing GABA levels while simultaneously reducing cortisol. Mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga, eliminating GABA-depleting substances like caffeine and alcohol, prioritizing adequate sleep, and exploring techniques like hypnotherapy can help promote this neurochemical balance.
- Finally, individuals with combination brain types can benefit from a holistic approach that harmonizes various strategies.
- Balanced, Sensitive, and Cautious brain types tend to benefit from balanced diets that include moderate levels of complex carbs and protein. Sensitive types should also reach for spicy foods and dark chocolate, both of which help release endorphins. And Cautious types should add foods that help promote GABA production, which include green, black, and Oolong teas; lentils; berries; grass-fed beef; and fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi.
- whenever you encounter a setback or frustration, challenge yourself to find something to be grateful for or appreciative of in the situation.
- The final major exercise in the OPM is laying out your specific goals across the four life domains. This gives you a concrete, accessible roadmap for living in alignment with your uncovered values and purpose. For example, in the biological domain, the author’s goal is to be mentally sharp and physically strong for as long as possible. In the spiritual domain, his goals are to deepen his relationship with God, help protect the planet, and honor the memory of his grandfather.
Quotes:
- Happiness comes from moving your life forward toward your life goals with meaning and purpose, based on your values, despite whatever obstacles are in your way.
- “happiness is about 40 percent genetic (you inherit it from your ancestors), 10 percent your situation in life or what happens to you, and 50 percent habits and mindset.”
- “Cautious Brain Types often look to the future with trepidation, but when you are wrapped up in the future, it means you are missing out on the present and live with a baseline level of anxiety, which creates misery.”
- “You will increase your happiness if you scrap or reduce any unrealistic expectations. Chances are you’re not going to have the perfect career, the perfect spouse, or the perfect kids. In fact, seeking perfection is a recipe for unhappiness because you will always be disappointed. Set expectations that make sense to the current situation you find yourself in. And match those expectations with what you’ve learned about yourself through a strengths-based assessment.”
- “You need some anxiety to be happy. Appropriate anxiety helps us make better decisions. It prevents us from running into the street as children, risking broken bodies, and running headlong into toxic relationships as adults, risking broken hearts.”
Context/notes that didn't fit in other sub categories:
- Back in the ‘80s, the author, a psychiatrist, started to grow increasingly frustrated with traditional methods of diagnosing mental health. While doctors in other areas could directly examine the organs they treated, psychiatrists were forced to simply guess at the underlying biological mechanisms driving issues like depression, ADHD, and addiction. Wanting to get to the root of the problem, he started looking directly at the brain using cutting-edge technologies like quantitative EEG and SPECT imaging.
- Research shows that healthy relationships are the single greatest predictor of a happy life. In fact, a 2016 meta-analysis in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that interpersonal therapy was effective in preventing or easing depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
Brain types:
- Balanced - generally organized, flexible, and emotionally stable. Balanced types have symmetrical activity across the brain and well-regulated levels of important brain chemicals. Balanced individuals may come across as a bit conventional, but their stable emotional equilibrium allows them to adapt well to life’s curveballs, control their impulses, and remain positive.
- Spontaneous - lower activity in their brains’ frontal lobes, they are creative and curious, but also impulsive. Their naturally low dopamine levels lead them to seek out hits of this pleasurable brain chemical by pursuing thrills, creativity, and novelty – sometimes through risky behaviors like gambling or romantic affairs. Their adventurous spirits are admirable but accompanied by short attention spans, low motivation, boredom, and conflict-seeking tendencies.
- Persistent - the hardworking perfectionists. Persistent types have a highly active anterior cingulate gyrus, which causes them to get stuck on negative thoughts and struggle with change. Relatedly, they are typically deficient in the mood-stabilizing, stress-regulating hormone serotonin. As a result, they are thoughtful and have strong moral compasses – but they’re also stubborn, rigid, and argumentative.
