Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself

by Stephen Trzeciak, Anthony Mazzarelli

A pair of doctors team up to illuminate, through neuroscience and captivating stories from their clinical practice, how serving others—and pitching in to the world in general—is a secret superpower.

If a doctor’s prescription could bring
- Longer life
- Better health
- More energy and resilience
- Less burnout, depression and anxiety
- More happiness, fulfillment and well-being
- More personal and professional success (including higher income)
- And, no harmful side effects

Would you take it?

In Wonder Drug , physician scientists Stephen Trzeciak, M.D., and Anthony Mazzarelli, M.D., illuminate, through neuroscience and captivating stories from their clinical practices, how being a giving, other-focused person is a secret superpower. Serving others—and pitching in to the world in general—is the evidence-based way to live your life. Kinder people not only live longer, they also live better. Science shows that serving others is not just the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do.

Wonder Drug will make you rethink your notions of “self-care” and “me time,” and realize that focusing on others is a potent antidote to the weariness that so many of us feel in modern times. Getting outside of your own head, outside the swirl of self-concern that may dominate your mental chatter, is, ironically, one of the best things you can do for yourself.

Building upon their earlier work showing that, in the context of healthcare, having more compassion for patients is a powerful way to not only achieve better patient outcomes, but also promote well-being, resilience and resistance to burnout among healthcare workers, Trzeciak and Mazzarelli now extend their research to uncover how the power of serving others reaches far beyond the medical world and can be a life-changing therapy for everyone.

Wonder Drug relates to the varying meanings of giving in real people’s daily lives. The stories in this book will convince and inspire you to make simple prism changes. You don’t need a total life upheaval, just a purposeful shift in mindset. In fact, the crucial first piece of the evidence-based prescription is start small. Per science, the best way to well-being and finding your true fulfillment is scan your orbit for the people around you in need of help, and go fill that need, as often as you can.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Psychology, Medicine, Self Help, Book Club, Health

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2022

About the author

Stephen Trzeciak, MD, MPH is a physician scientist, Chief of Medicine at Cooper University Health Care, and Professor and Chair of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. Dr. Trzeciak is a practicing intensivist (specialist in intensive care medicine), and a clinical researcher with more than 120 publications in the scientific literature. Dr. Trzeciak's publications have been featured in prominent medical journals, such as: JAMA, Circulation, and The New England Journal of Medicine. His scientific program has been supported by research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with Dr. Trzeciak serving as Principal Investigator.

Dr. Trzeciak is the co-author of two books, Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference (2019), and Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself (2022). His work has been featured in numerous media outlets including CNN, NPR, USA TODAY, The Washington Post, The New York Daily News, and Freakonomics. For this work, he was awarded the Influencers of Healthcare Award by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Broadly, Dr. Trzeciak’s mission is to raise compassion and kindness globally, through science.

Dr. Trzeciak is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He earned his medical degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his Master’s of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He completed his residency training at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and his fellowship in critical care medicine at Rush University Medical Center. He is board certified in internal medicine, critical care medicine, and neurocritical care.

Reviews

[Erin Clemence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: June 21, 2022

“Wonder Drug” is a non-fiction work by doctors (and authors), Dr. Stephen Trzeciak and Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli, that focuses on changing the way we look at how we serve others, and how we serve ourselves. The authors use a large compilation of studies from across the globe to convince readers that the best way to help ourselves is to help other people, in any and every way we can.

Trzeciak and Mazzarelli identify that the selfie-taking, self-care focused, “me first” attitude of millennials is the exact antithesis of what they preach, but they are okay with that. Both authors acknowledge their attitude is difficult to comprehend and it goes against what we’ve been told for the last few years- but they’re okay with that, too, because to them, their “Live to Give” lifestyle is the key to happiness, health and longevity.

“Wonder Drug” is broken down into sections and uses personal anecdotes (and most importantly, scientific data) to make the information readable, even humours at times, and generalizable for everyone. There isn’t a generation, a social class or a personality trait that wouldn’t benefit from the “Life to Give” lifestyle, if you go by the authors’ extensive research.

