innerstrife

This Is Your Brain on Joy: A Revolutionary Program for Balancing Mood, Restoring Brain Health, and Nurturing Spiritual Growth. By Dr. Earl Henslin. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, 2008. 243 pp.

Dr. Earl Henslin is a licensed counselor who has an obvious passion for restoring joy in the lives of his patients and his readers. He has partnered with Dr. Daniel G. Amen, MD to learn more about how we can combine the science behind the SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography) and a therapeutic understanding of the brain from a counselor’s perspective.

I have long been a fan of Dr. Amen and his ground-breaking research into understanding why our brains work the way they do. His works on ADD entitled Healing ADD and Change Your Brain, Change Your Life had a profound impact on me and my wife. As a result, when Thomas Nelson asked me to read and review Dr. Henslin’s latest book, I jumped at the opportunity!

Dr. Henslin has divided his book into three primary sections. The first five chapters deal primarily with some background on why the book was written as well as some very technical information on how the brain works, and what areas of the brain impact different areas of our emotional and psychological well being. Herein lies one of the many strengths of this book. Dr. Henslin has written this book in such a way that the very complex information he is relating is done in a very understandable way. I am confident that my 10 year old daughter would have no problem reading this section, and explaining to me what each of the different issues are. Dr. Henslin closes this first section with a discussion on “joy-boosters”. Everything from pharmacology to movies, food to prayer is discussed. It is amazing what a change in diet can do for our emotional well being!

In second section of the book the author explains in detail the different sections of the brain he explored in chapter three. In a very clear, entertaining style he talks about very specific things we can do to improve our brain health for each of these brain centers. I particularly enjoyed the discussion about the prefrontal cortex (wrestling with ADD) and the deep limbic system (dealing with depression). It is so refreshing to see a well researched medical book written from a biblical, Christian perspective!

Finally, Dr. Henslin concludes his book with a chapter entitled, “An Apostle on Joy: The Real Secret.” In this chapter he does a study in joy in the book of Philippians, uncovering 6 “Secrets to Joy”. A great study, and an excellent capstone to this book.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone and everyone who wrestles with finding joy and contentment. Dr. Earl Henslin demonstrates the wisdom in an integrated approach between Psychology and Spirituality. I look forward to sharing this book with my wife, and making some changes as we seek to live life the way God intended – filled with the Spirit, possessing peace and finding joy.

Soli Deo Gloria