10% Happier

How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found a Self-Help That Actually Works

By: Dan Harris

Narrated by: Dan Harris

Nightline anchor Dan Harris embarks on an unexpected, hilarious, and deeply skeptical odyssey through the strange worlds of spirituality and self-help, and discovers a way to get happier that is truly achievable.

After having a nationally televised panic attack on Good Morning America, Dan Harris knew he had to make some changes. A lifelong nonbeliever, he found himself on a bizarre adventure, involving a disgraced pastor, a mysterious self-help guru, and a gaggle of brain scientists. Eventually, Harris realized that the source of his problems was the very thing he always thought was his greatest asset: the incessant, insatiable voice in his head, which had both propelled him through the ranks of a hyper-competitive business and also led him to make the profoundly stupid decisions that provoked his on-air freak-out.

We all have a voice in our head. It's what has us losing our temper unnecessarily, checking our email compulsively, eating when we're not hungry, and fixating on the past and the future at the expense of the present. Most of us would assume we're stuck with this voice that there's nothing we can do to rein it in but Harris stumbled upon an effective way to do just that. It's a far cry from the miracle cures peddled by the self-help swamis he met; instead, it's something he always assumed to be either impossible or useless: meditation. After learning about research that suggests meditation can do everything from lower your blood pressure to essentially rewire your brain, Harris took a deep dive into the underreported world of CEOs, scientists, and even marines who are now using it for increased calm, focus, and happiness.

10% Happier takes listeners on a ride from the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news to the bizarre fringes of America's spiritual scene, and leaves them with a takeaway that could actually change their lives.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2014 Daniel Benjamin Harris (P)2014 HarperCollinsPublishers

This is actually quite good.

Would you listen to 10% Happier again? Why?

Maybe a few years from now, its an easy listen but there are so many books to get through.

What other book might you compare 10% Happier to and why?

Jack Kornfield had a book titles something along the lines of "Buddhist psychology". That book is also quite good but is actually a series of lectures recorded at his retreat. His voice can be off putting and he looks nothing like how he sounds.

Have you listened to any of Dan Harris’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I particularly liked the section on his experience at the 10 day Buddhist retreat. Ive actually signed myself on to one here in Sydney after listening to this book.

Any additional comments?

Good book, easy listen.

I'm in!

it took me a little bit to get used to the narration style, but I loved the stories and the fact that he started as a skeptic and meditaion still worked really well for him. all of the research that I would want to do was basically done for me in this book and laid out in a plan at the end. saving this one to read again!

Engaging and rewarding

A wonderful story, told with authenticity and humor. I loved hearing his story prior to finding meditation, how he approached it, his skepticism, and struggles. I love hearing how he made it fit into his modern life in a realistic way. I'm not a meditator but I've recently become interested. Listening to this story is highly motivating and inspirational. Thank you!6

Inspiring

I'm a lapsed meditate this book inspired me to start meditating again. I recommended for those who have lapsed and for those who are very skeptical and don't think they could get into it.

Dan Harris funny guy, good message.

Great story on Dan progression through the self help gurus most of which I've followed myself. With a irreverent approach that often left me laughing, make no mistake, this book has teeth. Good information as he has access to big names in the meditation community but distills the info in a practical way. If you're curious about meditation at all, I highly recommend this book.

Turning point

Just finished reading this book, I can say it is exactly what I needed to hear at this point of my journey to pursuit happiness ... Very well written, very much simple and smart way to introduce meditation to people whom have not done it. Thanks so much Dan Harris for sharing your life experience with us!

perhaps the most enjoyable book I have read/listen

I got this book for my wife. But decided to give it a listen to. Absolutely loved. Was not a fan of Dan Harris or necessarily even self-help or spiritual books, but this is an excellent book. Not only is it entertaining it does provide and understanding of how we think and feel and perhaps how to act and think better.

A good introduction for skeptics

If you're in the fence about mindfulness meditation practices, this book takes an honest and human approach to the trials and errors of starting, understanding, and practicing.

Love!

I highly recommend reading this book. I loved this book and I could relate greatly to Dan Harris' struggles.

Ritch in worthwhile I formation

it was a great indepth break down of the benefits of meditation. I'm better for reading it.