{"title":"Series: The Unexpected Joy Of","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 'The Unexpected Joy Of' series is a refreshing collection of books found within the Self-Help \u0026amp; Personal Development category. These books, including titles like \u003cem\u003eThe Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary\u003c\/em\u003e, offer insightful and uplifting perspectives on embracing the often-overlooked aspects of daily life. With a warm and conversational tone, each book in this series provides practical advice and heart-warming stories that inspire readers to find happiness in the ordinary and build a more fulfilling life. Whether you're looking to appreciate the simple moments or seeking a new route to personal growth, this series is your perfect companion on the journey to unexpected joy.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-unexpected-joy-of-the-ordinary","title":"The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Life-affirming' - \u003ci\u003eTHE TELEGRAPH\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Wonderful' - \u003ci\u003eINDEPENDENT\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'She made it her mission to learn how to be default happy rather than default disgruntled' - RADIO 4 - \u003ci\u003eWOMAN'S HOUR\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Take a leaf out of Gray's book and be kinder to yourself by appreciating life just as it is' - \u003ci\u003eIRISH TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'This 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' - SADIE FROST\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Interesting and joyful. Lights a path that could help us to build resilience against society's urging to compare life milestones with peers' - \u003ci\u003eLANCET PSYCHIATRY\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUnderwhelmed by your ordinary existence? Disillusioned with your middlin' wage, average body, 'bijou' living situation and imperfect loved ones? Welcome to the club. There are billions of us. The 'default disenchanted'. But, it's not us being brats. Two deeply inconvenient psychological phenomena 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. Thankfully, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCatherine Gray knits together illuminating science and hilarious storytelling, unveiling captivating research showing that big bucks \u003ci\u003edon't\u003c\/i\u003e mean 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).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\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. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45714402836716,"sku":"9781783256044","price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781783256044.jpg?v=1726006724"},{"product_id":"the-unexpected-joy-of-being-sober-by-catherine-gray-9781912023387","title":"The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Truthful, modern and real' - \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eStylist\u003c\/em\u003e magazine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Hilarious, sharp, spitfire writing' - \u003cem\u003eSacha Z. Scoblic, Senior Editor at \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Atlantic\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e and author of \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eUNWASTED: MY LUSH SOBRIETY\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEver sworn off alcohol for a month and found yourself drinking by the 7th? Think there's 'no point' in just one drink? Welcome! There are millions of us. 64% of Brits want to drink less.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatherine Gray\u003c\/strong\u003e was stuck in a hellish whirligig of Drink, Make horrible decisions, Hangover, Repeat. She had her fair share of 'drunk tank' jail cells and topless-in-a-hot-tub misadventures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut this book goes beyond the binges and blackouts to deep-dive into uncharted territory: What happens after you quit drinking? This \u003cstrong\u003egripping, heart-breaking and witty\u003c\/strong\u003e book takes us down the rabbit-hole of an alternative reality. A life with zero hangovers, through sober weddings, sex, Christmases and breakups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Unexpected Joy of Being Sober\u003c\/em\u003e, Catherine Gray shines a light on society's drink-pushing and talks to top neuroscientists and psychologists about why we drink, delving into the science behind what it does to our brains and bodies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMuch more than a tale from the netherworld of addicted drinking, this book is about the escape, and why a sober life can be more intoxicating than you ever imagined. Whether you're a hopelessly devoted drinker, merely sober-curious, or you've already ditched the drink, \u003cstrong\u003eyou will love this book\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A riveting, raw, yet humorous memoir with actionable advice. A truly unique blend of storytelling and science that holds a universe of hope.' - \u003cstrong\u003eAnnie Grace, author of \u003cem\u003eTHIS NAKED MIND\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'This book is a gamechanger. Everyone deserves to have Catherine hold their hand as they navigate the new world of not drinking - whether exploring alcohol-free periods or going for full-on sobriety - and this book enables just that. Wise, funny \u0026amp; so relatable.' - \u003cstrong\u003eLaurie, Girl and Tonic blogger\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853551915244,"sku":"9781912023387","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20988153482868.jpg?v=1759208377"},{"product_id":"the-unexpected-joy-of-being-single-by-catherine-gray-9781912023813","title":"The Unexpected Joy of Being Single","description":"* 'This refreshing, unusual book needs to exist. A culture shift which repositions a single person as someone who is relationship-free, complete, and not lacking is long overdue.' - \u003ci\u003eThe i *\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eHaving a secret single freak-out? Feeling the red, heart-shaped urgency intensify as the years roll on by? Oh hi! You're in the right place.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOver half of Brits aged 25-44 are now single. It's become the norm to remain solo until much later in life, given the average marriage ages of 35 (women) and 38 (men). Many of us are choosing never to marry at all. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut society, films, song lyrics and our parents are adamant that a happy ending has to be couple-shaped. That we're incomplete without an 'other half'*, like a bisected panto pony. Cue: single sorrow. Dating like it's a job. Spending half our lives waiting for somebody-we-fancy to text us back. Feeling haunted by the terms 'spinster' or 'confirmed bachelor.'\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCatherine Gray took a whole year off dating to find single satisfaction. She lifted the lid on the reasons behind the global single revolution, explored the bizarre ways cultures single-shame, detached from 'all the good ones are gone!' panic and debunked the myth that married people are much happier.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eLet's start the reverse brainwash, in order to locate - and luxuriate in - single happiness. Are you in?\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e*Spoiler: you're already whole\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003ePRAISE FOR CATHERINE GRAY'S WRITING:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Fascinating.\" Bryony Gordon.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Not remotely preachy.\" \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Jaunty, shrewd and convincing.\" \u003ci\u003eThe Telegraph \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying.\" \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Truthful, modern and real.\"\u003ci\u003e Stylist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Brave, witty and brilliantly written.\" \u003ci\u003eMarie Claire\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Haunting, admirable and enlightening.\"\u003ci\u003e The Pool \u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47363194454252,"sku":"9781912023813","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20992413482868.jpg?v=1772918246"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/series-the-unexpected-joy-of.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}