Hacking Happiness: How to Leverage Evolutionary Biology to Live the Good Life - Dr. Gad Saad : 1091

In today's episode, we're joined by Dr. Gad Saad, a professor of marketing at Concordia University's John Molson School of Business. More significantly, Dr. Saad has spent a decade as the research chair in evolutionary behavioral sciences and Darwinian consumption.

Beyond his extensive research and academic accolades, Dr. Saad reaches out to a broader audience, sharing his insights through his popular blog, YouTube channel, and podcast. As someone deeply interested in challenging harmful ideologies, I've taken note of his impactful book, The Parasitic Mind. Today, I'm particularly eager to delve into the findings of his latest release, The Saad Truth About Happiness.

In our discussion centered around his newest book, we delve into the evolutionary aspects of happiness. As someone who's written extensively on longevity and aims to live to at least 180, I believe in the importance of happiness as a skill. With Dr. Saad, we explore living the life you truly desire, the role of anti-fragility in happiness, and the inherent biological differences in male and female behaviors. 

It's crucial, especially in today's climate, to understand the triggers that may be rooted in our biology or false belief systems. Drawing from personal experiences, I can vouch for the invaluable insights in Dr. Saad's book. Listeners, it's a must-read for those keen on understanding and cultivating happiness.

(03:50) Decision-Making in Relationships & Academia

• Must-have ingredients for happiness

• The impact of your relationship on happiness

• When do you make the decision to decouple from a relationship?

• How statistical decision theory applies to academia

• Read: The Parasitic Mind by Dr. Gad Saad 

• The garage band effect that occurs in academia that prevents action-taking

• Why academics who go on the Joe Rogan Experience are ridiculed by peers

• Read: The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene

• Behind the scenes of our interviews on Joe Rogan’s podcast

• Joe Rogan Experience #275 - Dave Asprey

• Joe Rogan Experience # 2012 - Dr. Gad Saad

• Happiness in moderation vs. living high on life

(19:40) Perfectionism, Criticism & The Genetics of Happiness

• Navigating the inverted U curve for perfectionism

• Handling the two groups of critics

• The Science Behind Just One Mold Toxin in your Coffee by Dave Asprey

• The genetics of happiness 

• Applying the psychometric scale of internal vs. external locus of control to happiness

• How our evolutionary behaviors can become maladaptive in modern society

• Exploring how having children impacts happiness 

• What the research shows about how to choose a long term partner 

(47:10) Evolutionary Insights on Mating, Cheating & Play

• The evolutionary roots of sexual variety seeking 

• Why certain cultures tolerate women on the side more than other cultures 

• The impact of birth control and hormonal changes on fertility and attraction

• Read: The Mating Mind by Geoffrey Miller

• The link between the ovulatory cycle and women's beautification

• What increases men’s testosterone: a study providing context for the mid-life crisis

• Why play is essential for happiness 

• The re-education of Jordan Peterson

• Read: The Saad Truth About Happiness by Dr. Gad Saad

Resources

Dave Asprey’s NEW Book ‘Smarter Not Harder’ is out now: https://daveasprey.com/books 

Website: gadsaad.com

Read: The Parasitic Mind by Dr. Gad Saad

Read: The Saad Truth About Happiness by Dr. Gad Saad

X: @GadSaad

Podcast: The Saad Truth

YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCLH7qUqM0PLieCVaHA7RegA

Instagram: @doctorgadsaad

Facebook: acebook.com/Dr.Gad.Saad

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/gad-saad

The Human Upgrade is produced by Crate Media.

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