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

To respond to the age-old conundrum of why we do what we don’t want to do and don’t do what we want to do, scientist, podcaster (Ask Science Mike), and author (Finding God in the Waves) McHargue offers some answers. He delves into the interplay of impulses, emotions, and environment to describe how the brain operates, the invisible rails that guide thoughts, and the way one’s past remains present. He then describes different theories of the mind, such as accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy and pulls the argument together. Though parts of the narrative may seem too academic, the resulting overall read is anything but. The author relates his own struggles and offers readers examples of opportunities to grow and practice self-acceptance as fellow travelers in the journey of life.