Hi Friends, I’m Arthur Brooks, a social scientist, professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, columnist at The Free Press. I write, speak, and teach about the science of human happiness, blending neuroscience, behavioral science, philosophy, and religion for insights on how to live better and be happier. Each week on Office Hours, you’ll get a glimpse into the cutting edge research on happiness, and explore how you can use it to improve your life—and share what you learn with those you love. Join me in the movement to build a happier world–starting with you.
53 episodes transcribedThirty-five years ago, I somehow convinced an extraordinary woman to marry me. Our relationship began like any other—attraction, a leap of faith, and...
Do you find yourself chasing success, working long hours, doing far more than is required, and thinking about work all the time? Congratulations—you m...
If you feel emotionally exhausted, cynical about your work, or like you’re no longer enjoying parts of the job you used to, you may be experiencing bu...
Many people come home from vacation feeling disappointed. Not because the trip was bad, but because they expected it to do more than any vacation poss...
Finding the right person is hard. Being attracted to the wrong one is just as common.In this episode of Office Hours, I explore why some people find t...
Family estrangement is strangely common—affecting one-third of American adults today. While cutting ties can bring temporary relief, research suggests...
We obsess over diets, fasting, and weight-loss drugs in the name of health. But we rarely ask a more important question: what kind of eating actually...
We spend much of our lives building our careers. We chase success, recognition, and expansive networks—yet despite all of it, many of us still experie...
Sometimes, the most insidious thing someone can tell you to make you feel better is the age-old phrase, “but you’re perfect!” While research suggests...
Want to miss (or forget) life’s sweetest moments? Easy: don’t savor anything. My late mother, an artist, knew this was a terrible strategy for happine...
Grief is part of the human experience. If you love, you will lose. And when you do, the pain is inescapable. It can be disorienting, overwhelming, and...
In a previous episode on leisure, I talked about how fewer and fewer people are spending time outdoors. Today, the average child spends just minutes o...
Sahil Bloom is an entrepreneur and investor, and the author of the New York Times bestselling book The 5 Types of Wealth.Most of us chase success that...
Your professional calling is a mysterious idea. It’s the ineffable sense that you are meant to do something. Many people get tripped up in their pursu...
Pre-order The Meaning of Your Life (out March 31).This is the final episode in my 3-part series on meaning, and it begins with a question I couldn’t i...
Don’t miss The Meaning of Your Life Virtual Experience, my free live global book launch event this Friday (3/27), where I’m joined by an extraordinary...
Most of us hate waiting. Whether it’s standing in line, sitting in traffic, or waiting for a delayed flight, those idle moments feel irritating and po...
Some of the experiences that scare us most are also the ones that can change us for the better. The right kind of challenge increases confidence, deep...
Faith and spirituality are on the decline—but what does that mean for our happiness and sense of meaning?In this episode of Office Hours, I approach t...
Not all leisure is created equal—some of it feels good in the moment (pleasure) but leaves you depleted afterward. Other forms of leisure actually res...