- Sensitive - deeply empathetic and emotionally intelligent thanks to increased activity in the limbic, or emotional, areas of the brain. This, however, also makes them prone to sadness or clinical depression, negative thinking, and sleep and appetite issues. Sensitive types tend to be deficient in several brain chemicals, including dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. Low levels of oxytocin can lead to depression and the feeling that your survival is threatened, while low endorphin levels can cause anxiety, stress, and mood swings.
- Cautious - thoughtful, always prepared, and has high standards. But high activity in their brains’ anxiety centers – like the basal ganglia and amygdala – makes them prone to anxiety, risk aversion, and fine motor problems. Additionally, they tend to have low levels of the chemical GABA, which calms the brain, paired with high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. This imbalance causes Cautious types to excel at meticulous preparation but to also become paralyzed by worst-case scenarios and debilitating worry.
- It’s possible to have a combination brain type that blends multiple profiles. For example, the Spontaneous-Persistent individual may exhibit restlessness and risk-taking behavior combined with a strong-willed, perfectionistic streak. These hybrid brains often struggle with lower dopamine and serotonin levels, leading to distractibility and obsessive thoughts.
Action notes:
- Persistent types should work to intentionally support serotonin production. In addition to regular exercise, meditation, and massages, they could try using a bright light therapy lamp in the morning. Also, because Persistent types tend to fixate on negatives, they should make a concerted effort to compare themselves to others in positive ways and to focus on the silver linings of each situation.
- For Cautious brain types, the primary focus should be on increasing GABA levels while simultaneously reducing cortisol. Mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga, eliminating GABA-depleting substances like caffeine and alcohol, prioritizing adequate sleep, and exploring techniques like hypnotherapy can help promote this neurochemical balance.
- Finally, individuals with combination brain types can benefit from a holistic approach that harmonizes various strategies.
- Balanced, Sensitive, and Cautious brain types tend to benefit from balanced diets that include moderate levels of complex carbs and protein. Sensitive types should also reach for spicy foods and dark chocolate, both of which help release endorphins. And Cautious types should add foods that help promote GABA production, which include green, black, and Oolong teas; lentils; berries; grass-fed beef; and fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi.
- whenever you encounter a setback or frustration, challenge yourself to find something to be grateful for or appreciative of in the situation.
- The final major exercise in the OPM is laying out your specific goals across the four life domains. This gives you a concrete, accessible roadmap for living in alignment with your uncovered values and purpose. For example, in the biological domain, the author’s goal is to be mentally sharp and physically strong for as long as possible. In the spiritual domain, his goals are to deepen his relationship with God, help protect the planet, and honor the memory of his grandfather.
Quotes:
- Happiness comes from moving your life forward toward your life goals with meaning and purpose, based on your values, despite whatever obstacles are in your way.
- “happiness is about 40 percent genetic (you inherit it from your ancestors), 10 percent your situation in life or what happens to you, and 50 percent habits and mindset.”
- “Cautious Brain Types often look to the future with trepidation, but when you are wrapped up in the future, it means you are missing out on the present and live with a baseline level of anxiety, which creates misery.”
- “You will increase your happiness if you scrap or reduce any unrealistic expectations. Chances are you’re not going to have the perfect career, the perfect spouse, or the perfect kids. In fact, seeking perfection is a recipe for unhappiness because you will always be disappointed. Set expectations that make sense to the current situation you find yourself in. And match those expectations with what you’ve learned about yourself through a strengths-based assessment.”
- “You need some anxiety to be happy. Appropriate anxiety helps us make better decisions. It prevents us from running into the street as children, risking broken bodies, and running headlong into toxic relationships as adults, risking broken hearts.”
April 25, 2022
Siapa sih yang ga pengen hidup bahagia? Bahkan, saat kita sudah bahagia...kita akan mencari cara untuk jadi lebih bahagia. Banyak yang bilang, bahagia itu perkara hati padahal...bahagia itu justru erat hubungannya dengan OTAK. Penasaran dengan topik kebahagiaan, saya baca deh buku yang lagi nampang di Amazon beberapa minggu ini, "You, Happier" yang ditulis oleh "Daniel G. Amen, M.D."
