Do you keep trying to
fix yourself with the next

Career move?
Relationship?
Self-help book?

What if there was
actually nothing to fix?

The book

From Robert Waldinger — director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, Zen priest, practicing psychiatrist, and New York Times bestselling author of The Good Life.

Why I wrote this book

Video thumbnail

Is this all there is?

The journey to Nothing to Fix

The Question

In 2004, I got an incredible job and everyone, including me, thought I had a great life studying what makes people thrive. Instead, I kept asking myself the quiet question: is this all there is?

The Discovery

After years of Zen meditation, deep immersion in the lives of people in the Harvard Study of Adult Development, countless hours of psychotherapy with people seeking fulfillment; what emerged wasn't a fix, but a change in how I saw things.

The Truth

Over and over again, I discovered that happiness isn’t a destination that we can eventually arrive at and rest in — it’s the way we live, moment to moment.

  • The Question

    In 2004, I got an incredible job and everyone, including me, thought I had a great life studying what makes people thrive. Instead, I kept asking myself the quiet question: is this all there is?

  • The Discovery

    After years of Zen meditation, deep immersion in the lives of people in the Harvard Study of Adult Development, countless hours of psychotherapy with people seeking fulfillment; what emerged wasn't a fix, but a change in how I saw things.

  • The Truth

    Over and over again, I discovered that happiness isn’t a destination that we can eventually arrive at and rest in — it’s the way we live, moment to moment.

“Is this all there is?”

In Nothing to Fix, I bring together the science of the Harvard Study, my decades as a psychiatrist, and what I’ve learned as a Zen teacher to reveal the practices that help us thrive.

What you’ll find in this book

Across ten chapters, drawing on landmark research and the timeless principles of Zen, Nothing to Fix explores:

  • Why our brains are wired for dissatisfaction — and why that means there’s far less wrong with you than you think

  • What more than 85 years of research and more than 40 years of psychotherapy practice reveal about the role of relationships in shaping happiness

  • How to meet others — and yourself — with less judgment and more acceptance

  • How to find aliveness in the most ordinary moments, from doing the dishes to waiting at a stoplight

  • How to stay steady and even find joy in a difficult and uncertain world

About the Author

Dr. Robert Waldinger is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, and a Zen priest. His TED Talk “What Makes a Good Life?” has been watched more than 80 million times — one of the ten most viewed talks ever. He is the author, with Marc Schulz, of the New York Times bestseller The Good Life.

  • Decorative circle
    Zen Priest
    Soto & Rinzai Lineages
  • Decorative circle
    Researcher
    Adult Development
  • Decorative circle
    Psychiatrist
    Board Certified MD
  • Decorative circle
    Global Speaker
    Inspiring good lives
  • Decorative circle
    Zen Priest
    Soto & Rinzai Lineages
  • Decorative circle
    Researcher
    Adult Development
  • Decorative circle
    Psychiatrist
    Board Certified MD
  • Decorative circle
    Global Speaker
    Inspiring good lives

Praise for Nothing to Fix

I have personally learned so much about human thriving from Dr. Robert Waldinger’s research. I admire how he masterfully blends the timeless wisdom of Zen practice with the art of living well and science. Nothing to Fix is a must-read for anyone who is seeking clarity, purpose, and peace within themselves.

Jay Shetty

#1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Like a Monk and host of the On Purpose podcast

Dr. Robert Waldinger has done it again. In Nothing to Fix, he flips the script on everything we think we know about happiness. This isn’t just another self-help book telling you to fix yourself. Instead, Dr. Waldinger shows us that the life we crave is already within reach — it’s about learning to see it clearly. This is a masterclass in perspective, acceptance, and finding happiness where you least expect it. If you’re ready to stop striving and start thriving, Nothing to Fix will show you how.

Mel Robbins

New York Times bestselling author of The Let Them Theory and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast

Dr. Robert Waldinger’s work has had a tremendous influence on me personally. With his mix of modern science and ancient wisdom, he sits at an incredibly fascinating and fruitful intersection, one that has the potential to change the world.

Dan Harris

New York Times bestselling author of 10% Happier, and host of the 10% Happier Podcast

I’m so excited for this book! Dr. Waldinger uniquely combines his expertise on the science of happiness with a deep understanding of ancient traditions. This book will be filled with practical, evidence-based advice on how to live better and will help readers learn to avoid the misconceptions that so many of us have about living a good life.

Laurie Santos

Host of The Happiness Lab podcast

Dr. Waldinger is a modern-day prophet, seamlessly combining science, history, and heart-forward human storytelling to instill wisdom that sticks with you long after his words have finished. Most importantly, he is a product of his own ideas, exhibiting a contagious authenticity that makes you want to live in line with his teachings so that you too can experience their value in your life.

Sahil Bloom

Author of The 5 Types of Wealth and creator of The Curiosity Chronicle

Robert Waldinger’s Nothing to Fix is the perfect synthesis of western science and eastern wisdom. It is a book I have long needed.

Arthur C. Brooks

#1 New York Times bestselling author of From Strength to Strength

Smart, warm, and accessible, Nothing to Fix is a treasure trove of scientific insight and ancient wisdom, converging on the key principles that tell us how to live well — in this and every other century.

Daniel Gilbert

New York Times bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness

Bob Waldinger is a triple threat — a psychoanalyst, a scholar, and a Zen master — and this book reflects his polymathic powers. It pairs timeless wisdom with modern science. It offers a bracing message with undeniable warmth. And it delivers deep insights alongside practical guidance. Perhaps most important in a world where so many people feel uneasy and discontent, it meets the moment.

Daniel H. Pink

#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret, When, and Drive

There's nothing to fix

Preorder the book