Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body

This book by Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson has been genuinely recommended 3 times on Andrew Huberman. The people who vouched for it on air: Andrew Huberman. It comes up in conversations about brain health, depression & mood, exercise & strength, focus & dopamine, hormones. The earliest recommendation we indexed is from Sep 2021 and the most recent from Mar 2025. Every quote below is verbatim, attributed, and linked to the exact second it was said. Sourced expert opinion, not medical advice.

• “the book is called altered traits ... it's an excellent book ... very interesting book for those of you that are interested in meditation”

  Why it counts as a recommendation: “it's an excellent book”
  Andrew Huberman · Huberman Lab · Mar 202500:15:04

  Said during "How to Control Your Metabolism by Thyroid & Growth Hormone | Huberman Lab Essentials". The episode features Andrew Huberman (solo): Professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast. This is a solo Essentials episode revisiting his thyroid and growth hormone material. Huberman explains how thyroid and growth hormone control metabolism, and the diet, exercise, sleep, and sauna tools that keep both in healthy ranges.

• “I can't recommend this book highly enough. The book is "Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body."”

  Why it counts as a recommendation: “I can't recommend this book highly enough”
  Andrew Huberman · Huberman Lab · Oct 202201:02:36

  Said during "How Meditation Works & Science-Based Effective Meditations". The episode features Andrew Huberman: Professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast. Solo episode. Huberman explains the neuroscience of meditation and how to pick a practice that matches your interoceptive or exteroceptive bias.

• “from an excellent book that I recommend, if any of you are interested in neuroscience and things like meditation... the book is called, "Altered Traits."”

  Why it counts as a recommendation: “an excellent book that I recommend”
  Andrew Huberman · Huberman Lab · Sep 202101:11:07

  Said during "ADHD & How Anyone Can Improve Their Focus". The episode features Andrew Huberman: Professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast. This is a solo episode with no guest. Huberman explains the dopamine biology of ADHD and shares drug, diet, supplement, and behavioral tools anyone can use to sharpen focus.