QUOTABLES
1. Happiness is contagious because happier people tend to make others happier. Kebahagiaan itu menular, karena orang yang lebih bahagia biasanya menjadikan orang lain juga ikut lebih bahagia.
2. Whether or not you’re happy, and most importantly, whether or not you act happy is about altruism, not selfishness—because it is about how we affect others’ lives. . . . Entah kamu bahagia atau nggak, dan lebih penting, entah kamu bertindak bahagia atau nggak, berkaitan dengan altruisme, bukan keegoisan, karena kebahagiaan adalah tentang bagimana kita berdampak bagi hidup orang lain.
3. You need some anxiety to be happy. Appropriate anxiety helps us make better decisions. Kamu butuh sedikit kecemasan untuk jadi bahagia. Kecemasan yang tepat membantu kita mengambil keputusan-keputusan yang lebih baik.
4. You are not stuck with the brain you have; you can make it better, and we could prove it. Kamu nggak terjebak dengan kondisi otak yang kamu punya sekarang; kamu bisa membuat otakmu lebih baik, dan kami bisa membuktikannya.
5. Your brain is the organ of happiness. With a healthy brain, you are happier (because you’ve made better decisions), healthier (also better decisions), wealthier (better decisions), and more successful in relationships, work, and everything else you do. Otak adalah organ kebahagiaan. Dengan otak yang sehat, kamu akan lebih bahagia (karena kamu membuat keputusan-keputusan yang lebih tepat), lebih sehat, lebih kaya, dan lebih sukses dalam hubungan, pekerjaan, dan apapun yang kamu lakukan.
6. If the brain is not healthy, you can have all the features of a happy life mentioned above and still want to end your life. Jika otak nggak sehat, kamu bisa punya semua ciri-ciri hidup bahagia yang disebutkan dan tetap ingin mengakhiri hidupmu.
7. What you eat and drink has a direct effect on your brain and its ability to balance chemicals, promote health, and operate optimally—all factors in your happiness. Apa yang kau makan dan minum punya dampak langsung untuk otakmu dan kemampuannya untuk menyeimbangkan zat-zat kimiawi tubuh mendukung kesehatan dan bekerja secara optimal - semua faktor yang mempengaruhi kebahagiaan.
8. There is also a gut-brain connection that works in two directions: Anxiety can be linked to stomach problems, and stomach problems can be linked to anxiety. Ada koneksi antara usus dan otak yang bekerja 2 arah: kecemasan bisa terkait dengan adanya masalah di usus, dan masalah perut bisa terkait dengan kecemasan.
WHAT'S NEW FOR ME
Karena saya banyak baca buku yang bahas tentang otak selama beberapa bulan ini, seperti: "Emotional Intelligence"-nya Daniel Goleman, "Thinking Fast & Slow"-nya Daniel Kahneman, kemudian juga sempat sedikit dibahas di bukunya Mark Manson yang "Everything is F*cked", topik mengenai menjadi lebih bahagia yang dibahas di buku "You, Happier" ini jadi berasa biasa saja. Nggak ada sesuatu yang benar-benar bikin "oh...ternyata gitu..."
Satu ilustrasi yang menarik adalah tentang Pollyanna. Sebelumnya tahu Pollyanna dari lagunya Green Day yang "tumbenan" vibes-nya tuh motivated banget pas pandemi kemarin. Eh ternyata yah, ada kisahnya dari si-Pollyanna ini yang senantiasa mencari alasan untuk berbahagia.
MY OVERALL THOUGHTS
Buat kamu yang udah pernah baca buku-buku neurosains dan punya pengetahuan lebih tentang otak, buku ini akan terasa biasa ajah. Mengenai kebahagiaan, kalau kamu rajin mengikuti sesi-sesi Citta Semesta, sebuah yayasan di Indonesia yang mengedukasi tentang kebahagiaan secara neurosains di Indonesia, buku ini juga jadi biasa ajah, karena sebagian besar udah disampaikan dr. Ryu Hasan Sp. BS. Ga ada salahnya juga sih dibaca buat memperlengkapi atau sekedar kilas balik pengetahuan kita tentang kebahagiaan.
