From Robert Waldinger—legendary happiness researcher, psychiatrist, and Zen master—a small book about a big idea: how a shift in perspective can transform your life

“A masterclass in perspective, acceptance, and finding happiness where you least expect it.” —Mel Robbins

"A must-read for anyone who is seeking clarity, purpose, and peace within themselves.” —Jay Shetty

We all want to be happy. It can feel like a personal failing when we are not, and so we seek out things to fix, both within ourselves and the people around us. If only this were different, things would be better, we think. And yet, the frenzied pursuit of happiness makes us more unhappy. Instead, the answer is hiding right in front of us, and we can learn to see it.

Dr. Robert Waldinger is a singular figure. He directs the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest-running study of happiness ever conducted. He has spent decades as a psychiatrist practicing psychotherapy. And he is a Zen master, with many thousands of hours spent on the meditation cushion, looking inward.


Waldinger’s therapy patients, the participants in the Harvard Study, and his Zen practice all point to the same universal truths: Life is less about what happens and more about how we meet what happens. Being “Zen” does not mean stoically tamping down uncomfortable or painful feelings but turning toward them. A wandering mind is a dissatisfied mind, while giving your undivided attention to who and what you love is the key to feeling more fully alive. And contentment comes when we focus less on the results of our life and more on the process of living.

Anchored by the stories of everyday people who have led lives of extraordinary resilience and growth, and filled with actionable practices you can apply every day to your own life, Nothing to Fix is a revelatory exploration of the science and spirituality of human happiness.