You're a Miracle (and a Pain in the Ass)

February 10, 2020
McHargue (Finding God in the Waves), cohost of The Liturgists podcast and host of the Ask Science Mike podcast, offers answers in this cheery, instructive work to age-old questions of why humans do what they do and why people do things they know that they shouldn’t. As McHargue sums up in his introduction, “what’s good for us later fights what feels good right now.” To show why that is, he digs into behavioral science, covering the evolution and structure of the brain (which evolved to respond to threats), what part instinct plays in making decisions, the creation of feelings and emotions, and finally the effects of technology on human decision making. He also digs into consciousness and his interpretation of the “dated” left brain/right brain debate. In his summaries of complex scientific principles and studies, McHargue includes plenty of humor and personal stories that reveal the underlying science and create an approachable tone. Particularly insightful chapters cover the psychology of eating choices and how to change behaviors toward more sustainable practices. Fans of popular science will enjoy this breezy overview of the current state of behavioral science research.

Starred review from March 1, 2020

To respond to the age-old conundrum of why we do what we don't want to do and don't do what we want to do, scientist, podcaster (Ask Science Mike), and author (Finding God in the Waves) McHargue offers some answers. He delves into the interplay of impulses, emotions, and environment to describe how the brain operates, the invisible rails that guide thoughts, and the way one's past remains present. He then describes different theories of the mind, such as accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy and pulls the argument together. Though parts of the narrative may seem too academic, the resulting overall read is anything but. The author relates his own struggles and offers readers examples of opportunities to grow and practice self-acceptance as fellow travelers in the journey of life. VERDICT Recommended for anyone who feels they've tried everything in the way of self-improvement yet are determined to live to their fullest potential.

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