A longer life. A happier life. A healthier life. Above all, a life that matters—so that when you leave this world, you’ll have changed it for the better. If science said you could have all this just by altering one behavior, would you?
Dr. Stephen Post has been making headlines by funding studies at the nation’s top universities to prove once and for all the life-enhancing benefits of caring, kindness, and compassion. The exciting new research shows that when we give of ourselves, especially if we start young, everything from life-satisfaction to self-realization and physical health is significantly affected. Mortality is delayed. Depression is reduced. Well-being and good fortune are increased. In their life-changing new book, Why Good Things Happen to Good People, Dr. Post and journalist Jill Neimark weave the growing new science of love and giving with profoundly moving real-life stories to show exactly how giving unlocks the doors to health, happiness, and a longer life.
The astounding new research includes a fifty-year study showing that people who are giving during their high school years have better physical and mental health throughout their lives. Other studies show that older people who give live longer than those who don’t. Helping others has been shown to bring health benefits to those with chronic illness, including HIV, multiple sclerosis, and heart problems. And studies show that people of all ages who help others on a regular basis, even in small ways, feel happiest.
Why Good Things Happen to Good People offers ten ways to give of yourself, in four areas of life, all proven by science to improve your health and even add to your life expectancy. (And not one requires you to write a check.) The one-of-a-kind “Love and Longevity Scale” scores you on all ten ways, from volunteering to listening, loyalty to forgiveness, celebration to standing up for what you believe in. Using the lessons and guidelines in each chapter, you can create a personalized plan for a more generous life, finding the style of giving that suits you best.
The astonishing connection between generosity and health is so convincing that it will inspire readers to change their lives in ways big and small. Get started today. A longer, healthier, happier life awaits you.
Why Good Things Happen to Good People
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Post, a professor of bioethics at Case Western Reserve University, outlines, as the book's subtitle puts it, "the exciting new research that proves the link between doing good and living a longer, healthier, happier life." With former Psychology Today features editor Neimark, Post cites a raft of studies (some of it funded by his Institute for Research on Unlimited Love) showing that qualities like gratitude, celebration, forgiveness and compassion are not only good for the recipients of your generosity-they're good for you too, leading to better health and longer life. Post details a self-help program based on his Love and Longevity Scale, tested on 339 college students, to measures how high you score on each quality. He also offers anecdotes (like the story of a five-year-old girl who forgave the shooter whose bullet paralyzed her) and advice to illustrate how to practice altruistic qualities. Forgiveness, for example, can be pursued through a Buddhist breathing meditation or by communing with a higher power. Post's advice to spend time helping others is grounded not only in research but in an optimistic faith in human nature.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
Advance Praise for Why Good Things Happen to Good People
“In writing so compellingly about the importance of lifelong giving, Stephen Post and Jill Neimark have actually modeled their own principle by giving all of us a gift. Bringing together a summary of new scientific data on altruism, a compendium of moving stories of human compassion, and a new survey tool to assist in self-examination, this book convincingly demonstrates that ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ can indeed provide a joyful path towards a fulfilled life.”
—Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, director, Human Genome Project and author of The Language of God
“Stephen Post and Jill Neimark make the scientific case for generosity eloquently, humanely, and compellingly. This book meets Nietzsche’s criterion for good philosophy: ‘Change your life!’”
—Martin E. P. Seligman, PhD, Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Learned Optimism and Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment
“In my entire lifetime I have never read a book that presents the benefits of giving for the giver as well as this one does, and using such powerful science in the process.”
—Robert H. Schuller, founder of The Crystal Cathedral
“Stephen Post and Jill Neimark have brought together the main findings from the new science of genuine love and translated them into helpful, practical advice that the reader can easily apply. Those who take this book to heart will surely make their lives better, and will help to make the world a better place as well.”
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, PhD, professor of psychology, Claremont Graduate University, and author of Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
“This book is chock-full of good stuff. Read, enjoy and be uplifted!”
—Millard Fuller, founder and president of the Fuller Center for Housing and founder of Habitat for Humanity
“In writing so compellingly about the importance of lifelong giving, Stephen Post and Jill Neimark have actually modeled their own principle by giving all of us a gift. Bringing together a summary of new scientific data on altruism, a compendium of moving stories of human compassion, and a new survey tool to assist in self-examination, this book convincingly demonstrates that ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ can indeed provide a joyful path towards a fulfilled life.”
—Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, director, Human Genome Project and author of The Language of God
“Stephen Post and Jill Neimark make the scientific case for generosity eloquently, humanely, and compellingly. This book meets Nietzsche’s criterion for good philosophy: ‘Change your life!’”
