Wonder drug

Wonder drug 7 scientifically proven ways that serving others is the best medicine for yourself

Stephen Trzeciak

Book - 2022

"A pair of doctors team up to illuminate, through neuroscience and captivating stories from their clinical practice, how serving others-and pitching in to the world in general-is a secret superpower. If a doctor's prescription could bring you: - Longer life - Better health - More energy and resilience - Less burnout, depression and anxiety - More happiness, fulfillment and well-being - More personal and professional success (including higher income) - And, no harmful side effects Would you take it? In Wonder Drug, physician scientists Stephen Trzeciak, M.D., and Anthony Mazzarelli, M.D., illuminate, through neuroscience and captivating stories from their clinical practices, how being a giving, other-focused person is a secret supe...rpower. Serving others-and pitching in to the world in general-is the evidence-based way to live your life. Kinder people not only live longer, they also live better. Science shows that serving others is not just the right thing to do, it's also the smart thing to do. Wonder Drug will make you rethink your notions of "self-care" and "me time," and realize that focusing on others is a potent antidote to the weariness that so many of us feel in modern times. Getting outside of your own head, outside the swirl of self-concern that may dominate your mental chatter, is, ironically, one of the best things you can do for yourself. Building upon their earlier work showing that, in the context of healthcare, having more compassion for patients is a powerful way to not only achieve better patient outcomes, but also promote well-being, resilience and resistance to burnout among healthcare workers, Trzeciak and Mazzarelli now extend their research to uncover how the power of serving others reaches far beyond the medical world and can be a life-changing therapy for everyone. Wonder Drug relates to the varying meanings of giving in real people's daily lives. The stories in this book will convince and inspire you to make simple prism changes. You don't need a total life upheaval, just a purposeful shift in mindset. In fact, the crucial first piece of the evidence-based prescription is this: start small. Per science, the best way to well-being and finding your true fulfillment is this: scan your orbit for the people around you in need of help, and go fill that need, as often as you can"--

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Subjects
Altruism > Psychological aspects.
Helping behavior > Health aspects.
Self-actualization (Psychology)
Mental health.
Mind and body.
Self-help publications.
Genres
Self-help publications
Published
New York : St. Martin's Essentials 2022.
Language
English
Main Author
Stephen Trzeciak (author)
Other Authors
Anthony Mazzarelli (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
viii, 320 pages ; 25 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-299) and index.
ISBN
9781250863393
9781250809049
  • Introduction
  • Part I. The Diagnosis: An Epidemic of Self-Serving
  • 1. It's Not You, Its Me Culture
  • 2. Survival of the Kindest?
  • 3. The Giving Paradoxes
  • 4. How Self-Serving Are You?
  • Part II. The Cure: Serving Others
  • 5. The Brain and Body When Serving Others
  • 6. Physical Health Through Serving Others
  • 7. Mental Health Through Serving Others
  • 8. Happiness Through Serving Others
  • 9. Success Through Serving Others
  • 10. Motives Matter
  • Part III. The Prescription: Seven Steps to Take Now
  • 11. Start Small
  • 12. Be Thankful
  • 13. Be Purposeful
  • 14. Find Common Ground
  • 15. See It
  • 16. Elevate
  • 17. Know Your Power
  • Notes
  • Acknowledgments
  • Index
  • About the Authors
Review by Booklist Review

Doctors Trzeciak and Mazzarelli explore the physical and emotional benefits of serving others in this inspiring book. Using scientific studies and cases from their own practices, they present a convincing case for learning to "live to give." Something happened after the 1960s, say the doctors. Suddenly, the focus went from world problems to the "Me Generation." Whereas happiness once came from joining forces, people began to turn inward. It became an "epidemic of self-serving." The cure, according to the authors, is to turn outward. They provide scientific evidence proving that altruism leads to higher endorphins, lower blood pressure, and longer lives. In the final section of the book, Trzeciak and Mazzarelli propose a seven-part prescription to cure self-centeredness. It includes starting small (just 16 minutes per day), being thankful (writing a weekly thank you note), and finding common ground (viewing others with empathy). The key is doing all these things for the right reasons. These small steps are proven to ease burnout, promote a healthier life, and boost success, well-being, and resilience. It sure sounds like a wonder drug.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Trzeciak and Mazzarelli (Compassionomics), chief of medicine and copresident of Cooper University Health Care, respectively, unpack the perks of serving others in this thorough treatise. Bemoaning the rise of "Me Culture" and the "you do you" mentality, the authors propose that the "key to good health, happiness, and fulfillment" is serving others. They ground their "Live to Give" lifestyle in scientific research, citing papers that claim volunteer work decreases the risk of dementia and that caring for others can reduce inflammation. To integrate the science into everyday life, the authors suggest readers start with tiny gestures in order to build a habit, and they report that envisioning the positive effects of one's actions can increase the mood boost one gets after helping. Trzeciak and Mazzarelli demonstrate their expertise with an impressive array of research, though their presentation can sometimes feel like a parade of scientific studies rather than a coherent whole. This well-documented survey makes a persuasive case for a counterintuitive argument. Agent: Michael Carlisle, InkWell Management. (May)

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