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

a beginers guide and usual pitfalls

reminded me of my struggle and the common FAQ's on the topic that people struggle with.

This Book Must Always be in Reach!!!

Narrator was excellent. Very enjoyable book. Funny and understanding. Its a must-read when you are experiencing some challenging in your own mind. I had to this book twice to take full advantage to Dan's guidance.

insightful but short

The book is 70% autobiographic and 30% reflection of the author's own ideas on mindfulness and associated concepts. It is well-written and well-read, and his descriptions of seeing luminaries like Eckart Tolle, Deepak Chopra and the Dalai Lama in person, as well as his perspective on comparing the self-help movements with religious groups, are all interesting and sometimes cogent. But - and here comes the but - if you're looking for a practical guide, this is not it. If you like (auto)biographic works, and wouldn't mind some (careful and well-thought-out) chest-thumping and eloquence by a news anchor, this book is definitely for you.
The book is read by the author himself who is (did I mention it?) a professional news anchor, which means he both puts his personal emotions in the reading in a good way, and he's perfectly intelligible.

Helpful and interesting

This book was helpful and interesting. It’s not a book to teach you how to meditate. It’s more about the author’s life than anything, but it tells how mindfulness helped him. It’s entertaining, and totally comical at times. I enjoyed it.

Annoyed at first, then very happy.

Would you listen to 10% Happier again? Why?

Yes I listen to things that I like more than once

Any additional comments?

The set up took awhile, but it was all necessary.

A real story.

Love this book. A real story from a real person. Written awesomely. Love Dans narration of his words.

Terrific book! Thanks, Mr. Harris!

Loved it. Great book for anyone looking to learn more about mindfulness, or just wants to listen to a great story of one person's personal struggle to find something to believe in.

Nice!

Great to hear some of the latest insights on meditating from an - apparently - fellow skeptic. I'm gonna try it! Meditation I mean :).

Dan does sometimes tend to use rather complicated words, mostly in rapid succession and close together. Since they felt non technical I didn't bother to look them up. Maybe I should, english is not my native language though I'm pretty fluent, but I'd prefer him to have used more common - though probably then longer - adjectives instead. It would have matched the level of his book: pretty easy listening.

Iterestingly relatable!

He asks so many of the questions I Would ask. This book is entertaining and thought provoking.

Loved it. Well written, factual, and humorous.

Narrated by author. Well researched, well written, and factual. Dan Harris is honest ad witty.