We look forward to seeing you on your next visit to the library. Find a location near you.

Happy Brain: Where Happiness Comes From, and Why
(Adobe EPUB eBook, Kindle Book, OverDrive Read)

Book Cover
Average Rating
Published:
W. W. Norton & Company 2018
Status:
Checked Out
Description

"You should read this funny, stimulating and rewarding book. You'll be happy you did." —Guardian


The pursuit of happiness is one of the most enduring quests of human life. But where does happiness come from, why do we need it, and what does it have to do with the brain? In this delightful sequel to Idiot Brain, Dean Burnett combines cutting-edge theories of the science of emotions with interviews and contributions from relationship experts, psychology professors, comedy writers, celebrities, and pretty much anyone else involved in bringing about happiness in others. Witty and perceptive, humorous and enlightening, Happy Brain explores a fascinating aspect of modern neuroscience, and in the process discovers something about what it means to be human.

Also in This Series
Formats
Adobe EPUB eBook
Works on all eReaders (except Kindles), desktop computers and mobile devices with reading apps installed.
Kindle Book
Works on Kindles and devices with a Kindle app installed.
OverDrive Read
Need Help?
If you are having problem transferring a title to your device, please fill out this support form or visit the library so we can help you to use our eBooks and eAudio Books.
More Like This
More Copies In LINK+
Loading LINK+ Copies...
More Details
Format:
Adobe EPUB eBook, Kindle Book, OverDrive Read
Street Date:
05/29/2018
Language:
English
ISBN:
9780393651355
ASIN:
B076MFQCGY
Reviews from GoodReads
Loading GoodReads Reviews.
Citations
APA Citation (style guide)

Dean Burnett. (2018). Happy Brain: Where Happiness Comes From, and Why. W. W. Norton & Company.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)

Dean Burnett. 2018. Happy Brain: Where Happiness Comes From, and Why. W. W. Norton & Company.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)

Dean Burnett, Happy Brain: Where Happiness Comes From, and Why. W. W. Norton & Company, 2018.

MLA Citation (style guide)

Dean Burnett. Happy Brain: Where Happiness Comes From, and Why. W. W. Norton & Company, 2018.

Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
Copy Details
LibraryOwnedAvailable
Shared Digital Collection10

There is 1 hold on this title.

Staff View
Grouped Work ID:
a3927e25-0b75-46e3-ebe6-c9690b9b3589
Go To Grouped Work
Needs Update?:
No
Date Added:
Jun 12, 2018 17:37:41
Date Updated:
Dec 06, 2020 02:45:19
Last Metadata Check:
Apr 18, 2024 20:32:08
Last Metadata Change:
Jun 04, 2023 13:11:37
Last Availability Check:
Apr 18, 2024 20:32:09
Last Availability Change:
Apr 18, 2024 17:57:18
Last Grouped Work Modification Time:
Apr 20, 2024 02:11:00

OverDrive Product Record

images
    • cover:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-100/0044-1/{B53E6779-4E81-44B3-8F82-490C61E2410A}Img100.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
    • thumbnail:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-200/0044-1/{B53E6779-4E81-44B3-8F82-490C61E2410A}Img200.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
    • cover150Wide:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-150/0044-1/B53/E67/79/{B53E6779-4E81-44B3-8F82-490C61E2410A}Img150.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
    • cover300Wide:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-400/0044-1/B53/E67/79/{B53E6779-4E81-44B3-8F82-490C61E2410A}Img400.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
formats
      • identifiers:
            • type: ISBN
            • value: 9780393651355
      • name: Adobe EPUB eBook
      • id: ebook-epub-adobe
      • identifiers:
            • type: ASIN
            • value: B076MFQCGY
      • name: Kindle Book
      • id: ebook-kindle
      • identifiers:
            • type: ISBN
            • value: 9780393651355
      • name: OverDrive Read
      • id: ebook-overdrive
mediaType
eBook
primaryCreator
    • role: Author
    • name: Dean Burnett
title
Happy Brain
dateAdded
2018-05-31T19:36:42.643-04:00
contentDetails
      • href: https://link.overdrive.com/?websiteID=141&titleID=3608627
      • type: text/html
      • account:
          • name: Sacramento Public Library (CA)
          • id: 1151
sortTitle
Happy Brain Where Happiness Comes From and Why
crossRefId
3608627
subtitle
Where Happiness Comes From, and Why
id
b53e6779-4e81-44b3-8f82-490c61e2410a
starRating
3.8

