Parking Lot Construction: As part of our ongoing work to maintain and improve Central Library, the parking lot will be closed for construction from Tuesday, July 28, to Saturday, August 1. Visit the Central Library page for more details. 

CLOSURE: Central Library will be closed Tuesday, July 21, through Saturday, July 25, while emergency repairs are made to the building’s cooling system. We expect to reopen Monday, July 27.

Notice of Public Meeting: Kalamazoo Public Library Board of Trustees | July 27 | 5:30 pm | Central Library/Van Deusen Room. The packet of information for the meeting can be found on the library’s website. 

eAudiobook hoopla Instant

The Future of Happiness

Year

2017

Language

ENGLISH

Duration

5h 34m

Publication Information

Blackstone Publishing

Summary

Technology-at least in theory-is improving our productivity, efficiency, and communication. The one thing it's not doing is making us happier. We are experiencing historically high levels of depression and dissatisfaction. But it doesn't have to be that way. Technology can drive-not diminish-human happiness. Our brains receive 11 million bits of information every second but can only process 40 bits at any given time. Thanks to the latest technology, you have a say in what information you consume. We now have the tools to train our brains to scan the world for the positive, trumping our genes and our environment to reach our full potential. Knowing that technology is here to stay and will continue to evolve in form and function, we need to know how to navigate the future to achieve a better balance between technology, productivity, and wellbeing. In The Future of Happiness, author Amy Blankson, cofounder of the global positive psychology consulting firm GoodThink, unveils five strategies that successful individuals can use to not just survive-but to actually thrive-in the Digital Age: • Stay grounded by managing our use of technology and recognizing that distraction is a choice • Think smaller by using technology as a sixth sense to better understand ourselves and the world around us • Train your brain by utilizing emerging technologies to develop and sustain an optimistic mindset • Create a habitat for happiness by designing our spaces for greater happiness and de-cluttering our environments and minds • Be a conscious innovator by leveraging existing technology to actively shape our future… By rethinking when, where, why and how we use technology, we're not only able to influence our own wellbeing but also help shape the future of our communities. Discover how futuristic technologies can transform the idea of "I'll be happy when …" to your way of being now.

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