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.
69 episodes transcribedWhen I was a kid, I loved Halloween—I mean who doesn’t love candy and dressing up for a night? It turns out, October 31 is not the only day we wear a...
We all know how important sleep is for our health and happiness. So why do we resist going to bed, even when we know we should?In this episode of Offi...
If you struggle with anxiety, you might wish you could get rid of it altogether. But your brain’s alarm system exists for a reason. The trouble is tha...
Are painful memories keeping you from enjoying your life today? Maybe you avoid a particular place or person because of an experience you can’t seem t...
What happens when the abilities that brought you professional success start to decline?In this episode of Office Hours, I explore how our strengths ch...
Simon Sinek is an optimist, bestselling author of Start with Why, and founder of The Optimism Company.In this special episode of Office Hours, part of...
Dante had a particularly gruesome punishment for the envious: their eyes were wired shut. In this episode of Office Hours, I explore why envy is such...
If you’re an introvert, you might not like what the research has to say: Extroverts tend to be happier. But before you start striking up conversations...
Why do so many people drift from faith in early adulthood, only to feel drawn back to it later in life? In this episode of Office Hours, I explore the...
Being a parent is one of the most meaningful things you can do with your life, and one of the easiest things to worry about getting wrong. Most of us...
Most of us prefer spending time with people who are like us. They think like us, share our values, and make us feel comfortable. But while similarity...
In this special one-year anniversary episode of Office Hours, I'm joined by six young adults to discuss the modern crisis of meaning and why so ma...
We usually think generosity means helping other people. But what if accepting help is generous, too?In this episode of Office Hours, I explore why let...
It's easy to assume that we'd be happier if we lived somewhere with more sunshine. But how much does sunlight actually matter?In this episode...
Most people don't start with huge lies. They start with little white lies meant to avoid conflict, spare someone's feelings, or make life a li...
There's a reason music has mattered to people for thousands of years. Across cultures and generations, we’ve treated it as more than entertainment...
Thirty-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...
