Michael Rousell has written a fascinating guide to harnessing the unexpected that draws on everything from cutting-edge neuroscience to the techniques of standup comics. Read this book to learn how to identify, activate, and deploy surprise in your work and your life.
— Daniel H. Pink, author of “When,” “Drive,” and “To Sell Is Human”
A fascinating book. The Power of Surprise shows what most of us miss about moments that change us. You’ll never see surprise the same way again.
— Jonah Berger, New York Times Best-selling author of “The Catalyst,” “Contagious,” and “Invisible Influence”
This book provides an incredibly accurate and practical description of how our brain turns raw information into creative ideas to help us survive and thrive. We learn, we build beliefs, we turn them into memories, and then we go through life on autopilot. Those beliefs turn into biases that hinder our ability to be creative, productive, and happy. How do you get over these neurological roadblocks? Seek out surprises, because in those surprising moments both you and your brain have a golden opportunity to turn limiting beliefs and biases into a life filled with discovery and joy. Through delightful storytelling, the author brilliantly gives the reader new tools for using surprise strategically to create new life-enhancing experiences, avoiding destructive influences. A rare and enjoyably readable book on the neuroscience of personal transformation. Highly, highly recommended for anyone!
— Mark Robert Waldman, executive MBA faculty, Loyola Marymount University (2009-2019) and coauthor of “Born to Believe” and the bestseller “How God Changes Your Brain”
In The Power of Surprise, Michael Rousell shares his insights into the ways in which little surprises about ourselves transform our lives. Rousell, a PhD psychologist with 40 years of experience as a teacher and counselor, demystifies the power of surprise and its complexity and shows us how to use surprise strategically to improve lives. Surprise, we learn, is more subtle that being startled and more lasting than being shocked. Rousell shows how surprise works behind the curtain of our consciousness to change beliefs and behavior by changing the ways we see ourselves and the world. Well written and clear, The Power of Surprise helps us understand our emotions and cognitive biases and offers several and artful tips to harness surprise at just the right moment.
— Edwin Battistella, author of “Dangerous Crooked Scoundrels”
Rousell writes about the power of surprise in a lucid, scientific, and accessible way. He brings the science to life with a plethora of examples that entertain, inform, and educate the reader. This book is full of wonderful stories of how surprise can uplift the human spirit and provide hope out of the depths of despair. The desperate caller to the Manhattan Suicide Prevention Hotline who is surprised to hear that the volunteer actually cares whether they jump off the Brooklyn bridge is testimony to the life-saving social power of surprise. Channeling positive thought and energy out of deeply emotional surprises and wiring them into our consciousness can ultimately result in a more positive, more resilient self-image. Rousell’s book is a timely gift in a fast-changing world where people are feeling increasingly uncertain and anxious. Having a strong sense of self, shaped by beliefs, molded by emotional events, and sculpted by surprises can help people be more emotionally resilient and deal with change more confidently. The Power of Surprise should be read by the widest possible audience. It has the power to improve people’s mental heath and well-being in the increasingly uncertain times we are living in.
— Nick Marson, author of "Leading by Coaching"
As a scientist and mindfulness teacher, I firmly believe that surprise, either positive or negative, is one of the best teaching moments in our life. Nonetheless, because its lost in unawareness and trapped in wrong beliefs, we often miss its potentially transformative power. In his book, The Power of Surprise, Michael Rousell brilliantly outlines several principles about surprise that each person—who has a certain hunger to learn—must reflect on. He also creatively explains how to ‘play with’ surprises along the bumpy road of our life in order to promote a successful growth mindset. I truly enjoyed reading this inspiring book and I recommend it to everyone.
— Silvia Papalini, PhD, Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KULeuven, Belgium
The Power of Surprise is full of powerful ideas about how we come to be who we are and how to engineer small revolutions in our own identities. This book will help you better understand the people around you and, if you let it, it will help you become a better version of yourself.
— Tania Luna, coauthor of “Surprise: Embrace the Unpredictable and Engineer the Unexpected”
Fascinating read chock full of lots of truly novel information and ideas. A great exploration of how life’s surprises transform your brain and your life. A must-read for anyone interested in enriching their lives and finding new ways to expand their mind.
— Andrew Newberg, MD, best-selling author of “Why We Believe What We Believe”
If you want to break up with stress for good, learn how to fuel your brain with The Power of Surprise, living a life that is both amazing and amusing even in the most challenging times.
— Heidi Hanna, New York Times Best-selling author of “The Sharp Solution, Stressaholic and Recharge”