The book is very scientific, as every research paper on the subject is discussed and analyzed (or so it seems), so be prepared to have a huge chunk of knowledge thrown your way. But the theory is easy, relatable and, actually, doable, which is a nice change of pace. The authors prepare for every argument, and have an equally valid argument to back it up (often with a quip or two thrown in), and I actually found myself believing in their philosophy. If nothing else, being kind to people doesn’t hurt anything, so if it could actually benefit you, why not give it a shot?

I’m intrigued in the “Live to Give” lifestyle that the doctors present in “Wonder Drug”, and I would love to see the long-term results of a study helmed by these two down the road, in relation to their theory here. The book is completely appropriate for every reader, especially someone who is looking to make a difference in others’ lives (and maybe adding a few more years to their own for good measure).

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors' framing their "change of attitude" advice as a wonder drug is brilliant. Readers will routinely pick up successive books on miracle diets, wonder drugs and achieving success, looking for that magical elixir for happiness, when in reality, happiness can be had for much less effort and no gimmicks. Using storytelling, anecdotes and science, Trzeciak and Mazzarelli show how happiness can be had by bringing happiness to others. And then step-by-step, they demonstrate how to do that. A simple and powerful concept. This will be a transformative book for many.

[Mattie’s bookworld]

For all intents and purposes I finished this book.

[Beary Into Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Review to come

[Mychael-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems there is little serving others can’t do for us. Full of fascinating studies that prove good guys do win, kindness is really what matters, and giving is better than receiving!

[Kiera LeBlanc · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the use of science and studies throughout the book to back up the claims of the author. It is so fascinating how altruism can have a tangible impact on one's health.

I found some aspects of the book to be a little redundant. At times I felt an information overload where multiple studies/experiments were cited to prove the same things or prove very similar things.

I might not have the "science mind" to tolerate this kind of writing. I will say the book is very well-researched, and I learned a lot, despite not being completely gripped by the style of writing.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself by Stephen Trzeciak, M.D.; Anthony Mazzarelli, M.D.

Wonder Drug did not make me feel guilty! This book provided practical, small steps to take to help others. The authors provided insightful information, which was presented well, and the information was easy to follow. While the information was not all new, it was still very good in how it was presented. I did receive a C score on the quiz, but that could also be because of how the questions were worded. While I don't mind helping others, I like to do it anonymously and behind the scenes.

One of the things I liked and noted was listening more and not interrupting people. That is one thing I need to work on. The authors mentioned that the key to good health and happiness is to serve others. I think that serving others does help boost our mood and make us feel connected to each other.

@StMartinsPress

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of interesting info, but as with many non-fiction books felt longer than necessary and somewhat repetitive. Is there a rule that books have to be 300 pages?

Overall would still recommend.

[Sarah Greider · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 star topic - 2 star implementation. The subject is incredibly interesting and the number of studies that they use/point to are great confirmation of the importance. However, the book gets bogged down in study after study - they begin to run together and overall it becomes a bit repetitive. Still a read that I would recommend for a thorough skim.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Every page made me want to be a better human being. I hope everyone reads this book. I hope everyone feels the tug to lean in and connect more with others. Serving, kindness, and love really are the wonder drug.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the title put you off. This is a book about empathy and compassion, not the latest from the chem-fired pharmaceutical industry. The authors use science told in a compelling, easy to access fashion to show us how and why to be compassionate, for our own good. Better still-we can do it on purpose to live a better, longer, healthier life.

[Emily | emilyisoverbooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been really intrigued by serving others, which was actually part of how I chose my college (Marquette University) - they are a Jesuit college with a huge focus on service. Now, I love taking people meals, giving gifts, and volunteering with organizations that have causes near and dear to my heart. All because yes, it helps others and I want to focus on them instead of myself, but it also makes me feel good! This book was a scientific look at things that I knew to be true: that you will be happier and healthier if you focus on relationships and helping others. If you want more details on that, then this is definitely the book for you! Fred Sanders was a fantastic narrator if you choose the audiobook!

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Essentials for the copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

[Cara Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to net galley for sending me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book may sound obvious: doing good things for others is also good for you. When I initially saw the description of this book I thought “well, yeah…. Obviously.” Despite my initial skepticism I ended up being pleasantly surprised by this book. The work these authors have done and the amount of studies compiled was far more comprehensive than I initially realized.

The book opens with a simple idea: what would happen if doctors showed more compassion to their patients? How would this help both the doctors and the patients?

