
The Rabbit Effect
Live Longer, Happier, and Healthier with the Groundbreaking Science of Kindness
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Narrated by:
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Kelli Harding
About this listen
This groundbreaking and life-changing work based on the latest research effectively demonstrates “the profound impact that love, connection, and kindness have on our health” (Mark Williamson, PhD, director of Action for Happiness).
When Columbia University doctor Kelli Harding began her clinical practice, she never intended to explore the invisible factors behind our health. But then there were the rabbits. In 1978, a seemingly straightforward experiment designed to establish the relationship between high blood cholesterol and heart health in rabbits discovered that kindness — in the form of a particularly nurturing post-doc who pet and spoke to the lab rabbits as she fed them — made the difference between a heart attack and a healthy heart.
As Dr. Kelli Harding reveals in this eye-opening book, the rabbits were just the beginning of a much larger story. Groundbreaking new research shows that love, friendship, community, and our environment can have a greater impact on our health than anything that happens in the doctor’s office. For instance, chronic loneliness can be as unhealthy as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day; napping regularly can decrease one’s risk of heart disease; and people with purpose are less likely to get sick. At once paradigm-shifting and empowering, The Rabbit Effect illuminates vital public health research showing kindness in our day-to-day lives can make the “world a healthier, happier place. I recommend this book highly for anyone who wants to live more healthfully” (Christy Turlington Burns, and CEO of Every Mother Counts).
©2019 Kelli Harding (P)2019 Simon & Schuster AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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What listeners say about The Rabbit Effect
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Overall
- Megan Moses
- 12-04-21
Absolutely love this!!
I have so many personal examples in my life that prove love and connection to be a true gift of health. let's do our part and share love and kindness!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Gabi T
- 04-10-23
Wonderful book
A book that has led me to expand my thinking about medicine, community and human connections. Excellent book!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 08-15-21
good book
Somewhat technical but it was well done. Left me with alot to think about. good book
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- Krystal Bateman
- 09-04-21
Read this one ASAP
I absolutely loved this book! Words couldn’t do it justice. Its my opinion everyone should read it!
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- Karlene K. Petitt
- 01-29-23
Amazing
Everyone should read this book. It’s one of the best I’ve read… and has impacted my life. Will change my heath. And has inspired me to help change the world. Phenomenal. Filled with gratitude that my sister, a nurse, was required to read it and I decided… what the heck… truly life changing.
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1 person found this helpful
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- K. Young
- 06-14-21
I Care
As a retired nurse I could appreciate the message expressed. I miss the work and the people, both staff and patients. It was always my desire to make a difficult time easier regardless of the outcome. The final bit regarding her mother and son brought a lump to my throat. Thank you for an inspiring message.
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- Joyce Goodale
- 09-15-19
Content vs Delivery
The lifestyle discoveries within are SO important, illuminating and of immeasurable help to all of us who desire to become the best we can be. Unfortunately, listening to the book being read AT me by the author spoiled what could have been an outstanding experience. I found her voice unpleasant and made the worse by her plodding cadence along with the apparent stressing of “important “points, that I couldn’t listen for long periods. I would suggest another edition in which the author try lowering her pitch and narrating as though she were talking to an audience naturally. .Or she could find a good narrator...I prefer soothing male voices myself.
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13 people found this helpful
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- Taunee Ross Hollingsworth
- 02-27-22
Powerful content, excellent narration
I recommend this book to anyone working to improve themselves, impact lives of their loved ones, and those looking for clarity of the path and how to get there.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Sid
- 11-28-19
“Your company won’t love you back.”
If you like learning through stories, and you like the idea of pursuing a happier life by making easy changes that you previously just hadn't happened to think about, then you'll really love reading this book. And if you've been promising yourself to start meditating for years but haven't gotten around to it, maybe go ahead and read this book first instead (which I highly recommend), because the net benefit from the lessons I'm taking away are probably worth a decade of meditation in terms of improved mental health, perspective, and happiness.
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9 people found this helpful
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- jvo
- 08-24-21
I ... cried??
I thoroughly enjoyed Kelli's story as well as the science she shared along the way.
As a notoriously distracted listener, I easily followed along with one ear, always getting the gist despite my multitasking but making a mental note that I should really be jotting some of this stuff down. While there is one major point throughout the book - emotional health begets health - I enjoyed the various side quests embarked on in order to truly internalize this message. Kelli shares study after interesting study in her sweet, strong tone... and surprisingly I found myself in tears as her voice micro-cracks during a personal anecdote at the finish. I often get impatient with personal tidbits, as they often serve to add depth to the author when I am just really in it for some take-away knowledge. In this case, I feel like Kelli's personal experiences helped me grow my own perspective and incorporate the new information in a more meaningful way.
I hadn't expected to end this audiobook crying at the beach, thanking goodness for the sunglasses that I hope no one can see through. Maybe I'm just having a weird day, but this was a great listening experience for me.
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1 person found this helpful