You’re a Miracle (And a Pain in the Ass): Embracing the Emotions, Habits, and Mystery That Make You You

McHargue (Finding God in the Waves), cohost of The Liturgists podcast and host of the Ask Science Mike podcast, offers answers in this cheery, instructive work to age-old questions of why humans do what they do and why people do things they know that they shouldn’t. As McHargue sums up in his introduction, “what’s good for us later fights what feels good right now.” To show why that is, he digs into behavioral science, covering the evolution and structure of the brain (which evolved to respond to threats), what part instinct plays in making decisions, the creation of feelings and emotions, and finally the effects of technology on human decision making. He also digs into consciousness and his interpretation of the “dated” left brain/right brain debate. In his summaries of complex scientific principles and studies, McHargue includes plenty of humor and personal stories that reveal the underlying science and create an approachable tone. Particularly insightful chapters cover the psychology of eating choices and how to change behaviors toward more sustainable practices. Fans of popular science will enjoy this breezy overview of the current state of behavioral science research. (Apr.)