Exclusive Preview: Unveiling the Details of My Upcoming Book

First installment of a series on book publishing

This is the first in a series of exclusive posts on the next book I am publishing. It will be more transparent than anything I’ve written on my life as an author. To get started, here’s a quick retrospective on my first three books.

Book I.

My debut came out unexpectedly. A New York Times reporter, curious about a college course I created titled the Science of Well-Being in 2004, shadowed me for a semester. This resulted in a front-page feature in the Sunday Magazine, titled Happiness 101 (here). The 2007 backlash to well-being science, amusing now, was quite a spectacle then:

Shortly after the New York Times published this piece, my inbox was flooded with literary agents and publishers asking me to write a book. I had a fresh Ph.D. in Psychology, barely three years in. Ready? Not quite. But I couldn't resist. So I authored book on a subject I’ve studied for decades - curiosity. If interested, you can find related articles - here.

Such an underappreciated psychological strength

Book II.

A few years later, my colleague Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener and I noticed a glaring issue. The simplistic labeling of emotions as 'positive' and 'negative' didn't align with reality or science. We saw value in traits viewed as negative, like mild narcissism or psychopathy, especially in predictable situations. So, we authored a book about how society is suffering from an excessive focus on positivity, The Upside of Your Dark Side: Why Being Your Whole Self--Not Just Your "Good" Self--Drives Success and Fulfillment. Long before the buzz around toxic positivity, we advocated for embracing wholeness.

Welcome the shadow self, turn it into a powerful ally instead of dodging it

Book III.

A thriving democracy depends on individuals who aren't afraid to voice their concerns, disrupting stagnant traditions for the betterment of society. To help, I gathered scientific findings over the past 60 years to equip readers with tools on what it truly takes to be a persuasive and resolute voice of dissent - even if you lack power or status.

Why does this matter to you? Because we all find ourselves on the periphery at times, advocating for a cause we deeply care about, convinced the majority is misguided. Here’s a fact: Supporting principled dissent unlocks the benefits of diversity.

Healthy dissent is the lifeblood of wise groups

Which Brings Us to Now - Book IV.

Time to unveil the subject of my next book. As a premium Provoked subscriber, you get an all-access pass. Why? Because your feedback will help shape this book. Plus, you'll gain insights into the raw emotions, insights, failures, successes, and lessons of my mission (and a wacky publishing world).

Time to reveal the title. And the name of my co-author. And why I am compelled to write on this topic over any other…