We are all born egocentric. As children we see the world almost entirely from our own perspective. As we grow, we learn that other people have their own perspectives, and we also learn that we can adopt their perspectives to get along. We become more allocentric: more aware of the views, wants and needs of others.

But many of us don’t achieve a healthy balance of egocentrism and allocentrism. What the science...

We are all born egocentric. As children we see the world almost entirely from our own perspective. As we grow, we learn that other people have their own perspectives, and we also learn that we can adopt their perspectives to get along. We become more allocentric: more aware of the views, wants and needs of others.

But many of us don’t achieve a healthy balance of egocentrism and allocentrism. What the science of happiness tells us is that achieving this balance is key to our wellbeing as adults. When we are too egocentric we become overly concerned with our inadequacies, compare ourselves constantly with others, and fail to see the good in our lives. We become the victim of our ego and we allow it to control us. But we can change for the better.

Professor Bruce Hood draws on his expertise in child development, neuroscience and positive psychology to tell a radical new story about the roots of well-being and the obstacles that lie in our path. In this illuminating and inspiring book, he shows how we can harness the findings of the science of happiness to live sustainably happier lives.