{"product_id":"the-unexpected-joy-of-the-ordinary","title":"The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e                                                   **From the Sunday Times Bestselling Author**\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLife-affirming  - THE TELEGRAPH\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWonderful - INDEPENDENT\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eShe made it her mission to learn how to be default happy rather than default disgruntled - RADIO 4 - WOMAN'S HOUR\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTake a leaf out of Gray's book and be kinder to yourself by appreciating life just as it is - IRISH TIMES\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis book came to me in an hour of need - during lockdown when I had to focus on the positive appreciate simple things not lose my shit and value each day. It was a pure joy for me and held my hand\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cb\u003eSADIE FROST\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eInteresting and joyful. Lights a path that could help us to build resilience against society's urging to compare life milestones with peers - LANCET PSYCHIATRY\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUnderwhelmed by your ordinary existence? Disillusioned with your middlin' wage average body 'bijou' living situation and imperfect loved ones?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWelcome to the club. There are billions of us. The 'default disenchanted'.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut it's not us being brats. Two deeply inconvenient psychological phenomenons conspire against our satisfaction. We have negatively-biased brains which zoom like doom-drones in on what's wrong with our day rather than what's right. (Back in the mists of time this negative bias saved our skins but now it just makes us anxious). Also something called the 'hedonic treadmill' means we eternally quest for better faster more like someone stuck on a dystopian never-ending treadmill. \u003cbr\u003eThankfully there are scientifically-proven ways in which we can train our brains to be more positive-seeking. And to take a rest from this tireless pursuit. Whew.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCatherine Gray knits together illuminating science and hilarious storytelling unveiling captivating research showing that big bucks\u003ci\u003e don't \u003c\/i\u003emean big happiness extraordinary experiences have a 'comedown' and budget weddings predict a lower chance of divorce. She reminds us what an average body actually is reveals that exercising for weight loss means we do \u003ci\u003eless exercise\u003c\/i\u003e and explores the modern tendency to not just try to keep up with the Murphys but keep up with the Mega-Murphies (see: the social media elite).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCome on in to this soulful and life-affirming read to discover why an ordinary life may well be the most satisfying one of all.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePRAISE FOR CATHERINE GRAY'S WRITING:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Uplifting and inspiring\"\u003cb\u003e - \u003ci\u003eThe Evening Standard \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Not remotely preachy\"\u003cb\u003e - \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Jaunty shrewd and convincing\" \u003cb\u003e- \u003ci\u003eThe Telegraph \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Admirably honest light bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying\" \u003cb\u003e- \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"\u003c\/i\u003eAn empathetic warm and hilarious tale from a hugely likeable human\" \u003cb\u003e- \u003ci\u003eThe Lancet Psychiatry\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u0026gt;","brand":"Oxfordbookstore","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44787490619571,"sku":"9781783253371","price":840.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4164\/4723\/files\/blk_imp_17477375019781783253371.jpg?v=1762820235","url":"https:\/\/oxfordbookstore.com\/products\/the-unexpected-joy-of-the-ordinary","provider":"Oxfordbookstore ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}