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Professor Pozzulo’s Pick (June, 2026)

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  Professor Pozzulo’s Pick (June, 2026) Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How “Small” Talk Can Add Up to a Big Life , by Dr. Gillian Sandstrom (2026) My take: Ever feel like you want to chat, but everyone you know is busy? Why not venture down to your local coffee shop and strike up a conversation with the cashier, barista, or even the person standing in line? In Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How Small Talk Can Add Up to a Big Life, Sandstrom explains the benefits of talking to strangers. If you’re anything like me, you may be thinking, “I’m not comfortable talking to strangers!”. But by the end of the book, you may be ready to give it a try. Sandstrom has made it her mission to understand why we feel anxious even thinking about talking to strangers and how pushing through our fears may give us massive well-being benefits and may even change our life. As Sandstrom demonstrates talking to strangers is a skill that can be learned and developed. The more conversations you ha...
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June Giveaway! Giveaway closes June 5th

  We’re giving away a copy of June's  Professor Pozzulo’s Pick. Click on read more then click here to enter to win or copy the web address and search it in your browser: https://carleton.ca/mental-health/june-2026-giveaway/
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May Giveaway! Giveaway closes May 6th

   We’re giving away a copy of May 's Professor Pozzulo’s Pick. Click on read more then  click here  to enter to win or copy the web address and search it in your  browser: https://carleton.ca/mental-health/reading-for-well-being-with-dr-pozzulo-may-2026-giveaway/
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Professor Pozzulo’s Pick (May, 2026)

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  Professor Pozzulo’s Pick (May, 2026) The Brain Never Sleeps: Why we Dream and What it Means for Our Health b y Karen van Kampen (2026) My take: What if your dreams could reveal how well you’re coping with the stresses of everyday life? In The Brain Never Sleeps: Why We Dream and What It Means for Our Health, van Kampen explores the science and art of dreaming, showing how our dreams can offer a window into our well-being. van Kampen examines why dreams are important and the impact they can have on our health and overall well-being. The book focuses on three key aspects of the relationship between dreams and mental health: 1) what dreams reveal about our mental health, 2) how our dreams change alongside our psychological well-being, and 3) why it is often impossible to hide from our worries and preoccupations - even in sleep. van Kampen explores the connection between our emotional state while awake and our emotional experiences in dreams. An increase in negative dreams, for exam...
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April Giveaway! Giveaway closes April 7th

  We’re giving away a copy of  April's Professor Pozzulo’s Pick. Click on read more then  click here  to enter to win or copy the web address and search it in your  browser: https://carleton.ca/mental-health/april2026giveaway/
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Professor Pozzulo’s Pick (April, 2026)

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  Professor Pozzulo’s Pick (April, 2026) Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives by Daisy Fancourt (2026, published by Celadon Books) My take: Do you enjoy listening to music, writing, crafting, or reading? You get the picture (pun intended). In Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives, Fancourt examines how the arts affect both our physical health—such as lowering inflammatory markers in the body—and our psychological well-being by providing meaning and purpose in life. She guides readers through the scientific evidence on the benefits of the arts for people who are healthy as well as those dealing with illness. She also offers practical strategies for incorporating more art into everyday life. Each chapter focuses on a different dimension of health—brain function, mental wellbeing, pain, longevity—and offers practical ways to incorporate more creativity into everyday life. One of the most striking takeaways is the impact of creative activities on cognitive healt...
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March Giveaway! Giveaway closes March 6th

We’re giving away a copy of  March's Professor Pozzulo’s Pick. Click on read more then  click here  to enter to win or copy the web address and search it in your  browser: https://carleton.ca/mental-health/march2026giveaway/
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