Humans have emotional ups and downs because we've inherited the operating system of earlier mammals. The mammal brain releases dopamine when we approach a reward, and serotonin when we get respect. Oxytocin gives us a good feeling when we trust, and endorphin makes us feel good when we're injured. These happy chemicals evolved to do a job, not to surge all the time. Your brain defines that job in its own way because it built happy chemical pathways from your unique experience. You can build new pathways to turn them on in new ways. This book guides you through that challenge. It helps you choose new happy habits that are right for you, and repeat them until new circuits build. This is harder than you expect it to be. Our mammal brain evolved to rely on the circuits it built in youth, and to use unhappy chemicals as much as happy ones. But if you repeat a new behavior for 45 days, the electricity in your brain will start surging down the new path.
Meet Your Happy Chemicals
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About the Author
Loretta Graziano Breuning, PhD is author of I, Mammal, and Your Neurochemical Self blog on Psychology Today. She's Professor Emerita of Management at California State University, East Bay, and a docent at the Oakland Zoo. She spent a year in Africa as a United Nations Volunteer, and has lectured worldwide on resisting corruption. She's a graduate of Cornell University and Tufts, and the mother of two tax-paying adults. Check out her websites: MeetYourHappyChemicals.com, imammalthebook.com, and systemintegritypress.com.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By James
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I hoped that this book would be a compelling introduction to a subject I know little about. Unfortunately, it is not.
A total lack of citations* leaves the reader unsure what is true (as in verifiable) and what is just plain made up by the author. (Her PhD, I am pained to note, is not in neuroscience, as one might expect given its appearance on the front cover.)
The work is structured thus: 1) a simplistic overview of the four subject neuro-chemicals, 2) discussion of how these shape our brains in unplanned based upon our own eclectic collection of experiences, 3) self-help techniques based on (2). While (3) is clearly a collection of the author's own ideas, without being able to verify (2), I cannot take it seriously. (And indeed the little reading I've done since has made me question whether (1) is a useful simplification or just plain misleading.)
The work is also not proof read, with misplaced commas, capitals, and "to" instead of "too" throughout.
These shortcomings are unfortunate because I think that there is real good in this book. Some of the discussions about how we build circuits in our brains, and why we make the choices we do, seem very insightful. But, again, I cannot tell whether there is good reason to believe that these claims or true, or whether they just seem so. It doesn't matter how true something seems; unless it's verifiable, it does not belong in any text claiming to be scientific.
I have resolved to read much more on this subject but, I'm afraid, not from this author.
*The author gives some excuse about the work being 'synthesised' from many sources. All scientific work is so synthesised! You must still make clear which ideas are your own and which are backed by evidence.
A total lack of citations* leaves the reader unsure what is true (as in verifiable) and what is just plain made up by the author. (Her PhD, I am pained to note, is not in neuroscience, as one might expect given its appearance on the front cover.)
The work is structured thus: 1) a simplistic overview of the four subject neuro-chemicals, 2) discussion of how these shape our brains in unplanned based upon our own eclectic collection of experiences, 3) self-help techniques based on (2). While (3) is clearly a collection of the author's own ideas, without being able to verify (2), I cannot take it seriously. (And indeed the little reading I've done since has made me question whether (1) is a useful simplification or just plain misleading.)
The work is also not proof read, with misplaced commas, capitals, and "to" instead of "too" throughout.
These shortcomings are unfortunate because I think that there is real good in this book. Some of the discussions about how we build circuits in our brains, and why we make the choices we do, seem very insightful. But, again, I cannot tell whether there is good reason to believe that these claims or true, or whether they just seem so. It doesn't matter how true something seems; unless it's verifiable, it does not belong in any text claiming to be scientific.
I have resolved to read much more on this subject but, I'm afraid, not from this author.
*The author gives some excuse about the work being 'synthesised' from many sources. All scientific work is so synthesised! You must still make clear which ideas are your own and which are backed by evidence.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Tombright
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was looking for a straightforward introduction to our neurochemicals like serotonin, dopamine etc as I've become interested in the findings of happiness research and this seems to be a relatively under-reported area in that field. Most of the writing I've seen on this issue seems to polarise into the technical or the superficial. This book is just what I was looking for; I found it informative and clear without being patronising.
What I like best about the book is its eclecticism and the clarity of the writing. I also like the fact that the author considers some practical implications rather than just leaving it at the theory.
For me, the best books are those, like this one, that raise questions that would not otherwise have occurred to me.
I really enjoyed this book.
What I like best about the book is its eclecticism and the clarity of the writing. I also like the fact that the author considers some practical implications rather than just leaving it at the theory.
For me, the best books are those, like this one, that raise questions that would not otherwise have occurred to me.
I really enjoyed this book.
By mccormack
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book provides a clear view of a complex subject, enabling readers to make changes in their reactions and behaviour which will make their lives more content and fulfilling.
Less time and energy will be wasted in chasing goals which fail to provide real satisfactions, and I, for one, am willing to take up the 45 day challenge, because the rewards are clear.
The sections are well defined, and the explanations interesting.
A most enjoyable and worthwhile read.
Less time and energy will be wasted in chasing goals which fail to provide real satisfactions, and I, for one, am willing to take up the 45 day challenge, because the rewards are clear.
The sections are well defined, and the explanations interesting.
A most enjoyable and worthwhile read.
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