10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found a Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story
Written by Dan Harris
Narrated by Dan Harris
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
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 readers 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.
Editor's Note
Hilarious and engaging...
With anxiety levels up for all of us due to the coronavirus crisis, Dan Harris’s personal journey to understand happiness after suffering an on-air panic attack is the guide we all need to de-stress. Told with the right mix of empathy, humor, and a journalist’s skepticism, Harris helps us focus on what we can control.
Dan Harris
Dan Harris is host of the 10% Happier Podcast. For 21 years, he worked at ABC News, where he was the co-anchor of Nightline and the weekend editions of Good Morning America. He also reported from all over the world, including war zones and presidential campaigns. Before joining ABC, he worked for local news outlets in Boston and Maine. He lives in New York with his wife, son, and a gaggle of rescue cats.
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10% Happier Revised Edition: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for 10% Happier
1,383 ratings94 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/510% is a great part of the title for this book. The first 90% of the book, I seriously wondered why I was reading it (hint: put on your speed reading to power though). The last chapter is thoughtful and has some good analysis of what works. A newscasters summary.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I always want to say thank you for this book.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Was drawn to the book by the title and loved the relating of how the author came about it. I am not yet "there" to try the principles discussed but I must admit there are some nuggets worth delving into more. Will likely revisit again. It's a keeper.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I was surprised at how much I liked this book, especially given my strong bias against TV news announcers. Funny and inspiring and a pleasant read and concise to boot!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A beautiful writen book that I enjoyed listening. Very funny with some interesting thoughts and advices. Very well done!!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5As someone who loves the self help industry (I can admit that haha) I was a little defensive through the first part of the book. However, I think this is a perfect book for anyone who could benefit from mindfulness practices, but currently thinks it’s a load of hooey. The way he took the reader through his journey, his skepticism, and his changes I believe would be helpful for those with equal skepticism
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What an awesome memoir. From the beginning to the end I was captivated and couldn’t stop listening. Hearing his story encouraged me to find my own path to meditatoon
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dan Harris’ first book on meditation served as the motivator, and this book is the instruction manual. Altogether, I found his first book to be more enjoyable, but that book had a different mission - telling a story. In my mind, his two books go hand in hand, and I recommend them both.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5so good and relatable. dan harris feels so authentic. :)
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dan Harris is great and I really enjoyed his stories and learning about meditation!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Funny, incredibly interesting, and helpful. Love the app and am so happy I now have read the book. Thank u for calming the voice in my head and making me 10+ percent happier!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Perfect for someone also in a high-stress job, how to calm your mind and not loose your edge.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The book starts a bit slow telling the lifestory of the author. Once you get rolling and used to the joking style of the narration, you can relate and get good insights out of this piece.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Great book on the journey he took to find mindfulness and meditation practices. Definitely opened my eyes to things and I definitely want to try meditation and will be looking up how to be more mindful for sure.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Its boring. Im not American and im a common man who won't understand this type of experience. Im in to meditation and think this is nothing to do with meditation or help meditation. Anyway his meditation app is good.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The book as a whole was somewhat so so. Didn’t really get too much out of it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I could really relate to what goes through his mind and have always had the same thoughts about this thing called meditation. I enjoyed his delivery - news anchor with a touch of himself thrown in created an interesting listen. I did laugh out loud a few times.
I may just have to give this a try ... 10% happier is a nice level up. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Very honest journey from mindlessness to mindfulness. Humorous and well written with down to earth language. A genuine tale of inspiration to get into meditation.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Incredible book! Dan has a writing style that is both completely relatable and sharply witty! He makes meditation very approachable for the skeptic. Dan unpacks Buddhist philosophy through a new lens of practicality. An absolute page-turner and must read for anyone looking to understand the true value of meditation and mindfulness.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Enjoyed the book- and now curious to give meditation another try.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is an Excellent book, entertaining, engaging, and easy to listen to.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I enjoyed the subject and Dan’s reading made it very genuine. Thanks
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book changed the way I think completely to attain happiness
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Witty, funny, interesting, entertaining, informative....found it difficult to stop listening even when I was so tired I could not stay awake!
Would recommend, and have done so to many friends, any day.
Job well done! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Engaging, part memoir part meditation manifesto this is a fun exploration that is sometimes funny often snarky but sincere. A refreshing read!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Harris has an interesting perspective on a story I've heard many times -- meditation changes one's life. Even though this is a familiar story to me, it's always worth listening to again for new insights and perspectives.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Thoroughly enjoyed this, Dan Harris addresses a lot of the questions that I ask myself since embarking on a journey towards self-awareness. He's a bit more skeptical than I am, for sure, but it was refreshing to hear his pov, as well as the anecdotes from his career and life.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is super relatable, easy read and very funny! Dan has opened my eyes to what mediation can do for each and every one of us! Definitely recommend :)
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5really nice book should read it I don't know if principals work yet but I'll love to try
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I don't know what I was expecting. It was good. A simple reminder of living a spiritual life in today's societal climate