Treciak and Mazzarelli explain how for healthcare specialists, compassion is an amazing way to combat burnout. This is important for multiple reasons. Medical error is a leading cause of patient death and the number one cause of medical error is burnout. Doctors and nurses showing compassion was linked with better patients outcomes in almost every aspect of healthcare. High compassion is linked with low burnout. Doctors also have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession & burnout can contribute to feeling suicidal. Helping others has also been linked to lowering chronic stress, which is a major cause of chronic inflammation.

But Treciak and Mazzarelli wanted to go further - how could this be applied to all people, not just healthcare workers? Could everyone benefit from increased altruism? What are the psychological and physiological effects of empathy?

This books comprises the research of over 1000 studies and shows how Treciak and Mazzarelli came to the conclusion that “compassion moves the needle.”** Treciak and Mazzarelli call this life approach “live to give.”

Currently our culture has a major focus on self help, however, this trend does not seem to be helping us as much as many self help experts would like us to believe. 35% of Americans over 45 are chronically lonely. This is especially detrimental when one considers at the health risk of chronic loneliness is the same as that of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The suicide rate has risen 30% since 1999 and among teens the suicide rate has gone up by 70% over just the last few years. In the US life expectancy is actually going down, rather than up.

Some of you may have read this and thought that the idea of “me” culture is an exaggeration, however, shockingly, in 2016, over 1/3 of Americans did not even consider compassion to be one of their core values anymore. This book should act as a wake up call for the “me” culture that has been running rampant for the last few decades.

When looking at nature we can see how many animals species help each other and their entire species is better for it - take bees for example. Solidarity actually makes us more resistant. I appreciated how they explained the misconception that people who are high on “other interest” are no low on self interest- in fact it’s the opposite. In order to not burn out one must keep consistent boundaries and self interest in order to give their best to others. Essentially, it’s more evidence for the saying “you can’t pour from an empty vessel.”

My main critique of this book is that at points Treciak and Mazzarelli’s writing became a bit dry and repetitive, however, that did not detract from my general enjoyment of this book & I would still recommend it to absolutely everyone.

**all quotes came from the ARC audiobook of Wodner Drug, not the final publication.

[Shelton Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The nonfiction medical novel "Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself" by Stephen Trzeciak, M.D. and Anthony Mazzarelli, M.D. is one of the five HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) that I have to read before March 6th, and I have to say I was quite taken aback by the research presented to me.

Even though it is obvious that being kind and compassion is probably beneficial for your health, before I read this novel, however, I never knew that it was THAT beneficial: Living longer? No harmful side effects? Compensation? Nucleus accumbens? What? Yes, serving others--even simple acts--has such prodigious effects on one's mental, psychological, physiological, physical, mental, and social health. Even grades in school! And yes, there is a prodigious amount of statistics and research to back all of it up.

Even though I consider myself an intellectual person [nerd], I knew that I was going to have to change my mindset when I entered the domain of a nonfiction novel. However, I was surprised when--even from the first page--one could notice the frivolous nature of the two doctors. I could breathe a sigh of relief. However, I did find the material to be quite superfluous. Which, upon later recollection, I did realize that was partly due to the fact that it was a nonfiction novel and could've been a book for study (as in my case considering I'm going to be tested on the five books) in which the authors are trying to ingrain the material into the hippocampus.

With all nonfictions novels, there must obviously be research, which is an aspect that I really appreciate about this medical novel. Especially for a topic like this, most are going to want more behind the curtain of common sense--which they clearly provided. After reading the case studies and interpersonal scenarios where one would be put into an embarrassing situation in which they need immediate help, it's surprising how the bystander effect plays a key role in how we treat other people who need assistance. However, the statistics of such experiments were positively quite surprising, undermining the stereotypes.

Overall, "Wonder Drug . . ." receives a 4/5 due to the superfluity, although one should not rate nonfiction and fiction books similarly. Nonfictions are truly meant for studying and learning, not to just read and move on, simple as that. They require recollection. Conclusively, if one if truly acquiring a free wonder drug that is easy to use, and wants to have a positive impact on this planet, then please do read this book, as it is truly encompassing of something if practiced every single day, the world would be such a better place.

