The Science of Happiness

We all want to be happier, but our brains often get in the way. When we’re too stuck in our heads we fail to see the good in our lives. World-leading happiness expert Bruce Hood presents seven simples, but life-changing lessons to re-connect with the things that really matter.

Over seven lessons, grounded in decades of studies in neuroscience and developmental psychology, The Science of Happiness tells a radical new story about the roots of well-being, with practical takeaways that show how we can all re-wire our thinking and transform our lives.

The problem with achieving happiness is the way the human mind is designed by evolution to process the world from an egocentric perspective and focus on the threats that might shorten our lives. Socially dependent on others, egocentric children grow into adults who may be less self-centred but end up becoming dissatisfied because we are prone to focus on the wrong information and comparisons when it comes to evaluating our lives.

We need to get out of our heads by connecting with others and the world around us through practices that have proven to make us happier.

Do yourself a favor and grab this fantastic guide! The Science of Happiness explains practical strategies for getting out of our own heads and finding more connection, presence, and joy.

-- Laurie Santos, professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcast

The Science of Happiness is a rare bird—a book that is grounded in the best new science, written with wit and wisdom, and provides clear and valuable lessons for living your best life. Highly recommended!

-- Daniel Gilbert, author of the New York Times bestseller Stumbling on Happiness

This is a wonderful guide to what actually makes people happier—full of wisdom backed by a wealth of scientific evidence. If you want practical ideas that you can use right now to boost your wellbeing, this is your book.

-- Robert Waldinger, author of The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Study on Happiness

BRUCE HOOD is an award-winning professor of Developmental Psychology in Society at Bristol University and the author of several books including Supersense, The Self Illusion, The Domesticated Brain and Possessed. He has appeared extensively on TV (including the prestigious BBC’s ‘Royal Institution Christmas Lectures’ in 2011), film (including ‘Living in the Future’s Past’ presented by Jeff Bridges in 2019) and radio, (including the BBC podcast ‘The Happiness Half Hour’ in 2021). He is a fellow of the American Psychological Society, the Royal Institution of Great Britain and the British Psychological Society.

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