OverDrive MetaData

isPublicDomain
False
formats
      • fileName: HappyBrain_9780393651355_3608627
      • partCount: 0
      • fileSize: 2196087
      • identifiers:
            • type: ISBN
            • value: 9780393651355
      • rights:
            • type: Copying
            • value: 0
            • type: Printing
            • value: 0
            • type: Lending
            • value: 0
            • type: ReadAloud
            • value: 0
            • type: ExpirationRights
            • value: 0
      • name: Adobe EPUB eBook
      • isReadAlong: False
      • id: ebook-epub-adobe
      • onSaleDate: 5/29/2018
      • samples:
            • source: From the book
            • formatType: ebook-overdrive
            • url: https://samples.overdrive.com/?crid=b53e6779-4e81-44b3-8f82-490c61e2410a&.epub-sample.overdrive.com
      • fileName: HappyBrain_3608627
      • partCount: 0
      • fileSize: 0
      • identifiers:
            • type: ASIN
            • value: B076MFQCGY
      • name: Kindle Book
      • isReadAlong: False
      • id: ebook-kindle
      • onSaleDate: 5/29/2018
      • samples:
            • source: From the book
            • formatType: ebook-overdrive
            • url: https://samples.overdrive.com/?crid=b53e6779-4e81-44b3-8f82-490c61e2410a&.epub-sample.overdrive.com
      • fileName: HappyBrain_9780393651355_3608627
      • partCount: 0
      • fileSize: 2196182
      • identifiers:
            • type: ISBN
            • value: 9780393651355
      • name: OverDrive Read
      • isReadAlong: False
      • id: ebook-overdrive
      • onSaleDate: 5/29/2018
      • samples:
            • source: From the book
            • formatType: ebook-overdrive
            • url: https://samples.overdrive.com/?crid=b53e6779-4e81-44b3-8f82-490c61e2410a&.epub-sample.overdrive.com
keywords
      • value: optimism
      • value: Mood
      • value: pleasure
      • value: serotonin
      • value: happiness
      • value: Popular science
      • value: cognitive neuroscience
      • value: Laughter
      • value: motivation
      • value: dopamine
      • value: endorphins
      • value: mirror neurons
      • value: Oxytocin
      • value: cognitive neuropsychology
      • value: new years resolution
      • value: amygdala
      • value: hippocampus
      • value: Neurotransmitters
      • value: Charlotte Church
creators
      • role: Author
      • fileAs: Burnett, Dean
      • bioText: Dean Burnett is a neuroscientist and research associate at the Centre for Medical Education at Cardiff University. He writes a popular science blog called Brain Yapping for the Cosmic Shambles Network and dabbles in stand-up comedy. He lives in Cardiff, Wales.
      • name: Dean Burnett
publishDate
2018-05-29T00:00:00-04:00
isOwnedByCollections
True
title
Happy Brain
fullDescription

"You should read this funny, stimulating and rewarding book. You'll be happy you did." —Guardian

The pursuit of happiness is one of the most enduring quests of human life. But where does happiness come from, why do we need it, and what does it have to do with the brain? In this delightful sequel to Idiot Brain, Dean Burnett combines cutting-edge theories of the science of emotions with interviews and contributions from relationship experts, psychology professors, comedy writers, celebrities, and pretty much anyone else involved in bringing about happiness in others. Witty and perceptive, humorous and enlightening, Happy Brain explores a fascinating aspect of modern neuroscience, and in the process discovers something about what it means to be human.

reviews
      • premium: False
      • source: The Guardian
      • content: You should read this funny, stimulating and rewarding book. You'll be happy you did.
      • premium: False
      • source: Kirkus Reviews
      • content: A pleasing tour of the brain and its feel-good longings.
      • premium: False
      • source: Whoopi Goldberg
      • content: Dean Burnett is a real funny cat, and I adore him and his brain.
      • premium: True
      • source: Kirkus
      • content:

