The Upside of Stress

March 30, 2015
Most people experience stress, and many, if not most, regard it as a destructive, unhealthy force. Yet McGonigal (The Willpower Instinct) believes that this belief actually does more harm than good. In her thought-provoking and thoroughly researched self-help book, she proposes that thinking about stress positively has the potential to extend life and make it more enjoyable. She suggests that our approach to stress affects our actions, and that a healthy mindset, where one accepts stress and uses it to do better, makes for healthy behavior. The stress response triggers hormones that can help people to do better—to function at peak performance, spark social interactions, and learn effectively in new situations. Stress might actually be viewed as necessary for creating a meaningful life. The plainspoken, sensible McGonigal addresses herself to skeptical readers, admitting freely that she was unconvinced when first presented with this view. By citing numerous scientific studies and offering plenty of thought-changing exercises, McGonigal persuasively demonstrates why people should start thinking differently about their stress. Agent: Ted Weinstein, Ted Weinstein Literary Management.