Finding Happiness, Success and Deep Purpose

#47: Behavioral social scientist Arthur Brooks joins Chris to explore happiness and the different types of intelligence. They also explore the hustle culture, the science of satisfaction, the reverse bucket list, the four good idols (friends, family, faith, and work) and the four to watch out for (money, power, pleasure, and pain)

Arthur C. Brooks (@arthurbrooks) is a Harvard Professor, musician, and columnist for the Atlantic. He is also the bestselling author of 11 books on topics ranging from economic opportunity to human happiness. In February 2022, Arthur released From Strength to Strength, a book on finding meaning, success, and deep purpose in the second half of life. 

Selected Links From The Episode

Connect with Arthur: Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Some of Arthur's Books

• From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
• Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt
• Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism -- America's Charity Divide -- Who Gives, Who Doesn't, and Why It Matters

Selected Works from the Atlantic

• How to Build a Life - Arthur's Column
• Are you Epicurus or Epictetus Article

Books Referenced

• Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending by Elizabeth Dunn and Dr Michael Norton  
• The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
• Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
• The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
• The Confessions by Saint Augustine
• The Bible

Podcasts Referenced

• #36: Bucket Lists, Audacious Goals and Living the Life You Want with Ben Nemtin

Barcelona Recommendations

• Roman Ruins
• Sagrada Familia
• Romanesque Churches and Gothic Cathedrals

Full Show Notes

Arthur C Brooks - Behavioral Social Scientist (00:00)

How does Arthur define happiness? (02:54) 

Are tests available to understand where you are lacking in happiness? (03:50)

Changing intelligence - the seven habits of people who get happier as they age (04:47)

What is a success curve and how to make sure you're on the right success curve? (05:42)

Fluid intelligence (06:30)

Crystalized intelligence (07:35)

The key thing is to be on the right curve (07:50)

What does the jump from curve to curve look like? How do I prepare for a jump? What should I be doing with my time? (08:50) 

Charles Darwin and Johann Sebastian Bach’s success curves (10:44)

Success Addiction and Dopamine (13:30)

Hustle Culture and how to establish metacognition (16:30) 

How often do you need to journal to see benefits from journaling? (18:00)

The Bad Idols: money, power, pleasure, and fame (20:30) 

The Good Idols: faith, family, friendship, and work (21:10)

The best way to get happier now??? (24:25) 

The importance of sharing (25:25) 

The happiness algorithm (25:15)

Having faith without an organized religion (27:00) 

Lectio Divina - Divine Reading (29:40)

The science of satisfaction (30:36) 

The hedonic treadmill and social comparison (32:00) 

How to make a better bucket list (33:47) 

The reverse bucket list (35:25) 

How to buy happiness (37:30) 

Technology and happiness (40:52) 

Turning weakness into strength (42:40)

Hope and the role of negative emotions (45:36)

Quitting your job for happiness (47:00) 

Recommendations for a meal, a drink, and something to do in Barcelona, Roman Ruins, Sagrada Familia, Romanesque Churches and Gothic Cathedrals (48:30) 

The inspiration for his most recent book (49:12)

Wrapping up the show with Arthur Brooks and where to find Arthur online (52:00)

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