Review: Wonder and Joy by Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer | A Self-Help Guide for the Wired and Tired

“From the mysteries of the cosmos to the miracles of the human body—find wonder everywhere.”

👋 Welcome to my stop on the iRead Book Tour!”

Today, I’m excited to share Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired by Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer, an inspirational book to help readers pause, breathe, and reconnect with what truly matters. Perfect for anyone feeling stressed, fatigued, or searching for a fresh sense of wonder, it offers a gentle guide to finding well-being in a busy world.

Huge thanks to iRead Book Tours, Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer, and Bear Paw Press for the review copy of Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired, an uplifting self-help read that blends approachable science with everyday “small joys.”

👇 Keep scrolling for the giveaway.

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📝 All About the Book

Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired: A Guide to Finding Inspiration and Well-Being in a Wonder-Filled World
By Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer
Published by Bear Paw Press on August 2025
Genres: Adult Non-Fiction 18+, Self-help
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 218

Feeling wired, tired, and stretched too thin? You’re not alone—and you’re not broken.

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.

 

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📚 Where to Find Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired

Available on Amazon

🛒 KINDLE  |  PAPERBACK 

If the above links don’t direct you to your country’s Amazon page, please feel free to contact me—I’m happy to provide the correct link.

Using my Amazon affiliate links doesn’t change the price you pay. Amazon shares a small commission with me, which helps keep this blog running—thank you!

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Prefer to shop local?
🛍️ You can also purchase Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired from your favorite indie bookstore online.

Bookshop.org is an excellent option that supports indie authors—and book bloggers like me—while avoiding the big-box route.

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Also available at:
🛍️ Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million

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✨ My Thoughts on Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired ✨

Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired isn’t your typical self-help guidebook—and that’s exactly why it works.

The book is divided into two fundamental parts. In Part One, Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer explores why so many of us feel “wired but tired.” It’s the science-framed section—approachable, compassionate, and focused on how stress, pace, and modern habits keep our minds buzzing even when our bodies beg for rest. It doesn’t drown you in jargon; instead, it gives just enough context to understand what’s happening under the hood without turning the reading experience into homework.

Part Two is where the heart of the book beats a little louder—and the section I enjoyed most. It’s reflective, warm, and full of small, memorable moments that remind you there’s wonder in everyday life: in the sky at dusk, a shared laugh, a quiet cup of coffee, the ordinary becoming extraordinary when you slow down enough to notice. These aren’t “checklist” prescriptions so much as gentle invitations to look up, look around, and let tiny joys do their healing work.

If you’re searching for a strictly data-driven, step-by-step program, this isn’t it. But if you’re craving a reset—something uplifting that helps you soften the edges of a tired life—don’t miss this one. It’s a thoughtful companion for readers who want science with soul, clarity without harshness, and encouragement that lasts beyond the final page.

What small joy brightened your day this week? Share it in the comments!

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Not a conventional how-to; Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired blends approachable science with small, soul-lifting moments. A gentle reset for the “wired and tired,” especially in its reflective second half.

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I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review represents my honest and unbiased opinion.

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“Rediscover the extraordinary in the ordinary—and let small joys do their quiet healing.”

🖋️ Guest Post by Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer

The Healing Power of Small Joys

When life feels overwhelming, we often believe that only big changes can restore our sense of well-being—a better career, a glamorous lifestyle, or a “fresh start.” But real healing is rarely achieved through a grandiose event. More often, it comes to us quietly, in small and unassuming ways: the soothing sound of rain against the roof, sharing comfort food with friends, the warmth of a soft blanket on a cool day. These small joys may appear ordinary, but they carry extraordinary power to soothe and restore.

And science backs this up. Research shows that even the briefest sparks of joy signal our brain to release chemicals that decrease stress, lift mood, and even support heart health and immune function. A single moment of wonder or beauty – the flutter of butterflies, the sound of laughter, the first flower of spring peeking through the snow - can trigger dopamine, the brain’s natural reward system. When shared with others, these moments also release oxytocin, strengthening our sense of connection and belonging. Joyful moments may last only a few seconds, but their impact lingers, giving us strength and resiliency we didn’t realize we had.

During difficult times, whether through pain, grief, uncertainty, or fatigue, these micro-moments of joy are much more than pleasant distractions. They are our anchors. They tether us to the present when our minds want to drift toward worry or despair. They may not erase our challenges, but they make their weight easier to carry.

The good news is that we can train ourselves to notice these joyful moments. One simple practice is to keep a mental “joy list” of things that make you smile. Pause for thirty seconds to savor the rich flavor and smell of your coffee or the shifting colors of the evening sky. Share a small joy with a friend; the act of noticing a joyful event together multiplies its effect. These pauses aren’t merely simple or silly gestures - they’re small but important mindset shifts that help to rewire our brains for resilience.

Living a life that embraces joy also impacts others in ways we can’t always know or measure. Joy makes us more compassionate, more patient, and more kind. It softens our edges and reminds us – and others – that healing is possible and can be gently stitched together through the extraordinary but ordinary moments of everyday life.

Today, look for one small joy. Experience it fully. Let it remind you that life is full of wonder and joyful moments if you choose to notice them. This is where true healing lives, in the everyday details we too often overlook. Small joys are not small at all.

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✍️ About the Author: Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer

Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer, Ph.D., MBA, MSN, PMHNP-BC, is an epidemiologist, nurse practitioner, researcher, and educator with more than forty years of experience in clinical practice, health administration, and teaching. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at Northern Kentucky University, where she investigates well-being and teaches graduate students. Pam is also a respected international speaker and thought leader on wellness, joy, and the healing power of nature.

Her popular blog, Mother Nature’s Apprentice, reflects her belief that true resilience is built through moments of wonder, curiosity, and connection. As she often shares, joy doesn’t always arrive in sweeping life changes—it often shows up in the everyday details we overlook: the flutter of butterflies, laughter with friends, or the comfort of a soft blanket on a cool day.

Through her work and her writing, Pam encourages readers to rediscover the extraordinary in the ordinary. Her debut book, Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired, is both a science-backed exploration of well-being and a heartfelt invitation to pause, breathe, and embrace the small joys that tether us to life.

When she isn’t teaching or writing, Pam can be found in her award-winning gardens, exploring wildlife habitats, or enjoying time with her husband, Marty, their family, and the many creatures—human and otherwise—that share their home in Northern Kentucky.

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Connect with Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Goodreads | Amazon

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🎁 Giveaway!

Enter below for your chance to win an author-signed copy of Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired + a $25 Amazon gift card (one winner) (USA only) (ends Sep 29)

Please visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win!

Official iRead Tour Page