Simple

“For years, I’ve argued that our bodies hold wisdom our minds have learned to override. Kristina Durante makes the same case for our entire evolved psychology. Simple is impossible to put down. Kristina writes with the authority of a scientist and the candor of someone who has lived what she’s studying. Once you see her secrets to living well in these pages, you won’t be able to unsee them.” —Amy Cuddy, New York Times bestselling author of Presence and Bullied

“The bad news is that our brains are misaligned with the modern world. The good news is that we can fix this. The best news is that Kristina Durante’s wonderful book, Simple, shows us how.” —Arthur C. Brooks, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Meaning of Your Life

"We have been told that wellness is something we can optimize and cold plunge our way toward. Dr. Durante offers a far more hopeful truth: that much of what we need has been wired into us for hundreds of thousands of years. Smart, generous, and beautifully written, Simple helps us understand why modern life can leave us feeling so unwell and points us towards a more human path back to connection, mattering, and joy.” —Jennifer Breheny Wallace, New York Times bestselling author of Mattering

"A fascinating science lesson, a deeply vulnerable personal journey, and a practical guide to living better, all in one. Simple shifted my worldview, and I suspect it will shift yours, too!"—Dolly Chugh, author of The Person You Mean to Be and The Good Boss Project

“Why, despite all the conveniences of modern life, do so many of us feel stressed, disconnected, and unfulfilled? In Simple, Kristina Durante draws on evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and well-being science to offer a compelling answer. Filled with illuminating research, memorable stories, and practical insights, this book will help readers create lives that better fit the minds we inherited.” —Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness

“I loved this book. With the insight of an evolutionary psychologist and the warmth and vulnerability of a gifted storyteller, Durante reveals a truth hiding in plain sight: anxiety, exhaustion, loneliness, and a lack of fulfillment aren’t signs that something is wrong with us. In response, Simple offers something much more valuable than another prescription for self-improvement. It is the rare book that changes the way you see both your own life and the world around you.” —Sarah Hill, author of This is Your Brain on Birth Control and The Period Brain

“As an evolutionary psychologist, Dr. Durante is just the person to explain how the modern world has out-evolved our brains and what we can do to not just keep up but thrive. A rare book that is both scientifically rigorous and potentially life-changing.”—Cassie Holmes, author of Happier Hour

"In Simple, Kristina Durante brings to life the profound mismatch between our evolutionary heritage and the demands of modern living. She offers a fresh perspective on why we so often feel stressed, disconnected, and unfulfilled—and how we might reclaim the connection, purpose, and pleasure that make life meaningful. Full of practical wisdom, Simple reminds us that living better may begin with understanding the nature we have inherited." —Michael Platt, Director of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative and author of The Leader’s Brain

“Our brains evolved in a world of close relationships, shared responsibilities, and mutual dependence. Today, we often find ourselves isolated, overstimulated, and searching for meaning. Kristina Durante explains this disconnect and provides a roadmap for reconnecting with what matters.” —Jay Van Bavel, author of The Power of Us