Join BBC Radio 4’s voice of psychology and author of The Art of Rest, Claudia Hammond, for a deep dive into kindness, the science behind it and how we can better build it into our lives.

You are kinder than you think, but we could all be kinder still – with enormous benefits for our personal mental health and wellbeing.

Claudia Hammond returns to How To Academy to take us on an eye-opening tour of kindness: what constitutes kindness (it’s not what you think), effective strategies to build more of it into our lives and the benefits of being kind.

She will draw on the latest research from psychology and neuroscience, and her work in collaboration with the University of Sussex and the BBC, including the largest global survey ever undertaken into attitudes to kindness.

She will provide a prescription for a kinder life that you can adapt to your own circumstances, and explains how to use this guidance for ourselves, others and the world.

Praise for the work of Claudia Hammond:

‘Fascinating, entertaining and lucidly written . . . If we accept that reading is the most restful activity . . . The Art of Rest ought to be equivalent to a scientific siesta. The only trouble is that this outstanding book is far too stimulating to be restful’ – Observer on The Art of Rest

‘Claudia Hammond’s superb book reminds us of a truth that’s too often forgotten: that rest isn’t just an indulgence, but an essential part of a life lived well’ – Rangan Chatterjee on The Art of Rest

‘At a time when our waking lives appear to be more frantic and distracted than ever before, switching off has never been more of a challenge. The Art of Rest equips us with fresh research and information on how to rest more, and rest better, to get the most out of life. Reading it is a rest itself’ – Matt Haig on The Art of Rest