—Martin E. P. Seligman, PhD, Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Learned Optimism and Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment
“In my entire lifetime I have never read a book that presents the benefits of giving for the giver as well as this one does, and using such powerful science in the process.”
—Robert H. Schuller, founder of The Crystal Cathedral
“Stephen Post and Jill Neimark have brought together the main findings from the new science of genuine love and translated them into helpful, practical advice that the reader can easily apply. Those who take this book to heart will surely make their lives better, and will help to make the world a better place as well.”
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, PhD, professor of psychology, Claremont Graduate University, and author of Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
“This book is chock-full of good stuff. Read, enjoy and be uplifted!”
—Millard Fuller, founder and president of the Fuller Center for Housing and founder of Habitat for Humanity
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By G. Sherck
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
We are blessed to live in Cleveland with the opportunity to hear Dr. Post on occasion.
Visit his web site, Institute for Research on Unlimited love (IRUL) as he just might be visiting near you, then you can feel his special quality. For me, he tells a simple truth in the first chapter, Find the Fire, when he says if he could take one word into eternity, it would be "give." Think about the "giving" in your own life, then you can see where this book will take you.
Dr. Post says "It is full of great stories of love, great science, and great suggestions for a better life. This is a book that is good for you and your loved ones. It breaks love down into ten modulations in ten chapters (celebration, generativity, forgiveness, carefrontation [courage], humor & mirth, respect, compassion, loyalty, listening, and creativity)." We agree: find the fire.
Visit his web site, Institute for Research on Unlimited love (IRUL) as he just might be visiting near you, then you can feel his special quality. For me, he tells a simple truth in the first chapter, Find the Fire, when he says if he could take one word into eternity, it would be "give." Think about the "giving" in your own life, then you can see where this book will take you.
Dr. Post says "It is full of great stories of love, great science, and great suggestions for a better life. This is a book that is good for you and your loved ones. It breaks love down into ten modulations in ten chapters (celebration, generativity, forgiveness, carefrontation [courage], humor & mirth, respect, compassion, loyalty, listening, and creativity)." We agree: find the fire.
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I had reached page 29 of "Why Good Things Happen to Good People" when I decided to go for a walk in the woods with this book and my new flute. I made myself comfortable in my favorite spot by a trickling stream and opened the book to page 30. The first words my eyes rested upon were.... "Then I walked into the woods, a chapel carved by nature." I immediately knew that I was meant to read this book.
The central theme of Post's and Neimark's book is that if we give to others from our hearts ( not from thought of benefit or reward) that we will reap benefits glorious and unimaginable. I was thrilled that the authors made the definite point that we all have different ways of giving and that once we become aware of these various avenues of sharing ourselves with others, we can expand on our abilities to do so. I personally feel that I am not as up to par with some methods of giving as I am with others. This book reassured me that even if I don't remember birthdays or think of special things to give people during the year, that some of the other activities I engage in are just as important. Activism, being a good listener, expressing joy and humor, can also contribute to lighting up people's lives. We need to find our strengths and capitalize on them. We also need to realize that we are not limited to our natural giving tendencies. "Why Good Things Happen to Good People" shares ideas as to how we can break free from a stagnant pattern and become more joyful while doing so.
I loved the authors' concept that forgiveness is also a form of giving and that holding grudges or hatred towards others negatively affects our own lives as well as the lives of those we are bearing the grudge against. This book is full of practical advice and helpful examples. I would like to share a quote from pages 85-86. It is one of my favorite contemplative exercises from the book.
" Start counting people (from family to friends, colleagues, and neighbors) against whom you bear a grudge or resentment, even relatively small ones. Imagine putting a potato into a sack for every slight or hurt you have not forgiven. Now, imagine that for a week you have to carry that sack around everywhere you go - to the bathroom, in the car or on the train, to work, at your desk, at meetings, during mealtime and in bed at night. Have a good laugh at the amusing image. Don't you feel exhausted just contemplating that huge sack of potatoes?"
The authors have included many studies which have been conducted on the physical and emotional benefits of the various forms of giving. There are also tests throughout the book which help you to gauge where you currently stand and also to help you to monitor your progress towards any goals you may set for yourself.
This book has helped me to understand where my strengths lie and is an ongoing guide towards future goals. "Why Good Things Happen to Good People" is a book about love and caring and leads us together on the path to creating a better world. Everyone should read this book. I know I'm going to keep my copy close at hand.
