Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way
By Dan Buettner
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About this ebook
What makes us happy? It's not wealth, youth, beauty, or intelligence, says Dan Buettner. In fact, most of us have the keys within our grasp. Circling the globe to study the world's happiest populations, Buettner has spotted several common principles that can unlock the doors to true contentment with our lives.
Working with leading researchers, Buettner identifies the happiest region on each of four continents. He explores why these populations say they are happier than anyone else, and what they can teach the rest of us about finding contentment. His conclusions debunk some commonly believed myths: Are people who have children happier than those who don't? Not necessarily—in Western societies, parenthood actually makes the happiness level drop. Is gender equality a factor? Are the world's happiest places to be found on tropical islands with beautiful beaches? You may be surprised at what Buettner's research indicates.
Unraveling the story of each "hotspot" like a good mystery, Buettner reveals how he discovered each location and then travels to meet folks who embody each particular brand of happiness. He introduces content, thriving people in Denmark, in Singapore, in northeastern Mexico, and in a composite "happiest place in America." In addition, he interviews economists, psychologists, sociologists, politicians, writers, and other experts to get at what contributes to each region's happiness, from the Danish concept of hygge, which translates to creating a feeling of coziness, to the Mexican love of a good joke.
Buettner's findings result in a credible, cross-cultural formula and a practical plan to help us stack the deck for happiness and get more satisfaction out of life. According to Buettner's advisory team, the average person can control about forty percent of his or her individual happiness by optimizing life choices. These aren't unreasonable demands on a person's lifestyle, and they often require only slight changes. They fall into three categories that make up the way we live our lives: the food we eat, the way we exercise, and the social networks we foster. It's all about nourishing the body and the spirit. Heeding the secrets of the world's happiness all-stars can help us make the right choices to find more contentment in our own lives and learn how to thrive.
Dan Buettner
Dan Buettner is an internationally recognized researcher, explorer, and author. He founded Blue Zones to research and publicize the world's best practices in health, longevity, and happiness. A pioneer in exploration and education, he has traveled the world to answer some of science's biggest questions. Dan's National Geographic cover story on Blue Zones was one of the top-selling covers in the magazine's history, and the book hit the New York Times bestseller list.
Read more from Dan Buettner
The Blue Zones, Second Edition: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/588 Natural Remedies: Ancient Healing Traditions for Modern Times Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for Thrive
36 ratings17 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5There were so many eye-opening examples of what other cultures value and how it makes each of them happy in their own way. This National Geographic journalist visits (and then highlights) 4 cities where people are ranked the happiest in the world and then uses those examples to give the reader suggestions of implementation.
If you enjoy reading about different cultures, it's a must! - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Heard the author on NPR, thought the book sounded interesting. It turned out pretty shallow but kinda interesting. He talks briefly about various studies on happiness, details, again briefly, interviews with experts on the topic, then looks at several places that studies have shown have the happiest residents. Copenhagen, Singapore, Mexico, and San Luis Obispo in California. It was a fast read. Nothing earthshaking or startling to learn. Don't think I'd especially recommend it to a library patron.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I read the second editon of this book, which was published in 2012. The author, a writer for National Geographic, tells of his visits to Sardinia, Okinawa, Loma Linda, CA, Costa Rica, and the island of Ikaris, Greece, where he and his fellow researchers interviewed the many 100-year-olds living in those places in an effort to see why they were able to live so long. He spends a lot of time on their diet but also empasizes their non-fast-paced style of living. Many of their lives do not seem too interesting but they are satisfied and they live longer than people who live more exciting lives. Anybody can pick up some hints as to what might one live longer. I liked the fact that there was emphasis on eating nuts regularly. Since I for some years have eaten 16 almonds every day, I took a little satisfaction in learning about that. There are lots more interesting things one can learn from this book, written of course in Natioal Geographic prose.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Living a healthy life well into your 90's - and possibly your 100's - may be easier than you think. Award-winning author and researcher Dan Buettner has traveled the world to meet the planet's longest-lived people, and learned nine powerful yet simple lessons that could put you on the path to longer life. Where did he find them? In the Blue Zones - Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The book differs from the typical fare of longetivity offerings whereby the author has determined that there are specific areas of the world "Blue Zones" where people are known to live significantly longer than the normal life expectancy of an industrialized nation. The book focused on interviewing these octagenarians in there home and seeing what they had in common that distinguished them from other nations. This unique approach was interesting and pointed out a common them. Many of people lead a very simple life. They grow their own food, have deep family roots, work and stay active all their lives and live more or less stress free. While I found this book interesting, anyone that really wants to benefit from the findings can just read the final chapter that tells how to incorporate the findings into your lifestyle. Ultimately, the final rersults are the basis of which all the thousands of health books have in common. Don't smoke, drink in moderation, eat natural foods and exercise. Follow these rules and you can live longer. Unfortunately for us Americans our lifestyles of fast food and high stress work will never let us achieve our optimum life span. If you are interested in longevivity study then you would probably enjoy this book. If not, just read the last chapter if you have the opportunity.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I really enjoyed reading this book. It is well written and reads along at a good pace. I really liked the little side bars that gave useful tips about a particular food that is part of the diet of that particular Blue Zone. I found that I did not have to radically change my diet or routine to be living healthier but improve my health through small adjustments.