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Dr David Hamilton: Why Kindness is Good For You
This was recommended by a Twitter friend, and I was initially a little sceptical. Hamilton's website, together with his identifying as a "motivational speaker" screamed pseudo-science, self-aggrandisement and general fail.
However, the Twitter friend in question has always struck me as sensible, and the central thesis of Hamilton's book - that being kind and compassionate is actively good for the health - is one that I've more or less believed for a while, and is certainly an idea that I'd like to see gain currency. Also, squirrelled away on his website is the information that his PhD is in organic chemistry, that he used to work for the pharmaceutical industry, has taught chemistry and ecology at degree level, and runs a charity that appears to do genuinely good stuff. All of which give him rather more credibility in my eyes for this sort of thing. Apparently what triggered his current career was noting how powerful the placebo effect really is, and wanting to find ways of deliberately using this, rather than pretending it's something else. Which is something I've been hoping someone would do for a while.
So, I got a second hand copy from AbeBooks, and had a read.
( And it's lovely... )
So, yes. 3 1/2 out of 5 for Why Kindness is Good For You. I'm very fond of it myself, and glad indeed that it was recommended to me. But too flawed to get a higher mark, I think.
This was recommended by a Twitter friend, and I was initially a little sceptical. Hamilton's website, together with his identifying as a "motivational speaker" screamed pseudo-science, self-aggrandisement and general fail.
However, the Twitter friend in question has always struck me as sensible, and the central thesis of Hamilton's book - that being kind and compassionate is actively good for the health - is one that I've more or less believed for a while, and is certainly an idea that I'd like to see gain currency. Also, squirrelled away on his website is the information that his PhD is in organic chemistry, that he used to work for the pharmaceutical industry, has taught chemistry and ecology at degree level, and runs a charity that appears to do genuinely good stuff. All of which give him rather more credibility in my eyes for this sort of thing. Apparently what triggered his current career was noting how powerful the placebo effect really is, and wanting to find ways of deliberately using this, rather than pretending it's something else. Which is something I've been hoping someone would do for a while.
So, I got a second hand copy from AbeBooks, and had a read.
( And it's lovely... )
So, yes. 3 1/2 out of 5 for Why Kindness is Good For You. I'm very fond of it myself, and glad indeed that it was recommended to me. But too flawed to get a higher mark, I think.