        April 1, 2018
        Entertaining exploration of the neurophysiological basis for Aristotle's most prized state of being: happiness.To give a human a happy brain, give him or her lots of dopamine or some of the other chemicals we secrete in dosages far above what morphine can deliver. By the account of neuroscientist and stand-up comic Burnett (Medical Education/Cardiff Univ.; Idiot Brain: What Your Head Is Really Up To, 2016, etc.), setting those natural endorphins into motion is the trick. The author sometimes tries too hard to unburden heavy scientific exposition with some gee-whiz efforts at lightheartedness. Still, he delivers meaty, even weighty observations on the gray-matter gymnastics that, for instance, make us fall in love with awful people and, to all appearances to the outside world, allow us to content ourselves with that choice by blinding us to the reality. Burnett's description of the neurochemistry of love and its affiliated emotions ("it may not be as pleasurable as sex, but it's a lot less effort too") is worth the price of admission. So, too, is his depiction of the emotional workings of the adolescent and then, later, the aging brain, when the reward pathways mature in such a way that some of the things that formerly brought us pleasure seem quaint and silly--a process that we share with rats and other primates. Burnett is at his funniest when he is subtle: "older people voting en masse to recreate the quasi-fictional romanticised world of the past doesn't really do much good for anyone (see 'Brexit')." The book is at its best when the author points to obvious conclusions without being too obvious about it: If what makes us happiest in the end is the approval of others, it's plain to see, on that account, why those who are widely disapproved of are so miserable.There's nothing earthshaking in Burnett's observations, but he offers a pleasing tour of the brain and its feel-good longings.

        COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

      • premium: True
      • source: Library Journal
      • content:

        April 15, 2018

        Cardiff University neuroscientist Burnett's second book (after Idiot Brain) presents a grand tour of psychological research into happiness. Following a chapter covering basic brain chemistry and structure, the author considers topics known to have an impact on happiness: home and belonging; work and achievement; sociability and loneliness; love and sex; humor and laughter. He also discusses when hurting others produces happiness and how happiness appears throughout the life cycle, from infancy to old age. Also a stand-up comic from Wales, Burnett's writing is suffused with British wit including humorous asides, anecdotes, and interviews with copious endnotes, although it lacks illustrations and an index. This work's strength lies in drawing together varying types of research, from fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) studies to classical psychological research synthesized in an easy-to-read and entertaining fashion. Self-help readers may be disappointed that a general brain activity pattern for happiness cannot be found, nor does the author make suggestions for how to achieve happiness. VERDICT Readers seeking an overview of the current research on happiness, who appreciate British humor should find it enjoyable and enlightening.--Nancy H. Fontaine, Norwich P.L., VT

        Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

popularity
1281
links
    • self:
        • href: https://api.overdrive.com/v1/collections/v1L1BWwAAAA2I/products/b53e6779-4e81-44b3-8f82-490c61e2410a/metadata
        • type: application/vnd.overdrive.api+json
id
b53e6779-4e81-44b3-8f82-490c61e2410a
starRating
3.5
images
    • cover:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-100/0044-1/{B53E6779-4E81-44B3-8F82-490C61E2410A}Img100.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
    • thumbnail:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-200/0044-1/{B53E6779-4E81-44B3-8F82-490C61E2410A}Img200.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
    • cover150Wide:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-150/0044-1/B53/E67/79/{B53E6779-4E81-44B3-8F82-490C61E2410A}Img150.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
    • cover300Wide:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-400/0044-1/B53/E67/79/{B53E6779-4E81-44B3-8F82-490C61E2410A}Img400.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
isPublicPerformanceAllowed
False
languages
      • code: en
      • name: English
subjects
      • value: Psychology
      • value: Science
      • value: Self-Improvement
      • value: Nonfiction
publishDateText
05/29/2018
otherFormatIdentifiers
      • type: ISBN
      • value: 9780393356953
mediaType
eBook
shortDescription

"You should read this funny, stimulating and rewarding book. You'll be happy you did." —Guardian

The pursuit of happiness is one of the most enduring quests of human life. But where does happiness come from, why do we need it, and what does it have to do with the brain? In this delightful sequel to Idiot Brain, Dean Burnett combines cutting-edge theories of the science of emotions with interviews and contributions from relationship experts, psychology professors, comedy writers, celebrities, and pretty much anyone else involved in bringing about happiness in others. Witty and perceptive, humorous and enlightening, Happy Brain explores a fascinating aspect of modern neuroscience, and in the process discovers something about what it means to be human.

sortTitle
Happy Brain Where Happiness Comes From and Why
crossRefId
3608627
subtitle
Where Happiness Comes From, and Why
publisher
W. W. Norton & Company
bisacCodes
      • code: PSY013000
      • description: Psychology / Emotions
      • code: SCI089000
      • description: Science / Life Sciences / Neuroscience
      • code: SEL016000
      • description: Self-Help / Personal Growth / Happiness