[Magaly Borrero-Vazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. Enjoyed Compassionomics, also written by them, a bit more.

Found interesting the High Other-interest, Low-other interest, High self-interest, Low self - interest descriptions. Absolutely loved The Effective Giver story on page 63. I am definitely a discerning grinch, an effective giver. I do not spread myself thin when it comes to volunteering and donating.
My biggest take-aways:
- How it connects mental health to serving others. “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.: - Booker T. Washington. Serving others is a mental health therapy that every single person can access.
- Be Thankful: “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” - Cicero

- Be purposeful: “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” - Pablo Picasso

- Find common ground: “In order to empathize with someone’s experience, you must be willing to believe them as they see it, and not how you imagine their experience to be.” - Brene Brown. "See the humanity in someone you disagree with."

-See it: Look for how your service benefits others.

- Elevate: “Your mind shines brightest when you enlighten others; your heart, when you encourage others; your soul, when you elevate others; and your life, when you empower others.” Matshone Dhliwayo

- Know your power: “You have the power to inspire and motivate people to do their best work as a “servant leader”, earning loyalty and making work better for people while increasing an organization’s performance as well.” “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

Great ending..."When you realize that science shows that 5 years from now, the people you help are going to remember the good you did for them and feel elevated by it, you'll be that much more purposeful in serving others... Being empathetic, compassionate, grateful, caring and kind are a human being's greatest strengths. But only if you use them. Don't delay.:

[Monicabrooks50 · Rating 1 out of 5]

The whole book: "It's good to be nice"

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This book is full of evidence-based reasons why serving is good for the giver: increased happiness, reduced stress, improved physical health and longevity, pain reduction, improved cognition, and better mental health, among others. There are plenty of motivating reasons to be intentional about kindness, compassion, and altruism. Dr. Seligman’s research found that a meaningful life, full of the deepest and longing lasting happiness, is found in using one’s strengths to serve others (confirming lessons I have learned in church on spiritual gifts and charity). While this kind of service takes time and energy, it results in a “good tired” because it is accompanied by feelings of higher purpose (confirmed through my life experience). I appreciated the "seven steps to take now" to gain more of the benefits of altruism. Lastly, I loved this quote on radiating with more light, which is my biggest goal from this book:

“When you habitually shine your light on others you radiate with your own inner light. The giver's glow is a side effect of sacrificial service. David Brooks wrote: ‘You can tell a person who radiates joy. They glow with an inner light. They are delighted by small pleasures. They live for others and not for themselves. They make unshakable commitments. They have a serenity about them, a settled resolve. They're interested in you, make you feel cherished and known, and take delight in your good.’”

Notes:

Seven steps to take now:
1-start small - look around for opportunities to help others (13 minutes a day to reap benefits)
2-be thankful
3-be purposeful (not in your own success but in serving other people); What can I do to be helpful to you? What can I do to make your day a little better? Not yes or no questions; purpose is taking on the responsibility of taking care of others
4-find common ground - we have to see the humanity in others if we are to solve problems and reach our potential; One solution to bigotry is acquaintance, you have to get to know people outside your social circles; keep widening the borders of your in-group
5-see it - see others and look for kindness and impact; 10-5 rule - see with and connect with others;
6-elevate - surround yourself with live-to-givers and you will be influenced to do the same (happy people, other focused people)
7-know your power - you can spread hope and compassion; leave a legacy of kindness

-Compassion- recognizing the suffering of others and taking action to help; Altruism- selfless concern for and serving the well-being of others; While compassion is focused on lifting those who are suffering altruism focuses on caring for all.
-Meditate on compassion for others (like happiest man in the world)
-Positive outcomes for patients and caregivers (only 40 seconds of compassion yields benefits)
-“Many of us believe that if we only had more time and money we would be happier. In fact, abundant research has found that giving our time and money makes us happier. By giving we gain a priceless sense of community and belonging.”
-BYU study found that giving and helping strangers and family members was protective against depression and anxiety symptoms
-“Capitalism fails unless it rests on the foundation of empathy for other people.” -Scott Gallaway (Post-Corona Book)
-10-5 rule helps you stay other-focused and detect who might be in need: If you walk within 10 feet of someone acknowledge them with a nod or a smile; if you walk within 5 feet of someone say something like hello or nice day. this is how your radar can be up for live-to-give opportunities

[Jef Sneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonder Drug
Trzeciak and Mazzarelli

Spoiler alert: the Wonder Drug isn’t a drug. It is altruism, an “other focused” giving. Shock. Bait and switch. I was looking for a wonder drug and I got a self-help book telling me that the more I do for others the better I will feel, the longer I will live and the more money I will make. Probably.