Satu hal yang bikin buku ini menarik adalah...banyak bagian yang disampaikan dengan "jembatan keledai" dan judul yang mudah diingat, contoh:
The 11 Lies of Happiness
7 Secrets of Happiness
4 Circles of Happiness
16 Brain Types
B.R.IG.H.T.M.I.N.D.S
R.E.L.A.T.I.N.G
Nggak asiknya, sepanjang kita membaca buku ini tuh sering banget kita temukan sang penulis menawarkan kliniknya sendiri, beberapa dalam bentuk testimoni, beberapa memang secara langsung mengajak untuk menggunakan jasa Amen Clinic. Bisa dimaklumi juga sih karena memang sumber penelitiannya dia dan sumber penghasilannya dari klinik tersebut.
Di buku ini juga dijelaskan tentang adanya 16 tipe otak berkaitan dengan kebahagiaan. Ada linknya juga di dalamnya yang mana kita bisa melakukan tes ini secara gratis. 16 tipe otak, dengan 5 tipe primer, dan 13 lainnya adalah kombinasi dari 5 tipe primernya. Saya coba tes ini dan mendapatkan hasil Tipe-8: “Spontaneous-Persistent-Sensitive-Cautious.” Dari pembagian jenis otak ini dijabarkan mengenai makanan apa yang bikin bahagia sesuai dengan jenisnya...kemudian apa yang kita lakukan jika pasangan kita punya jenis otak tertentu misalnya...ini sih yang bikin "eww....." dan akhirnya rada males lanjutin. Yaa....seperti kita tahu....otak manusia itu unik ga ada yang sama...ngapain juga otak 7 miliar lebih manusia di bumi dikelompokkan jadi 16 jenis...kalau saya sih ga bisa nerima gitu ajah.
Di bagian ke-4 dari buku ini, ada satu bahasan yang menarik yaitu tentang "The Connections of Happiness." Di sini kita bisa baca tentang apa sih makna kebahagiaan di berbagai negara di dunia. Contohnya: Lagom di Swedia, Shinrin-yoku di Jepang, dan Ho'oponopono di Hawaii. Indonesia ada nggak? Ada donk...walaupun ya trigger warning kalau kamu sensitif sama jawasentris. Sebagai orang Indonesia, saya sendiri malah nggak tahu kalau yang disebutkan di buku ini tuh malah jadi konsep bahagia menurut orang Indonesia.
Terakhir....apakah saya merekomendasikan kamu buat baca ini? Nggak, mendingan kamu baca buku "Emotional Intelligence"-nya Daniel Goleman atau "The Happy Brain"-nya Dean Burnett. Tapi kalau kamu punya waktu lebih buat baca buku...ga apa-apa juga dibaca.
Bagaimana dengan kamu? Apakah kamu sudah membaca buku ini? Tinggalkan komentar yah..atau jika kamu punya pertanyaan tentang buku "YOU, HAPPIER", kamu bisa tinggalkan jejak komentar kamu di halaman ini.
Semoga resensi singkat ini bisa berguna buat kamu.
Cheers to our life!
@saturnianpriest
www.saturnianpriest.com
QUOTABLES
1. Happiness is contagious because happier people tend to make others happier. Kebahagiaan itu menular, karena orang yang lebih bahagia biasanya menjadikan orang lain juga ikut lebih bahagia.
2. Whether or not you’re happy, and most importantly, whether or not you act happy is about altruism, not selfishness—because it is about how we affect others’ lives. . . . Entah kamu bahagia atau nggak, dan lebih penting, entah kamu bertindak bahagia atau nggak, berkaitan dengan altruisme, bukan keegoisan, karena kebahagiaan adalah tentang bagimana kita berdampak bagi hidup orang lain.
