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  • You're a Miracle (and a Pain in the Ass)

  • Embracing the Emotions, Habits, and Mystery That Make You You
  • Written by: Mike McHargue
  • Narrated by: Mike McHargue
  • Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (30 ratings)

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You're a Miracle (and a Pain in the Ass)

Written by: Mike McHargue
Narrated by: Mike McHargue
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Publisher's Summary

"Holding brain science in one hand and rich emotional presence in the other, this book feels timely and necessary." (Shauna Niequist, New York Times best-selling author of Present Over Perfect)

Why is there such a gap between what you want to do and what you actually do? The host of Ask Science Mike explains why our desires and our real lives are so wildly different - and what you can do to close the gap.

For thousands of years, scientists, philosophers, and self-help gurus have wrestled with one of the basic conundrums of human life: Why do we do the things we do? Or, rather, why do we so often not do the things we want to do? As a podcast host whose voice goes out to millions each month, Mike McHargue gets countless emails from people seeking to understand their own misbehavior - why we binge on Netflix when we know taking a walk outside would be better for us, or why we argue politics on Facebook when our real friends live just down the street. Everyone wants to be a good person, but few of us, 20 years into the new millennium, have any idea how to do that.

In You're a Miracle (and a Pain in the Ass), McHargue addresses these issues. We like to think we're in control of our thoughts and decisions, he writes, but science has shown that a host of competing impulses, emotions, and environmental factors are at play in every action we undertake. Touching on his podcast listeners' most pressing questions, from relationships and ethics to stress and mental health, and sharing some of the biggest triumphs and hardships from his own life, McHargue shows us how some of our qualities that seem most frustrating - including "negative" emotions like sadness, anger, and anxiety - are actually key to helping humans survive and thrive. In doing so, he invites us on a path of self-understanding and, ultimately, self-acceptance.

You're a Miracle (and a Pain in the Ass) is a guided tour through the mystery of human consciousness, showing listeners how to live more at peace with themselves in a complex world.

Includes a PDF of images from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Mike McHargue (P)2020 Random House Audio

What the critics say

"Seldom do I find a book that puts together good psychology, readable science, and practical wisdom as what you now have in your hands! You're a Miracle will reveal that Mike McHargue is a bit of a miracle, too." (Richard Rohr, New York Times best-selling author of The Universal Christ)

"This book is full of incredibly important revelations that could change your life. Mike McHargue is not only the smartest person we know, but he has an uncanny ability for communicating complex matters like he's talking to you at a party (not one of those parties with loud music where you can’t really hear what people are saying so you just nod a lot, but instead one of those parties with light piano music, filled with smart and interesting people)." (Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, New York Times best-selling authors of The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek)

"When Mike McHargue writes about the changes in his life from the beginning of the writing process until the end, I nearly cried with relief, because isn’t that how life is for all of us? It changes, sometimes over and over, and right in the middle of all the chaos, we keep showing up, telling the truth, writing the story of our lives even as we struggle to make sense of it ourselves. This book feels human, and that’s one of the highest compliments I can give." (Shauna Niequist, New York Times best-selling author of Present Over Perfect)

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Thank You, Mike

I am so glad I read this, and I’m so grateful that this book was written. If you’re a human being, you should read this book.

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Nico

I absolutely loved this book, dark, funny, scientific yet easy to digest. I learned a lot from it, and I loved the authors narration - he has a wonderful voice!

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Wow

This book is so timely. I’m thankful for another helpful book by Mike. I loved it so much I listened 3 times in a row. A favourite for sure.

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I am not broken

I had to stop the book when it came to the part where Mike said" I am not broken, I am autistic." So much of my life I had learnt from church that I was a broken being, never whole without Jesus. When I moved on from the Christian faith, I though *if I don't have Jesus, will I always be broken then.* thank you Mike for writing this book through all your hardships, I hope you will touch many people with your kindness through this book.

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This has the potential to change your life

Mike is one of the kindest souls I know via the internet and I couldn't get enough of this book. If you really want to learn how to love yourself and let that be where your growth comes from, Mike will help you realize just how much of a miracle you are and how to learn the language your body and brain uses to communicate with you.

I couldn't recommend this enough and would give it 10/5 stars. Will read again.

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  • Jeff Mason
  • 2020-04-28

As always, Mike delivers.

SO SO GOOD. I don't know what else to say, I laughed, I cried, I felt exposed and uncomfortable, and safe and comforted. Mike McHargue is one of my favorite people on the planet, even though we've only briefly met. This is an excellent book that really does a good job at explaining why we as humans are unbelievably amazing but can be such boneheads... all at the same time.

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8 people found this helpful

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  • Joshua
  • 2020-06-26

The opinions of a soft, whiny guy.

A book filled with hypotheticals, theories, and personal opinions. Some interesting points are made here but not many.

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5 people found this helpful

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  • Regina Mountjoy
  • 2020-05-01

Eye opening, heart opening, life changing

I've been a fan of science Mike for a few years now. This work encompasses exerting he knows with more heart and suffering them he has ever known before. The transformation Mike is talking about here is not behavioral modification, it is a deep transformation that encompasses heart and mind. Highly recommend it!

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5 people found this helpful

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  • brent kredel
  • 2020-04-29

This Book changed my life

This is an incredibly insightful book that helped me understand why I am the way that I am. The author reads the book himself and shares incredible personal and vulnerable stories about his journey of self-discovery.

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5 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2020-05-01

So perfect

This book couldn't have come out at a better time. It helped me more than you could imagine.

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3 people found this helpful

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  • Chad J. Richards
  • 2020-04-29

Fantastic

This is an incredible book by a great author. I really enjoyed his first book and I was very excited for the release of his new book. Mike really speaks from the heart and this book is full of insights. Not to mention his voice is great for audiobooks and does a great performance

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3 people found this helpful

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  • Maya
  • 2022-06-03

What's the point of this book?

Mike is a really ok guy and I appreciate that he is open with his story but I really don't see a point in this book. Just listen to the podcast

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2 people found this helpful

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  • Thomas A. Siewert
  • 2021-10-12

Not a self-help book?

The author keeps saying it’s not a self-help book, and yet he keeps giving advice. It’s a fun read, though. He’s a good cheerleader for the listeners, but most of what he has to say I’ve heard, and used before.

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  • lisa Charters
  • 2020-07-28

Amazing! Life altering!!

I love “science Mike” so much!! This book did not disappoint. It’s real, honest, vulnerable and practical. It’s funny, sad, intelligent and transformative. There are not many books that I would read more than once, but I definitely will read this one again. I also never review books, but I feel like all humans should read this book!

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  • James A Thornton
  • 2021-09-15

So raw and refreshing

Book starts off with immediately grabbing your attention. The author tells his unfiltered truth. So relatable.

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1 person found this helpful