This Is Your Brain On Joy

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I just finished reading This Is Your Brain On Joy: A Revolutionary Program for Balancing Mood, Restoring Brain Health, and Nurturing Spiritual Growth by Dr. Earl Henslin. This is not normally the kind of book I would read since I am a skeptic by nature. I tend to be wary of self-help books or books that promise something in a certain number of steps. I expected this one to be along those lines.

I was pleasantly surprised by Dr. Henslin. This book is well-written, easy to read and entertaining. It contains a balanced mix of science and theology. While the theology is not deep, and he does over-simplify the science, the book winds up being practical and thought-provoking.

I was pleasantly surprised by Dr. Henslin. This book is well-written, easy to read and entertaining. It contains a balanced mix of science and theology. While the theology is not deep, and he does over-simplify the science, the book winds up being practical and thought-provoking.

Understanding the latest neuroscience research offers hope to those living with depression, obsession, anxiety, anger and ADD as well as other mental illnesses. Dr. Henslin also successfully argues the case for compassion for people suffering what may likely be a brain problem and not simply sin or rebellion as those in the church are apt to think.

He offers practical treatments and specific therapies for specific problems through supplements and medications, nutrition, music, exercise and Scripture. While I was not entirely convinced that supplements and nutrition can make a difference and I usually consider psychotherapy to be hocus-pocus, feel-good stuff I have to admit that the case presented by Dr. Henslin seems fairly reasonable and bears consideration. Some of his examples of patients seemed a little too good to be true but overall if you or someone you know suffer from any kind of mental issue this book is certainly worth the read.