And, we don’t have to take their word for it. The authors wanted to “science this thing up,” an expression I first heard from reading The Martian by Andy Weir. The expression may have been used in the movie with Matt Damon. Remember that Matt Damon was an astronaut stuck on Mars. He had to figure out how to live until they could come to save him so he “scienced up” his predicament using math and his general knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics to survive.

Who knew that there were so many scientific studies looking at happiness and altruistic behavior? I was familiar with a few of the studies, but the authors really go all out to prove their point over and over again. Amazing that they could make a book out of this except that there are so many studies for them to review and quote.

The writing style is casual and colloquial with the occasional entertainment reference. The intended audience seems to be people who have not yet figured out that being generous is a good thing. In the last chapter they admit that as people age they become more generous and giving, perhaps explaining my reaction to the book: that it is not intended for me. My wife and I have given over 10% of our income to charity for the last four years and generously before that. I hear that Donal Trump does not personally give to charity. He probably doesn’t believe in it. Giving to charity is only one small way to be a “Live to Giver,” a giving person in their vernacular. Personally reaching out to help others, showing care and compassion are more sure-fire ways to give and gain benefits in return.

Sometimes their rhetoric gets a bit offensive. They give some rather stark choices. Would you rather be a “live to giver” or a “selfish bastard?” Not much of a choice there, and the authors make this obvious more than once. Being a generous giving person is, to them, as supported by multiple studies, a no-brainer.

There were two recommendations I found personally useful and up lifting. I meditate regularly and they had nothing against mindfulness or other forms of meditation, but they recommended a specific loving-kindness meditation which I have seen used in a number of traditions. I tried it and was pleasantly surprised to see my orientation towards others, those I love and everyone else, was enhanced by the process.

A second suggestion had to do with how to offer help. If you offer help to someone in need saying, “Can I do anything for you?” you will often get “No” as an answer. People don’t want to sound needy. I have done this many times. If instead you ask, “What can I do to help?” there is a better chance you will be given a specific task to do. With that, you can feel better for having helped and your help will be targeted and appreciated.

I did feel a bit like they were chastising me throughout the book for not being giving enough. They seem to think their readers are deficient in giving. Aside from that and the occasionally annoying cute and folksy tone to the writing, there are many pearls in there for the interested reader. Of course, selfish bastards are not going to buy this book. Maybe you can give it as a gift.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two medical doctors share their surveys of research and their own experiences with trying compassion/others-focused service to combat burn out, satisfaction (for both doctors and patients), and many other issues in the medical field and beyond.

As someone who was raised in the Christian faith and who has chosen to believe myself, it seemed a no-brainer to me that serving others and having a heart of compassion for other had amazing benefits to not only the receivers but the givesr. I'd been raised on teachings about being a servant leader and how it is better to give than receive. Trzeciak and Mazzarelli act at times like they discovered something astounding, but this seems a no brainer to me. However, it is super interesting to see scientific studies that back up what I've been taught and believed. It was fascinating (and a bit disturbing) to learn that compassionate care is not something taught in the majority of medical schools, and the case studies of hospitals transformed by training on compassionate care were very convincing. And even though I have known and experienced these concepts, it was a good reminder to be purposefully compassionate, especially in those moments when I feel burned out or down. I can see this being a much-needed book in the increasingly me-focused culture.

Notes on content:
Language: A couple minor swears in quotes.
Sexual content: None that I remember
Violence: The suicide rate among medical doctors is mentioned. None described. The tough job of telling family members of dying patients their status is described.
Ethnic diversity: Ethnicity doesn't really come up much.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified that I remember.
Other: Depression and burn out talked about quite a bit.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret to Health and Happiness: Help Others

This well-documented book gives a series of doable steps to reorient your life toward better health and more fulfillment. In their previous book, the authors looked at healthcare and healthcare workers. Their conclusion that more compassion leads to better patient outcome and less burnout in staff led to the present book which extends their ideas to the general public.