3. You need some anxiety to be happy. Appropriate anxiety helps us make better decisions. Kamu butuh sedikit kecemasan untuk jadi bahagia. Kecemasan yang tepat membantu kita mengambil keputusan-keputusan yang lebih baik.
4. You are not stuck with the brain you have; you can make it better, and we could prove it. Kamu nggak terjebak dengan kondisi otak yang kamu punya sekarang; kamu bisa membuat otakmu lebih baik, dan kami bisa membuktikannya.
5. Your brain is the organ of happiness. With a healthy brain, you are happier (because you’ve made better decisions), healthier (also better decisions), wealthier (better decisions), and more successful in relationships, work, and everything else you do. Otak adalah organ kebahagiaan. Dengan otak yang sehat, kamu akan lebih bahagia (karena kamu membuat keputusan-keputusan yang lebih tepat), lebih sehat, lebih kaya, dan lebih sukses dalam hubungan, pekerjaan, dan apapun yang kamu lakukan.
6. If the brain is not healthy, you can have all the features of a happy life mentioned above and still want to end your life. Jika otak nggak sehat, kamu bisa punya semua ciri-ciri hidup bahagia yang disebutkan dan tetap ingin mengakhiri hidupmu.
7. What you eat and drink has a direct effect on your brain and its ability to balance chemicals, promote health, and operate optimally—all factors in your happiness. Apa yang kau makan dan minum punya dampak langsung untuk otakmu dan kemampuannya untuk menyeimbangkan zat-zat kimiawi tubuh mendukung kesehatan dan bekerja secara optimal - semua faktor yang mempengaruhi kebahagiaan.
8. There is also a gut-brain connection that works in two directions: Anxiety can be linked to stomach problems, and stomach problems can be linked to anxiety. Ada koneksi antara usus dan otak yang bekerja 2 arah: kecemasan bisa terkait dengan adanya masalah di usus, dan masalah perut bisa terkait dengan kecemasan.
WHAT'S NEW FOR ME
Karena saya banyak baca buku yang bahas tentang otak selama beberapa bulan ini, seperti: "Emotional Intelligence"-nya Daniel Goleman, "Thinking Fast & Slow"-nya Daniel Kahneman, kemudian juga sempat sedikit dibahas di bukunya Mark Manson yang "Everything is F*cked", topik mengenai menjadi lebih bahagia yang dibahas di buku "You, Happier" ini jadi berasa biasa saja. Nggak ada sesuatu yang benar-benar bikin "oh...ternyata gitu..."
Satu ilustrasi yang menarik adalah tentang Pollyanna. Sebelumnya tahu Pollyanna dari lagunya Green Day yang "tumbenan" vibes-nya tuh motivated banget pas pandemi kemarin. Eh ternyata yah, ada kisahnya dari si-Pollyanna ini yang senantiasa mencari alasan untuk berbahagia.
MY OVERALL THOUGHTS
Buat kamu yang udah pernah baca buku-buku neurosains dan punya pengetahuan lebih tentang otak, buku ini akan terasa biasa ajah. Mengenai kebahagiaan, kalau kamu rajin mengikuti sesi-sesi Citta Semesta, sebuah yayasan di Indonesia yang mengedukasi tentang kebahagiaan secara neurosains di Indonesia, buku ini juga jadi biasa ajah, karena sebagian besar udah disampaikan dr. Ryu Hasan Sp. BS. Ga ada salahnya juga sih dibaca buat memperlengkapi atau sekedar kilas balik pengetahuan kita tentang kebahagiaan.
