The Happiness Cure

A fascinating exploration of the ways in which our ancient neurologic wiring is mismatched for the modern ecosystem. By understanding depression and anxiety through the lens of evolution, we can make sense of the growing despair in the world today and do something about it. This is a must read for anyone hoping to understand the human brain.

Dr. Anna Lembke, New York Times bestselling author of Dopamine Nation

Anders Hansen is our foremost and most accomplished public educator. With his crystal-clear, straightforward prose that never shies away from the difficult questions, he writes about evolution and the brain, and why many of us are left feeling so bad. Brilliant, I think. And very informative

David Lagercrantz

The market is flooded with books on how to achieve good mental health, including everything from meditation and mindfulness to treatment with SSRI medication. But the brain is not developed for our well-being, but rather for our survival and reproduction. Stress states, panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders and even ADHD and autism spectrum diagnoses have evolutionary benefits. The psychiatrist Anders Hansen has understood this and delivers his thoughts in his new ingenious and well-written book. It's a must-read!

Hugo Lagercrantz, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Karolinska Institute

We are biological beings, a product of evolution. With a warm heart and a light hand, Anders Hansen explains what this means for our mental well-being

Karin Bojs

By describing our minds as the products of evolution, Hansen shows invaluable new ways for understanding and living with our most important mental ups and downs. "The Happiness Cure" uses direct and accessible language to present the exciting promise of a scientifically informed psychiatry.

Richard Wrangham, author of The Goodness Paradox

A brilliantly researched book that will transform how you think about happiness.

Thomas Erikson, author of Surrounded by Idiots

Anders Hansen's work is the antidote to our modern-day struggles.

Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Anders Hansen is a highly regarded scientific communicator who, in this book, seeks the keys to our well-being through human evolution. It is both an encouraging and a comforting message which describes how our brains are wired for survival, rather than constant well-being.

Thomas Perlmann, Professor of Molecular Developmental Biology, Karolinska Institute, Sweden and Member of the Nobel Assembly

A great book... packed with brilliant revelations

Chris Evans

Kidneys evolve. Lungs evolve. As do brains, and in ways relevant to our pursuit of happiness and our vulnerabilities to mental illness. In The Happiness Cure, psychiatrist Anders Hansen explains how our brains have evolved more slowly in these realms than has our lifestyle, and the malaise that this mismatch produces. This wonderful book is steeped in insights, clear explanations and empathy. Most of all, it imparts deep wisdom about how we should live our lives.

Robert Sapolsky, Professor in biology and neurology at Stanford University, and New York Times bestselling author