The book is very readable for a general audience. The authors present lots of research from around the world, but make it understandable and interesting. The anecdotes help a great deal. They support the research with concrete examples of how helping people can change the life of the helper. This attitude is refreshingly different from that preached by many self-help books that talk about the importance of “me time” and putting yourself first.

This is a book anyone can read and learn from. I enjoyed it and think it can help orient your life toward better health and happiness.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

[Edi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting! I would like to have read their first book. Having been a registered nurse for 45 years I enjoyed the medical references and how their attitudes were changed. Now if they can get that information into more MD's while they are in their residency there would be a lot more satisfied patients. When I hear some of the things these doctors today say to people I wonder why they bothered to be an MD. There is a lot of research and data discussed that you can get bogged down in but push on through. The main point is repeated throughout the book I guess some people really need convincing!
I was provided a complimentary copy of the book but was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the authors,publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to peruse this book.

[Robert Bogue]

It’s a fair question to ask why I’d read Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself given the mixed review of the authors’ prior work, Compassionomics. The short answer is that someone in a position to be helpful suggested it. The longer answer is that, despite Compassionomics’ limitations, there were still good points being made. Unsurprisingly, the “Wonder Drug” title is hyperbole. It’s also no surprise that this work is an extension of Compassionomics in that they’re proposing you actually do something about the compassion you’re feeling.

Read more

[One Kind Act a Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have read a lot of books about kindness, and this book has become one of One Kind Act a Day's favorite books. We have given out dozens of copies and love sharing this message.

Very well researched and approachably written. You can tell the authors had a lot of fun collaborating on this book. They lead us through a fascinating gauntlet of easy-to-understand research studies showing the incredible benefits we get by serving and adopting a lifestyle where we "Live to Give". It is impossible to get to the end, or even the middle or even past the introduction, without being convinced about the power and benefits of kindness and service.

If you want a book on kindness, backed by data and research presented in a way that anyone can digest, then this is the book for you.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A colleague recommended this to me, and it was the perfect confirmation of what I've believed all of my adult life: that helping and serving others is the key to life in so many ways -- personal fulfillment, better mental and physical health, and overcoming loneliness, among others. While my personal belief in this truth stems from a Christian upbringing, I loved having this belief confirmed by numerous scientific studies. As someone who works with teenagers every day as a middle school administrator, I think our current mental health crisis could be assuaged considerably by infusing more service learning and focus on others into the lives of our young people.

[Louise Foerster · Rating 4 out of 5]

With WONDER DRUG, Doctors Stephen Trzeciak and Anthony Mozzarella present a clear, well-written case for how doing good is the ultimate in positive energy:. Giving of yourself to others benefits the giver as well as the receiver. I was heartened by the premise and the support given to what feels like a very small, very manageable way we can make the world a better place, especially important as we emerge from lockdown and find new ways to cooperate and to live well. I received an early copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all studies and the insights into how the "Live to Give" mentality that elevates the giver and receiver. I also found it fascinating that those who live to give are more successful as leaders, employees, spouses, parents, and friends. There is no area in our lives where getting outside yourself and doing something for others doesn't benefit you. The best news is the book doesn't create guilt; serving others doesn't have to be Mother Theresa style; it can be as easy as smiling and saying hi to a stranger on the street and as big as donating millions to charity.

[Afterglow Earring Co · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just cannot say enough good things about this book. Such a good read. It was amazing to see scientific evidence and data confirming how being a good person and being of service to others, really helps us instead of hurting us. I suffer from burnout with my work, but I have been appreciating the tips from this book. Definitely will reread over and over.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes a great case for why service to others is the greatest thing you can do with your life. I'll be reflecting on how I can incorporate the practices in this book into my life in the coming weeks. I also appreciated the interesting research studies they included as evidence. I listened to the audiobook and I highly recommend it.

[Grace Chamberlain (Tegerdine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting book!!! The authors are funny and engaging, so even though it quotes dozens of studies, it’s not boring to read at all. I loved the way it was formatted because I felt like there was a clear problem presented, data to support the solution, and then realistic things we could all to do to become better, other-centered people. Would highly recommend!!

[Amy O’Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think everyone should read this book! I loved it!