Iâm reading books that are centered on science and behavior and health. After decades of research on the interplay between genes and the environment, I had a strong foothold on the genetic part, but I needed to understand the environment part to make any sense of it all. This research has broadened my horizons exponentially. We know that genes are immutable, for the most part⌠but parts of the genome are mutableâand we can shape our lifestyle/behavior to improve our health.
I wrote
The Biology of Kindness: Six Daily Choices for Health, Well-Being, and Longevity
Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk - molecular biologist, and Wolf Singer, a distinguished neuroscientist, discuss the concept of mind: our idea of self, the unconscious, the nature of free will, and the implications of neuroplasticity.
Although its methods differ, Buddhism, like science, aims to study the mind empirically. Buddhism tries to achieve this aim through focused introspection, while science analyzes the mind through observation and experiment. Beyond the Self presents a synthesis of Buddhismâs subjective experiences and neuroscienceâs experimental results.
Ricard and Singer draw on insights from Buddhism and neuroscience to help us live more compassionate and ultimately happier lives.
A Buddhist monk and esteemed neuroscientist discuss their convergingâand divergingâviews on the mind and self, consciousness and the unconscious, free will and perception, and more.  Buddhism shares with science the task of examining the mind empirically; it has pursued, for two millennia, direct investigation of the mind through penetrating introspection. Neuroscience, on the other hand, relies on third-person knowledge in the form of scientific observation. In this book, Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk trained as a molecular biologist, and Wolf Singer, a distinguished neuroscientistâclose friends, continuing an ongoing dialogueâoffer their perspectives on the mind, the self, consciousness, the unconscious, freeâŚ
Like the author, I spent decades studying the interplay of genes and the environment. His focus is behavior, while mine is cancerâand, more recently, lifestyle and behavior, since many chronic diseases are heavily influenced by the environment.
Making science, philosophy, and the history of medicine accessible to the average reader, Sapolsky argues that our decisions are influenced by âbiologyâ writ large.
One of our great behavioral scientists, the bestselling author of Behave, plumbs the depths of the science and philosophy of decision-making to mount a devastating case against free will, an argument with profound consequences
Robert Sapolskyâs Behave, his now classic account of why humans do good and why they do bad, pointed toward an unsettling conclusion: We may not grasp the precise marriage of nature and nurture that creates the physics and chemistry at the base of human behavior, but that doesnât mean it doesnât exist. Now, in Determined, Sapolsky takes his argument all the way, mounting a brilliant (andâŚ
Many people from all walks of life, even after many accomplishments and experiences, are often plagued by dissatisfaction, pervasive longing, and deep questioning. These feelings may make them wonder if they are living the life they were meant to lead.
Living on Purpose is the guidebook these people have beenâŚ
The stronger our relationships, the more likely we are to live happy, satisfying, and healthier lives. In fact, research reveals that the strength of our social connections can predict our health throughout the life span. Insights in this book are drawn from the personal lives of participants in the Harvard Study of Adult Development, as they were followed for each year of their adult lives, and supported by research data from this and similar studies.
Relationships of all kindsâfriendships, romantic partnerships, families, coworkersâcontribute to a happier, healthier life. According to The Good Life, itâs never too late to strengthen the relationships you haveâand never too late to build new ones.
'This captivating, powerful book shows us scientifically and practically how to define, create and most importantly live the good life' Jay Shetty
What is the key to a good life?
It is a question that preoccupies us all and one that the longest and most successful study of happiness ever conducted strives to answer. In this groundbreaking book, directors of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, bring together over 80 years of research to reveal the true components of a happy, fulfilled life.
MatĂŠ asks why chronic illness and general poor health are on the rise in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems.
Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two. In Canada, one person in five has high blood pressure, while in Europe, hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30 percent of the population. And adolescent mental illness is on the rise everywhere.
Despite medical knowledge and technological sophistication, Western medicine often fails to treat the whole person by not considering how contemporary culture stresses the body, burdens the immune system, and undermines our sense of emotional balance.
MatĂŠ dispels common myths about what makes us sick, connecting the dots between the maladies of individuals and the progressive malaise of society, and offers some suggestions for healing.Â
'It all starts with waking up... to what our bodies are expressing and our minds are suppressing'
Western countries invest billions in healthcare, yet mental illness and chronic diseases are on a seemingly unstoppable rise. Nearly 70% of Americans are now on prescription drugs. So what is 'normal' when it comes to health?
Over four decades of clinical experience, renowned physician and addiction expert Dr Gabor Mate has seen how health systems neglect the role that trauma exerts on our bodies and our minds. Medicine often fails to treat the whole person, ignoring how today's culture stresses our bodies, burdensâŚ
Gifts from a Challenging Childhood
by
Jan Bergstrom,
Learn to understand and work with your childhood wounds. Do you feel like old wounds or trauma from your childhood keep showing up today? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with what to do about it and where to start? If so, this book will help you travel down a pathâŚ
Van der Kolk argues that trauma is one of the Westâs most urgent public health issues. The trauma caused by childhood neglect, sexual or domestic abuse, and war wreaks havoc on our bodies.
Over time, traumatic stress is associated with lasting functional and chemical changes in the brain. But healing is still possible.
"Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society." -Alexander McFarlane, Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies
A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing in this New York Times bestseller
Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van derâŚ
The science is in: being good is actually good for you. In this bracingly original book, the science of mindfulness and the findings of biology come together to show how kindness and optimism improve overall well-being in profound, organic, and demonstrable ways. The authors outline a revolutionary approach to health, longevity, and quality of lifeâand explain the scientific evidence that supports their work.
Identifying five fundamental values and describing six essential strategies for cultivating these values De Vivo and Lumera chart a practical course for pursuing a long, healthy, and happy life. The Biology of Kindness offers incontrovertible evidence that what is commonly ascribed to âspiritualâ well-being has a clear and direct impact on physical health, helping to buffer premature aging and decrease the incidence of chronic disease.