Satu hal yang bikin buku ini menarik adalah...banyak bagian yang disampaikan dengan "jembatan keledai" dan judul yang mudah diingat, contoh:
The 11 Lies of Happiness
7 Secrets of Happiness
4 Circles of Happiness
16 Brain Types
B.R.IG.H.T.M.I.N.D.S
R.E.L.A.T.I.N.G
Nggak asiknya, sepanjang kita membaca buku ini tuh sering banget kita temukan sang penulis menawarkan kliniknya sendiri, beberapa dalam bentuk testimoni, beberapa memang secara langsung mengajak untuk menggunakan jasa Amen Clinic. Bisa dimaklumi juga sih karena memang sumber penelitiannya dia dan sumber penghasilannya dari klinik tersebut.
Di buku ini juga dijelaskan tentang adanya 16 tipe otak berkaitan dengan kebahagiaan. Ada linknya juga di dalamnya yang mana kita bisa melakukan tes ini secara gratis. 16 tipe otak, dengan 5 tipe primer, dan 13 lainnya adalah kombinasi dari 5 tipe primernya. Saya coba tes ini dan mendapatkan hasil Tipe-8: “Spontaneous-Persistent-Sensitive-Cautious.” Dari pembagian jenis otak ini dijabarkan mengenai makanan apa yang bikin bahagia sesuai dengan jenisnya...kemudian apa yang kita lakukan jika pasangan kita punya jenis otak tertentu misalnya...ini sih yang bikin "eww....." dan akhirnya rada males lanjutin. Yaa....seperti kita tahu....otak manusia itu unik ga ada yang sama...ngapain juga otak 7 miliar lebih manusia di bumi dikelompokkan jadi 16 jenis...kalau saya sih ga bisa nerima gitu ajah.
Di bagian ke-4 dari buku ini, ada satu bahasan yang menarik yaitu tentang "The Connections of Happiness." Di sini kita bisa baca tentang apa sih makna kebahagiaan di berbagai negara di dunia. Contohnya: Lagom di Swedia, Shinrin-yoku di Jepang, dan Ho'oponopono di Hawaii. Indonesia ada nggak? Ada donk...walaupun ya trigger warning kalau kamu sensitif sama jawasentris. Sebagai orang Indonesia, saya sendiri malah nggak tahu kalau yang disebutkan di buku ini tuh malah jadi konsep bahagia menurut orang Indonesia.
Terakhir....apakah saya merekomendasikan kamu buat baca ini? Nggak, mendingan kamu baca buku "Emotional Intelligence"-nya Daniel Goleman atau "The Happy Brain"-nya Dean Burnett. Tapi kalau kamu punya waktu lebih buat baca buku...ga apa-apa juga dibaca.
Bagaimana dengan kamu? Apakah kamu sudah membaca buku ini? Tinggalkan komentar yah..atau jika kamu punya pertanyaan tentang buku "YOU, HAPPIER", kamu bisa tinggalkan jejak komentar kamu di halaman ini.
Semoga resensi singkat ini bisa berguna buat kamu.
Cheers to our life!
@saturnianpriest
www.saturnianpriest.com
July 6, 2022
I gave it a good try - I actually made it over halfway through the book before I gave it up - life is too short to read stuff that just doesn't resonate with you.
Its not that it's all BS - there are some very practical tips in here, but they are spread sparingly amongst lots of sales pitches for the authors own brand of vitamins, supplements and shakes.
Eat healthy. Get lots of sleep. Get therapy if you are struggling - and your therapist can help hone in hormonal and chemical imbalances you might have.
Its not that it's all BS - there are some very practical tips in here, but they are spread sparingly amongst lots of sales pitches for the authors own brand of vitamins, supplements and shakes.
Eat healthy. Get lots of sleep. Get therapy if you are struggling - and your therapist can help hone in hormonal and chemical imbalances you might have.
January 3, 2023
Two stars. I wanted to love this book and parts of it, I did. However, there’s quite a few biblical passages and while I’m not opposed to occasional references to the Bible, it starts feeling preachy at some point. Where this really lost me though is the casual references of PragerU. Hard pass. Love the ideas and the science in this one, hate the right wing push. Additionally, this is a giant ad for the doctors supplements so that’s annoying as well. Overall, wouldn’t recommend. Too many other great self help books on the market
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