Wiser

Book excerpt: From the field's pioneer, an exploration of the neurobiology and psychology of wisdom: what science says it is and how to nurture it within yourself, at any stage of your life What exactly does it mean to be "wise?" And is it possible to grow—and even accelerate—its unfolding? The modern epidemics of suicides, opioid abuse, loneliness, and internet addiction are damaging people’s health and destroying the social fabric. This book shows how you can take control of your life by increasing your wisdom. For over two decades, Dilip Jeste, MD, has led the search for the biological and cognitive roots of wisdom. What's emerged from his work is that wisdom is a very real and deeply multi-layered set of traits. Across many cultures and centuries, he's found that wise people are: Compassionate and empathetic; aware of their gifts and blind spots; open-minded; resolute and calm amid uncertainty; altruistic decision-makers who learn from their experiences; able to see from many perspectives and "altitudes"; and often blessed with a sense of adventure and humor. If you seek to be a wiser person—with your family, at work, and in your community—here's the place to start, with the researcher who's launched and advanced this exciting new path to our highest human potential.