The Science of Happiness: Why Arthur Brooks Says You’re Chasing the Wrong Thing

Join Shannon Bream as she welcomes Arthur Brooks to discuss his newest book, The Happiness Files: Insights on Work and Life. With refreshing honesty about happiness not being his “default setting” and rigorous scientific backing, this Harvard professor and behavioral scientist shares how most people are chasing the wrong thing entirely. Happiness isn’t a feeling to pursue but a project built on three components: enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning. He explains why negative emotions are completely normal, and reveals the explosive rise in depression among young adults who’ve “vacated the parts of their brain dedicated to finding life’s meaning” through device overuse. Arthur emphasizes getting “small” to make the universe large through habits like daily spiritual practices and nature walks – while focusing on the four habits of happiest people: faith, family, friends, and work. He challenges the “arrival” mindset that can depress Olympic gold medalists and newlyweds alike, helping believers understand that we’re designed for progress toward meaningful goals that serve others—offering hope for anyone who’s discovered that worldly success feels surprisingly empty.