GAIN Without Pain: The Happiness Handbook for Health Care Professionals

I read lots of books on happiness and raising children. After all we should all strive to be better parents. While this book is not a parenting book, it discusses the stress that the modern parent faces and why it is important that we take care of ourselves. Because if we can not be happy, how are we to able to teach our children.Healthcare workers not only have to face the stress of work, divorce, and finance, they have added stress of dealing with patients that are fighting for their lives. It would have seem like the author had a perfect life as a Stanford professor, physician, and innovator, but beneath the surface he has experience some of the worst tragedies a person can face. The book describes the many intimate moments including when he learned of his son’s death. By sharing these moments and the techniques he uses to find happiness, we can have a better life.The book also includes discussions with other experts which is informative. Overall, It is well written, and I highly recommend it for anyone in healthcare especially during the stressful COVID-19 times. .

Reading this book was a great experience. It was beautifully written. You can tell that there was a lot of thought that went into writing this book. It was so insightful and makes you think about life a bit differently. If you’re angry and upset with a loved one, you won’t be after reading this. Not the kind of feeling that you’re obligated to make up because you don’t want things to be weird but the kind of feeling that makes you feel like whatever you were mad about weren’t all that serious. I highly recommend it.

I am grateful to Dr. Hammer for this book. I recommend it to anyone who works in the medical and healing professions. Especially now, amidst the pandemic, self care, mindfulness, and finding joy and meaning in every moment and in every professional interaction is critical. And the capacity self-forgiveness is even more important and healing. I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child. His work to heal himself and to share his journey and path were inspiring. The book is honest, easy to read, accessible, and necessary. It is a book every physician should read and bring into their practices and their lives.

Greg Hammer and leading experts present a compelling book to help health professionals curb the cycle of stress and burnout, and find happiness in everyday life. His GAIN method is a simple yet powerful mindfulness approach to begin each day with a grateful heart and resilient mindset to tackle the demands and joys of life. With the 2020 global pandemic and our fast paced lifestyles, this book is an essential toolkit. The evidence-based research and engaging stories and interviews provide a pathway to navigate work and life with more joy and ease.

Dr. Greg Hammer has written a deeply personal, moving and insightful book about the life journey many of us have experienced and often struggle to understand and come to terms with. Through the true events of his own life, seismic and mundane, he describes his own prescription for self-awareness, equanimity, and deep appreciation of the life we are given. His simple program, as a guide to happiness and fulfillment, embodies fundamental elements of many traditions, philosophies, and practices that help to find joy in the pressured environment of professional life.

A must read for all health care workers. Especially during these challenging times. Dr Hammer’s approach with GAIN suggests great ways one can use during daily practice.I highly recommend this excellent book.It is very well written and even after a long day you’ll always find the energy to read a few pages!Thanks

GAIN provides a great way to tackle not only stressors that healthcare workers deal with in their line of work, but also good to incorporate on a daily! I share the steps of GAIN with friends and family who find it to be an easy way to implement peace of mind and minimize burn-out.

Once you start reading this book, it is difficult to put it down! Greg's insight and knowledge are amazing. I especially recommend this book if you work in the health care field. This book is great especially during these difficult times that we are all going through in this pandemic.