Dan Harris may claim some obscure “longest title” award for his 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works — A True Story. I happened to have opted for the audio version (proudly borrowed from the public library database), which turned out to be conducive to his writing style and pretty entertaining. His tone is casual, almost like chatting with you over a pint. A bit autobiographical, Harris spends effort outlining his background and career progression from small market local news to big time network anchor. He candidly recounts the darker side of his ascension: a burgeoning drug habit coupled with an aggressive winner-take-all approach to interpersonal relationships. He remembers getting feedback from a manager, who described him as “an asshole that nobody likes.” Personal insecurities and drug abuse smashed together with a pressure cooker corporate environment take its toll, eventually culminating in an on-air public meltdown. He has a panic attack on live television, struggling to breathe let alone speak words cogently into the camera.
