Rick Hanson – Author Biography
Early Life
Rick Hanson is an American psychologist and author. He earned his B.A. from UCLA and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology, training in the San Francisco Bay Area where he has practiced as a therapist for decades. Early in his career he became interested in the intersection of neuroscience and contemplative practice, studying meditation alongside his clinical work.
Career
Hanson is best known for translating neuroscience into practical self-help. His breakthrough book, Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom (2009, with neurologist Richard Mendius), introduced his signature concept: because the brain has a negativity bias — “like Velcro for bad experiences and Teflon for good ones” — we must deliberately internalize positive experiences to rewire it. He followed with Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time (2011), Hardwiring Happiness (2013), Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness (2018), and Neurodharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom, and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness (2020). He founded the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom and teaches widely online.
Major Works
Buddha’s Brain (2009), Just One Thing (2011), Hardwiring Happiness (2013), Resilient (2018), Neurodharma (2020).
Writing Style and Themes
Hanson writes clear, gentle, practice-oriented books that blend brain science with Buddhist psychology. His core method — “taking in the good,” deliberately savoring positive experiences for 10–30 seconds so they consolidate into neural structure — is simple and repeatable. His themes include self-compassion, resilience, mindfulness, and the idea that small daily practices compound into lasting well-being. He is secular and science-first in tone, making contemplative ideas accessible to skeptical readers.
Legacy
Hanson is one of the pioneers of the “contemplative neuroscience” popular movement, alongside figures like Daniel Goleman and Jon Kabat-Zinn. His Velcro/Teflon metaphor for the negativity bias has become one of the most quoted lines in modern self-help, and his books have sold widely in dozens of languages.