The central theme of Post's and Neimark's book is that if we give to others from our hearts ( not from thought of benefit or reward) that we will reap benefits glorious and unimaginable. I was thrilled that the authors made the definite point that we all have different ways of giving and that once we become aware of these various avenues of sharing ourselves with others, we can expand on our abilities to do so. I personally feel that I am not as up to par with some methods of giving as I am with others. This book reassured me that even if I don't remember birthdays or think of special things to give people during the year, that some of the other activities I engage in are just as important. Activism, being a good listener, expressing joy and humor, can also contribute to lighting up people's lives. We need to find our strengths and capitalize on them. We also need to realize that we are not limited to our natural giving tendencies. "Why Good Things Happen to Good People" shares ideas as to how we can break free from a stagnant pattern and become more joyful while doing so.
I loved the authors' concept that forgiveness is also a form of giving and that holding grudges or hatred towards others negatively affects our own lives as well as the lives of those we are bearing the grudge against. This book is full of practical advice and helpful examples. I would like to share a quote from pages 85-86. It is one of my favorite contemplative exercises from the book.
" Start counting people (from family to friends, colleagues, and neighbors) against whom you bear a grudge or resentment, even relatively small ones. Imagine putting a potato into a sack for every slight or hurt you have not forgiven. Now, imagine that for a week you have to carry that sack around everywhere you go - to the bathroom, in the car or on the train, to work, at your desk, at meetings, during mealtime and in bed at night. Have a good laugh at the amusing image. Don't you feel exhausted just contemplating that huge sack of potatoes?"
The authors have included many studies which have been conducted on the physical and emotional benefits of the various forms of giving. There are also tests throughout the book which help you to gauge where you currently stand and also to help you to monitor your progress towards any goals you may set for yourself.
This book has helped me to understand where my strengths lie and is an ongoing guide towards future goals. "Why Good Things Happen to Good People" is a book about love and caring and leads us together on the path to creating a better world. Everyone should read this book. I know I'm going to keep my copy close at hand.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By P. S. Shemin
Format:Hardcover
I opened this book expecting dry science, but what I got was an inspiring, uplifting read. Actually, the scientific studies were both convincing and interesting, and conversations with all the researchers brought the science a warmth and life. Every chapter opens with a story of a remarkable person who often overcame the odds to give to others and make a difference in the world. From a former Playboy model who founded orphanages in Haiti to a high fashion photographer who left his jetset lifestyle to photograph kids with genetic disorders and help them to feel beautiful, this book inspires from page one. There are many self-help exercises that bring a richness to the ideas in the book, and offer ways to weave giving into your life that are simple and effective. The self-rating scale is fun, too, and helps you focus on your strengths in giving. All in all, a very unusual mix of science, inspiration and self-help. Kind of like a cross between Stumbling on Happiness and Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
review
Excellent statistics and details as to why doing good things is good for you. I liked that it was based on sound scientific study.
Published on May 10, 2010 by Carolyn Shaffer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beneficial
The importance of this book is difficult to overstate. If what it claims is true, which it proves with its fairly numerous references to scientific findings, then anyone can learn... Read more
Published on November 24, 2008 by C. Erickson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great content but the worst edited book I've ever read
The author has a very straight forward way of organizing and explaining a plethora of studies indicating that doing good results in both emotional and physical benefits for the... Read more
Published on August 27, 2008 by Robert S. Traber
4.0 out of 5 stars
Motivational material
Good reading. I recommend this book for anyone interested in improving their living conditions and interactions with others.
Published on June 25, 2008 by Donald E. Nielsen
1.0 out of 5 stars
More silliness
I sure don't see what the hype here was about.
I saw this book as falling into the same fallacious thinking as "The Secret" and all those books that want us to believe... Read more
I saw this book as falling into the same fallacious thinking as "The Secret" and all those books that want us to believe... Read more
Published on March 14, 2008 by David in Minneapolis
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Real Secret to Life - Giving
I am generally not one to quarrel with titles of books....I read for substance. But, I believe this title undersells the profound wisdom of this very fine book. Read more
Published on November 17, 2007 by Dave Carpenter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Giving, health and longevity
This book is an interesting new contribution to the field of positive psychology, which explores the idea that giving helps the giver as much as, or even more than the receiver. Read more
Published on November 15, 2007 by Raymond Mathiesen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Well spent $15.00!
Others have provided very valuble reviews worthy of your consideration. The "fire" called for in unlimited agape love...i. Read more
Published on August 14, 2007 by Richard Materson MD
5.0 out of 5 stars
Importance of living a life of love
Can doing good--and being good--actually change the quality of our own lives?
Dr. Stephen Post argues yes. Read more
Dr. Stephen Post argues yes. Read more
Published on July 16, 2007 by Armchair Interviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
posting along
I first became aware of Stephen Post earlier this year because of his affiliations with Sir John Templeton and Dr. Read more
Published on July 15, 2007 by Timothy A. Ferris
