In Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired, Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer, a respected researcher, epidemiologist, clinician, and thought leader on joy, wonder, and well-being, offers a compassionate and eye-opening look at why so many people feel chronically stressed, fatigued, and disconnected. She also reveals why the traditional wellness model, first conceived decades ago, is no longer serving us.
Part science-backed reflection, part celebration of the world’s awe-inspiring details, this book blends thought-provoking commentary with bite-sized facts and trivia designed to reignite our sense of childlike wonder. From the mysteries of the cosmos to the miracles of the human body and so much in between, each chapter encourages readers to pause, reflect, and reconnect—with nature, with curiosity, and with what truly matters.
This isn’t a how-to guide or conventional self-help manual. Instead, it’s a gentle, joyful invitation to look up, look around, and rediscover the extraordinary in the ordinary. Through powerful insights and warm encouragement, Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired helps readers step off the “happiness = wellness” hamster wheel, take a big step back, and breathe deeply. It creates space to experience the tears, the chills, and the thrills of a world filled with wonder.
Perfect for anyone seeking a mental reset or a moment of inspiration, Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired is both a balm for the soul and a spark for the spirit.
Even
reading the Introduction to Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired, readers
will find themselves nodding in agreement, muttering yes, yes, yes as the
author outlines many of today’s challenges. With all the demands and
expectations put upon us to look and feel a certain way, Lehenbauer advises us
to step back and reassess, and she defines “wonder” as an emotion – an accurate
definition that I’d never considered despite feeling it many, many times.
Additionally,
those early pages include a not-to-be missed list of ten to-dos designed to
engage wonder, and a download link to a free guide and workbook to use as a
companion to reading Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired. This guide
rounds out what I was expecting and is a perfect complement to take the book to
the next level. Honestly, I’d like to see it included in the book in future
updates.
Though
the introductory pages contain the crux of the book, everything after is
designed to bring joy, amazement, and wonder. Wonder and Joy for the Wired
and Tired is almost like a reference book for finding inspiration. The
majority of the book is filled with statistics, trivia, myths, and both serious
and giggle-worthy truths, all to wonder-fy the reader. Every reader will be
reminded of the wonder of life and things bigger than us. Our bodies, for
example, are truly miraculous in how they function and perform for us, but how
often do we think about the miracle of the myriad components working
together?
Highlights
for this reader are:
*the affirmation that talking to my plants matters. (they’re responding)
*there’s such a thing as the nightmarish Zombie Ant Fungus (EEK)
*there’s a collective noun for a group of jellyfish (a smack!)
*the “Timeless Wonders of Art and Architecture” (but what about the Marfa Lights?)
*the ”Ordinary But Extraordinary List for Wonder, Joy, and Gratitude” (pages of small joys)
It’s
too much to sit and read this book straight through because of the sheer
quantity of information contained in Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired.
But I absolutely will revisit it, particularly when life’s feeling heavy, but
also to make a habit of feeling wonder. I can choose a category (flowers? stars?
my digestive system?) and be reminded of the miracles of each. And with the
companion workbook, there’s opportunity to dig deeper and reflect upon them.
“Please take time to pause and appreciate the many gifts available to you from your everyday life and consider how you might help others find wonder and joy.”
Granted,
I kinda have the perfect setting to be receptive to this book and mindset: a
vacay in a spectacular, wonder-inducing place. Nonetheless, there are plenty of
takeaways for the reader, no matter the situation or surroundings, and a big takeaway
is to show gratitude for this astonishing universe and all that’s within it.
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| Step one: go to tropical island |
Pam has over forty years of combined experience in clinical practice, health administration, and teaching. She has served on the editorial and administrative boards for several provincial, state, and national nursing organizations and is a member of the American Nurses Association, the Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives, Sigma Theta Tau International, and is a clinician member of the Planetary Health Alliance.
In addition to her extensive professional and academic work, Pam is also an avid gardener, a Certified Home Horticulturalist, and a conservationist who has created award winning gardens and sustainable wildlife habitats.
Pam lives on a small acreage in beautiful Northern Kentucky with her husband, Marty. They are the parents of several adult humans and countless non-humans who walk, fly, flutter, swim, crawl, and burrow. She loves to read, write, play piano, and explore the world’s beauty and wonders with her husband, family, and friends.
(USA and Canada only; ends 9/29/2025)
