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
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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
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why Good Things Happen,
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This review is from: Why Good Things Happen to Good People: The Exciting New Research that Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life (Hardcover)
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.
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why Good Things Happen To Good People,
This review is from: Why Good Things Happen to Good People: The Exciting New Research that Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life (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.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Uplifting and Inspiring,
This review is from: Why Good Things Happen to Good People: The Exciting New Research that Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life (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.
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Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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moderate giver, low giver, high giver, unlimited love, divided responses into percentiles, best reflects your opinion, statement below describes, generous behavior, assign yourself Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Good People, The Way of Loyalty, New York, The Way of Generativity, The Way of Creativity, The Way of Listening, The Way of Courage, The Way of Forgiveness, The Way of Respect, The Way of Humor, Remember There, Shelley Carson, The Way of Compassion, The Way of Celebration, Sir John, Find the Fire, University of California, Dalai Lama, Christina Noble, Mother Teresa, George Vaillant, Pitirim Sorokin, University of Michigan, Robert Enright, Stephanie Preston Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
moderate giver, low giver, high giver, unlimited love, divided responses into percentiles, best reflects your opinion, statement below describes, generous behavior, assign yourself Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Good People, The Way of Loyalty, New York, The Way of Generativity, The Way of Creativity, The Way of Listening, The Way of Courage, The Way of Forgiveness, The Way of Respect, The Way of Humor, Remember There, Shelley Carson, The Way of Compassion, The Way of Celebration, Sir John, Find the Fire, University of California, Dalai Lama, Christina Noble, Mother Teresa, George Vaillant, Pitirim Sorokin, University of Michigan, Robert Enright, Stephanie Preston Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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