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

Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

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 guy kept me chuckling the whole time

This guy made mindfulness fun again for me. I almost spit my herbal tea out more than once. I plan to listen to it again which is rare for me.

Great - Dan Harris is Cooler than Cool

I still had to give 4 stars overall. To me 5 stars is exceptional and above and this is Great but as expected. Much more of a biography but there are definitely useful things to apply. RAIN 🌧 Thanks for the story Dan.

Finally a book describes what goes on in my head

I read this book because of the title, not over promising anything but 10% is worth the purchase price. The book is full of every day information and tips and there are laugh out loud moments along the way. He describes an inner dialogue that has long plagued me and sums up how to remain driven without as dan puts it "being a dick!" It lives up to the promise of giving self help tips that work and it seems well researched. If you have listened to and enjoyed self help books involving meditation and the topic of enlightenment in the past but feel some practical tips would benefit you, then this book will give the topic a whole new fresh look without the monotone and torturously slow delivery of some others in the genre. 10/10
Thanks Dan

Brilliant!

I didn't expect to enjoy this book anywhere near as much as I did. Dan drew me in right away with his honesty, humor, and interesting backstory. I highly recommend this winner.

Magnificent!

I absolutely loved this book. I have to admit I was skeptical at first, but Dan Harris had me captivated from the get go. I found that I could relate very much with his story, and his description of his meditation processes, as they were processes that I would go through without realizing they were in fact meditative.
His narration of the journey he went on was epic, and had insights that were very practical, and very entertaining at the same time.
I can't recommend this book enough.

One of the best audiobooks ever.

10% Happier made me 20% happier and now I look forward to learning how to meditate. I will listen to Dan's other book as soon as the cocaine wears off. Just kidding... I don't do coke, but I will be using my own mind as a readily available substitue.

Thank you Dan!

Ron Cahoon
South Korea

love the idea of being 10% happier

I really enjoy when books are narrated by their actual author and tell a true story. This was no exception, the book was fantastic. I love Dan's journey and exploration of meditation. Especially since I have been on a similar Journey myself to try to figure out how meditation and mindfulness have a place in my daily life. I know it's important and there's a lot of value to be gained but it's always a matter of time.

It was the story and the author reading

First off, i was glad to see that the author of the book actually read his book on audible. Im always a bit sceptic when an author needs someone else to read his/her OWN words. Or perhaps it was how Dan Harris told of his quest the good, bad, and ugly from what seemed a very honest inner point of view. Either way, i have a habit of starting books, yet not finishing them.
This book os one of the first books i actually chose to finish, and throughly enjoyed the listening experience!

I was introduced to Mr. Harris as well as Sam Harris, (whom if your not familiar with you will hear about when you read this book) from my brilliant 21 yr old son who started meditating about a year ago. I had tried it previously but it was when my son started meditating daily and i noticed the subtle changes in him, that i found it interesting enough to read about and try to do more often.

I cant say that i meditate regularly, and this book is NOT a guide book on the subject, , but i do meditate more now that ive listened to Dan Harris journey.
This realky is a great book for sceptics, self help junkies, or anyone even pondering the thought of a self help program or meditation. He saved me alot of time reading unessasary books from well known authors (i wont say names) that i had started or was planning on eventually getting to.
10% happier is informative yet very entertaining.
The book gets better as it goes along so if the 1st chapter or 2 dont seem to catch your attention, listen on.
Highly recommend

Witty humor

I appreciate the author's clever, easy-going way of telling a story. It left me laughing more than once.

This book is for everyone

If you need to be convinced that meditation is for everyone, read this book. It’s funny and honest and joyful.