TODD KASHDAN

Todd Kashdan, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. He is an authority on the science of curiosity. To date, he has published over 90 scientific articles and book chapters, most of which relate to curiosity, happiness, meaning in life, and anxiety. In his new book, Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life (William Morrow), Kashdan offers a new perspective on how to create engaging, interesting, meaningful moments in our lives and more importantly, how to create lasting passion and happiness. He is regularly invited to give workshops, lectures, and make media appearances on curiosity, happiness, meaning and purpose in life, and psychopathology around the globe.

Kashdan has been involved in the Positive Psychology movement since 2000, when he taught one of the first college courses on the subject. He is the associate editor of the Journal of Positive Psychology. His research and teaching on positive psychology were featured in the New York Times magazine ("Happiness 101," January 7, 2007) and his research on curiosity and happiness has received coverage in major media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, O magazine, Readers Digest, Prevention magazine, Cosmopolitan, Psychology Today, Good Housekeeping, Self magazine, Shape, Allure, Ladies Home Journal, Better Homes and Gardens, Parenting magazine, Fitness magazine, and Financial Advisor magazine. He has also been a featured radio guest on National Public Radio, the Tavis Smiley Show, Talking with America, and Green America.

While happiness has been discussed at length, no previous book has offered a concrete plan to obtaining it. Kashdan does just that in Curious? Based on research, Kashdan reveals why curiosity is the key to a happy, interesting, and meaningful life and offers advice on how to achieve these illusive states on a more frequent basis. He explores everything from mundane tasks to work to creating and maintaining passion in long-term relationships.