‘Give and Live Better’: The Remarkable Vision of Stephen G. Post

In an age driven by science and technology, Dr. Stephen G. Post is a rare blend of scientist and humanist, a best-selling author and transformative speaker who has inspired thousands of people with his profound work on giving behavior. As we look forward to Thanksgiving, Stephen Post will begin today’s episode by talking about the life-enhancing benefits of giving. “Give and live better,” says Dr. Post, who is the lead author of “Why Good Things Happen to Good People: How to Live a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life by the Single Act of Giving.” A growing body of research shows that when we give of ourselves, everything from self-satisfaction to self-realization and physical health is significantly affected. Depression is reduced. Well-being is increased. Mortality is delayed. Beyond his broad research on giving, Stephen will talk about a particular kind of giving—caregiving. The author of the recently published book, “Dignity for Deeply Forgetful People: How Caregivers Can Meet the Challenges of Alzheimer’s Disease,” he has earned international recognition for his acclaimed work on bioethics and compassionate care for people with dementia. Currently, Stephen is Director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook University School of Medicine in New York—“a place where the human side of medicine is elevated, examined, and revered.” He also serves as President of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, which he co-founded with philanthropist Sir John Templeton. Indeed, there has been a spiritual side to Stephen from the start, and his life work blends an extraordinary exploration of positive psychology, altruism, love, happiness, and the mystery of the human mind.