What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite

Why do we routinely choose options that don't meet our short term needs and undermine our long-term goals? Why do we insist we're right even when evidence contradicts us? Why are we prone to assigning meaning to statistically common coincidences? This book reveals a remarkable paradox: what your brain wants is frequently not what your brain needs. This book reveals a remarkable paradox: what your brain wants is frequently not what your brain needs. In fact, much of what makes our brains "happy" leads to errors, biases, and distortions, which make getting out of our own way extremely difficult. Author David DiSalvo presents evidence from evolutionary and social psychology, cognitive science, neurology, and even marketing and economics. And he interviews many of the top thinkers in psychology and neuroscience today. From this research-based platform, DiSalvo draws out insights that we can use to identify our brains' foibles and turn our awareness into edifying action. Ultimately, he argues, the research does not serve up ready-made answers, but provides us with actionable clues for overcoming the plight of our advanced brains and, consequently, living more fulfilled lives.