#980 - David Pinsof - This is Your Brain on Bullsh*t

The Happiness Hypothesis explores the nature of human happiness, blending the philosophical and theological wisdom of ancient thinkers with insights from the field of positive psychology. Our satisfaction is driven by how our mental filters interpret the events in our lives, with the human brain perpetually divided against itself in the struggle between the desires created by our emotions and the attempts of reason to control them. The key to happiness is to use reason to focus the mind away from desires that will only bring fleeting happiness, while giving in to those desires that will bring lasting fulfillment.

While most people spend their lives chasing happiness, their efforts are often counterproductive. In Habits of a Happy Brain, Loretta Breuning explains that our brains evolved to promote our ancestors’ survival by triggering “happy” chemicals to reward behaviors like eating and hunting for food. In modern times, we’ve replaced those effort-based rewards with quick fixes—such as binge-eating candy or chips—that offer instant gratification but leave us unfulfilled. Over time, these quick fixes become habits that are difficult to break. However, there’s hope: Breuning says that by understanding how your brain achieves happiness, you can rewire it to build positive, sustainable happiness habits instead.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the brain chemistry of happiness, how harmful happiness-seeking patterns develop, and Breuning’s methods for building and maintaining healthier happiness habits. In commentary, we’ll supplement Breuning’s arguments and recommendations with research and additional sources on happiness and productivity, like That Little Voice in Your Head by Mo Gawdat.

In The Happiness Trap, therapist and life coach Russ Harris argues that humans are hardwired to relentlessly pursue happiness. But this instinct makes us miserable today, leading to widespread anxiety, stress, and depression. We’re caught in a happiness trap, where the harder we try to be happy, the less happy we become.

Harris contends the answer to happiness and fulfillment is practicing the techniques of ACT, or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The techniques—rooted in behavioral psychology and mindfulness—help you escape the happiness trap by accepting painful thoughts and emotions as part of life, while clarifying and living your values.

In this guide, we’ll explain ACT techniques—connection with the “observing self,” defusion, expansion, connection, values clarification, and committed action—and compare them to other therapies and practices. We’ll also provide additional exercises and techniques beyond Harris’s for practicing mindfulness in everyday life.

In Think Like a Freak, economist Steven Levitt and journalist Stephen Dubner set out to help readers solve their problems by looking at data in unconventional—yet data-driven and rational—ways. They argue that when you approach problems by properly analyzing facts instead of by following emotions or morals, you’ll come up with far more effective (if unexpected) solutions. This is true whether your problems are lighthearted ones like improving your competitive-eating skills or weighty ones like reducing famine.

In this guide, we explore their advice on how to admit what you don’t know, identify the root problem, think like a kid, use incentives smartly, and know when to quit. Along the way, we examine some of the psychological roots of their ideas, connecting their thoughts to advice from other psychologists who also look at problems in unconventional ways, such as Angela Duckworth, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, and Rolf Dobelli.

Freakonomics applies the tools of economics to explain real-world phenomena that are not conventionally thought of as “economic.” Authored by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics argues that data analysis and incentives can explain a lot about human behavior, and that a great deal of what experts and conventional wisdom tell us is wrong. As they explore these themes, the authors give us some powerful—and highly counterintuitive—insights into why the world is the way it is.

Are you feeling unmotivated in your job and life? Are you finding your current goals unsatisfying to keep working toward? Drive believes your work structure is to blame. Historically, employers have motivated employees through financial rewards and kept workers on a tight leash. These principles worked well when people were primarily working in assembly lines, but today’s creative work demands more: autonomy, mastery, and purpose.

Personal charisma and likeability are important for many different areas of life, from career success to navigating family and relationships. And at times, it can feel like you’re either born with it or without it—but this isn’t true. In reality, charisma is a skill like any other. In How to Become a People Magnet, motivational speaker and life coach Marc Reklau explains how you can improve your charisma and social abilities. His lessons are based on one main principle: People are mainly interested in themselves and what they can get from you. If you keep this in mind and tailor your conversations around it, you’ll start getting along better with others.

This guide covers Reklau’s main strategies for making positive first impressions, forming deeper connections, and persuading people. In our commentary, we’ll cover some of the psychology behind his advice and offer alternate perspectives on charisma and social success.

Do you donate to charity because you care? Or are you lying to yourself and others about the true reason? In The Elephant in the Brain, software engineer Kevin Simler and economics professor Robin Hanson controversially argue that human behavior is driven by selfish motives—and that your own brain is hiding them from you. These hidden motives shape everything from our conversations and purchasing decisions to our schools and health care systems. The authors say if we learn to recognize these “elephants,” we can improve our individual behaviors and our social institutions.

As we explore Simler and Hanson’s theories, we’ll cover topics like why we’re constantly deceiving each other, why charitable giving is actually selfish, and why the purpose of education is to certify future employees. Along the way, we’ll challenge some of the authors’ arguments by providing alternative explanations, and we’ll explain how you can put their insights to work in your own life.

A solid grasp of rhetoric—the art of persuasion—is a leg up in every aspect of your life. Whether you’re trying to get out of doing the dishes, admit a mistake without getting into trouble, or understand the true meaning behind a politician’s words, Thank You For Arguing provides smarter ways to argue and weigh others’ arguments.

Jay Heinrichs explains not only how to persuade people to do what you want, but also how to help opposing groups find common ground, get a bully to talk himself down, and spot the faulty logic others use to manipulate you.

In this guide, we’ll supplement Heinrichs’s ideas with the psychological reasoning behind persuasive tools and provide further suggestions on how to deal effectively with everyday arguments.