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I began reading this book thinking that there would be some unified theory based on certain foods. What I found was simple and refreshing. I feel that the researchers were able to come up with a unified theory on best practices. There is certainly an interest in developing awareness around what we put into our bodies. This book gives added perspective of culture, ancestry and environment.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was a very interesting read. I enjoyed hearing the authors experiences of visiting with centenarians. Rather than just plying the readers with data, he did a good job of bringing the individuals and their lifestyles to life. One review of this book that I read gave it a poor rating, as there was no real new or astounding data. I think that was one of the best things about the book. People are always looking for a miracle cure, one magical thing that they can do to live forever. I found it comforting that all of the conclusions they found in studying the people in these Blue Zones are things that we all can do, and things that we pretty much know we should be doing.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The blue zones: 9 lessons for living longer from the people who've lived the longest by Dan BuettnerStories of the different areas worldwide and strategies of how the people live with excellent health into triple digits.This book gives you options that you can select how far you want to go to your own longevity.Interesting to learn all the things that do effect our lives...Goat's milk is a food that might help, walk a bunch, whole grains, olive oil, fruits and beans are also clues.The one thing I found was to be with family, grandkids, etc it will keep you on your toes and others younger will look up to you, respect you. It does keep you young.Power naps for 30 mins, herbal teas lower blood pressure. Each of the zones has their own specialty. it's what works for them.Loved hearing how they discover a blue zone-all the numerology involved. I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I don't care much about longevity, but this is a book about living well as much as long. The secret? You already knew it. Eat more plants than animals, have a purpose in life each day when you rise, stay socially connected, move your body every day, keep your sense of humor. (There are nine major recommendations in all, with numerous sub-components.)
The authors describe four visits to Okinawa, Sardinia, Loma Linda California (a Seventh Day Adventist community), and Costa Rica, and in each place they visit communities with an unusual number of centenarians. They interview them about their lives, now and in the past, and look at younger people (as in, age 60 and 70) in the community who are living in similar ways.
There are interesting details that emerge in conversations with scientists and anthropologists who provide a guide to each local community. Some communities drink red wine and some do not. One group keeps the Sabbath. Each has some special foods, mugwort, fish oil, whatever. Good genes will get you 25% of the way there too. But from these details the author synthesizes some good general principles that are really as much about living well as living long.
How long we live is really a trivial detail. The goal is not to live long but to live well, and to die quickly when the living is done.
This book is a bit too chatty for my taste. I prefer more science and examples and less detail about the cafe in which the author held a conversation with a local researcher. Nonetheless, you can skim through it and hear some interesting voices and stories of good living -- well worth reading. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A great balance of fun and heartwarming anecdotes interspersed with data from research and studies.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Its a pity many of the Blue Zones (high life expectancy areas) are disappearing due to the expansion of western ideas - except for the Blue Zone in the US (the Adventists). Many common themes come out of each of the Blue Zones and these are summarised in the 9 factors that lead to a long life. Hard physical work apparently doesn't kill you.You can log onto BlueZones.com to take a longevity survey. Funnily enough the site mentions consuming fish which is not one of the 9 findings.Recommended reading.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A great philosophy on living life healthier and longer, Dan Buettner's Blue Zone something that everyone concerned about aging in modern society should take a look at. Learn from the places on the Earth where people live the longest how they do it - what makes them tick so long.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This was an enjoyable read. Having traveled around the globe more than few times I was always intrigued how certain races or cultures seemed to have the longevity factor far outpacing the normal lifespan. In 'The Blue Zone' you'll find ways to live as much as a decade longer, thereby leding one to live a longer and fuller lifespan. Inside you'll find habits that can and will develop habits to leading a more productive life!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The 2008 version of the book is informative. It has numerous stories of actual centenarians from each of four areas in the world. Readers are introduced to specific individuals and allowed to understand how they have eaten, exercises, and socialized throughout their lives. This helps the reader to better internalize the information being provided. At the end of section, the author lists the locales' customs and traditions that contribute to their longevity, and the science that proves it. However, despite these stories, the human interest connection that the author tries to create is overshadowed by the book's numerous editing errors and the author's commentary that often seems to conclude without conveying a specific point. Unfortunately, both of these problems crop up often enough to detract from the understanding and general enjoyment of the information provided.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved it. Will try to implement some of the things described in the book into my life as much as possible. Some of them I already do - like eating a lot of bitter melon :), and my love of walking...
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I received this as an ER copy, and I found this book pretty neat. There are lots of books on how to “expand your youth” but it’s really good to see a book that actually talks to the people who have done so. The book focuses on four distinct and different regions of people who have all lived beyond the average life expectancy (usually 100+). I was glad to see one was in America, even. The book brings to light some hard truths, though. Collectively, as Americans, we are not on our way to being centenarians ourselves with our current lifestyle. Even worse, we are affecting other countries with our bad habits. What I really liked about the book was that it not only told you the behaviors of these people, but how you can apply it to your own life. It really helps put things in perspective. While it’s not the perfect go-to book for how to live your life, it’s certainly a great starting point.