Nothing to Fix - by Robert Waldinger (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From Robert Waldinger--director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, Zen master, practicing psychiatrist, and New York Times bestselling author of The Good Life--a revolutionary guide that draws on the latest scientific research and the timeless principles of Zen Buddhist thought to teach readers how to live their best life, from one moment to the next.

"A masterclass in perspective, acceptance, and finding happiness where you least expect it." --Mel Robbins

"A must-read for anyone who is seeking clarity, purpose, and peace within themselves." --Jay Shetty

In 2004, Dr. Robert Waldinger became the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest-running study of happiness ever conducted. It should have been the crowning achievement of a psychiatry career spent uncovering what makes people thrive. Instead, he was left with a gnawing question: Is this all there is?

To answer it, Waldinger embarked on a decades-long journey, immersing himself in rigorous Zen meditation training and delving into the lives of the Study participants, in the hopes of synthesizing psychological and spiritual concepts of what it means to live the good life. That journey culminates in this book.

Waldinger's therapy patients, the participants in the Harvard Study, and his Zen practice all pointed to the same universal truths: That life is less about what happens and more about how we meet what happens. That being "Zen" does not mean stoically tamping down feelings but instead turning toward them. And that we should focus less on the results of our life and more on the process of living.

Nothing to Fix is a revelatory guide to the science and spirituality of human happiness--and offers readers radical perspective shifts that enable us to feel more completely alive.

Review Quotes

"Dr. Robert Waldinger has done it again. In Nothing to Fix, he flips the script on everything we think we know about happiness. This isn't just another self-help book telling you to fix yourself. Instead, Dr. Waldinger shows us that the life we crave is already within reach--it's about learning to see it clearly. This is a masterclass in perspective, acceptance, and finding happiness where you least expect it. If you're ready to stop striving and start thriving, Nothing to Fix will show you how."
--Mel Robbins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Let Them Theory and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast

"Robert Waldinger's Nothing to Fix is a profound exploration of what it means to live fully in an increasingly chaotic world. His insights--rooted in science, therapy, and ancient wisdom--feel like a roadmap for anyone striving to find purpose and peace in their daily lives."
--Steven Bartlett, bestselling author of The Diary of a CEO and host of the Diary of a CEO Podcast

"I love this book! Dr. Waldinger uniquely combines his expertise on the science of happiness with a deep understanding of ancient traditions. This book is filled with practical, evidence-based advice on how to live better and will help readers learn to avoid the misconceptions that so many of us have about living a good life."
--Laurie Santos, host of The Happiness Lab podcast

"I have personally learned so much about human thriving from Dr. Robert Waldinger's research. I admire how he masterfully blends the timeless wisdom of Zen practice with the art of living well and science. Nothing to Fix is a must-read for anyone who is seeking clarity, purpose, and peace within themselves."
--Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times bestselling author and host of the On Purpose podcast

"Dr. Waldinger is a modern-day prophet, seamlessly combining science, history, and heart-forward human storytelling to instill wisdom that sticks with you long after his words have finished. Most importantly, he is a product of his own ideas, exhibiting a contagious authenticity that makes you want to live in line with his teachings so that you too can experience their value in your life."
--Sahil Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Types of Wealth and creator and writer of The Curiosity Chronicle Newsletter

"Robert Waldinger's Nothing to Fix is the perfect synthesis of western science and eastern wisdom. It is a book I have long needed."
--Arthur C. Brooks, #1 New York Times bestselling author of From Strength to Strength

"Smart, warm, and accessible, Nothing to Fix is a treasure trove of scientific insight and ancient wisdom, converging on the key principles that tell us how to live well--in this and every other century."
--Daniel Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness

"Bob Waldinger is a triple threat - a psychiatrist, a scholar, and a Zen master - and this book reflects his polymathic powers. It pairs timeless wisdom with modern science. It offers a bracing message with undeniable warmth. And it delivers deep insights alongside practical guidance. Perhaps most important in a world where so many people feel uneasy and discontent, it meets the moment."
--Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret, When, and Drive

"Nothing to Fix is a wise and deeply humane book about a paradox many of us know all too well: the harder we work at becoming happier, better versions of ourselves, the more we can lose sight of what's already here. This is a book that will change not who you are, but how you see your life." --Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

"Bob Waldinger brings both depth of understanding and a genuine care for people. His work reflects a clear intention to translate insight into meaningful change in people's lives. This commitment to serving society through knowledge and human values is commendable and worth emulating."
--Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

"Dr. Robert Waldinger's work has had a tremendous influence on me personally. With his mix of modern science and ancient wisdom, he sits at an incredibly fascinating and fruitful intersection, one that has the potential to change the world."
--Dan Harris, New York Times bestselling author of 10% Happier, and host of the 10% Happier Podcast

"Nothing to Fix is an exceptionally inspiring and wholly commonsensical book. It illuminates what down-to-Earth meditative wisdom actually looks like, and how it can be cultivated to enhance health and wellbeing across the lifespan. It is also a beautiful exegesis of what is sometimes called Zen Mind. Its implications for personal wellbeing are not only robust and convincing, but, as recounted here, infectious. Watch out! Its deeply empathic message might just jump right off the page and into your heart, illuminating and transforming your way of being you. Waldinger's voice and disarming personal candor, combined with the rigor of compelling conclusions from the study, are high energy motivators in and of themselves for waking up to the power and beauty of the present moment, and for living the life that is yours to live, while you have the chance."
--Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Wherever You Go, There You Are

About the Author

DR. ROBERT WALDINGER is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, and a Zen master who teaches meditation around the world. His TED Talk, "What Makes a Good Life?" has been watched more than 75 million times, making it one of the ten most viewed talks ever on the platform. He is the author, with Marc Schulz, of the New York Times bestseller The Good Life.