Hachette The How Of Happiness: A Practical Guide to Getting The Life You Want

What an important and well-crafted book! Concerning its physical properties, the book I received nicely matched the images shown in the product listing. The print was crisp; the paper stock was of good, typical quality; the spine was sturdy. The writing style was just as I hoped it would be: practical, clear, concise, and unstintingly scientific, but not overly complex. Every chapter is evidence-based and actionable. Although research on happiness is constantly advancing, one unexpected way in which this book is valuable is that it gives the reader a framework for keeping pace with research developments. For example, instead of following science news about happiness in general, this book might inspire a reader to follow science news about current research findings on relationship quality and gratitude. Lyubomirsky has done humanity a great favor with this affordable, science-based, practical guide.

This is such a great book. Packed full of evidence and strategies to help you become happier. I only wish I had found this book 20 years ago. Better late than never! This might be one of the most important books I have ever read. High praise indeed.

This book delivers a great introduction to the relatively new but increasingly familiar concepts of Positive Psychology. I got this book as part of an process trying to help my daughter who suffers from an eating disorder. I believe there is an underlying unhappiness behind her condition (I am not for a minute suggesting this book is any kind of suitable treatment programme for eating disorders - that would be very irresponsible. I am just providing a context). I read it first to vet it and passed it on to her without hesitation. She uses it as a key tool in managing her illness and it has coincided with a period of marked improvement. It is not responsible for this improvement but it has definitely been a significant component as one of the many things that have contributed to it. The point is, like many anorexics, my daughter has a very analytical mind. The approach of this book to happiness is so pragmatic and centred on facts, research and objectively recorded experience, that it chimed with her (and with me) in a way that books which are more vague on the subject do not. The joy of this book is that it systematically details and homes in on practices which are scientifically proven to improve mood, and suggests ways of adopting them. Most importantly, this information is all couched in a writing style and language that makes it accessible and enjoyable to read. It is neither a flowery self-help book, or a dry scientific tome. It is truly a revelation, I am still using it's methods today and so is my daughter - I have recommended the book to others and yes, cliche alert, but I genuinely believe it has changed lives. This is the first book review I have ever written and at 55, I have read a lot of books over the years! - that is how much I rate it.

Das Buch gibt tolle Ideen und praktische Übungen, was man machen könnte, um generell ein bisschen zufriedener durch sein Leben zu laufen. Was mir persönlich am besten gefallen hat war 1. dass nicht nur Behauptungen aufgestellt, sondern die Aussagen auch statistisch untermauert werden. 2. dass es erfrischend wenig reißerisch ist. Gerade bei englischsprachigen Büchern fällt mir oft ein sehr emotionaler, pathetischer Tonus auf, der mir persönlich nicht gefällt. Die Autorin schreibt freundlich, aber nicht übertrieben überschwänglich. Das Buch verspricht auch nicht das Leben umzukrempeln und die Antwort auf alle Probleme der persönlichen Welt zu geben. Das war mir sehr sympathisch. Es ist eines dieser Bücher, die man gern im Schrank stehen hat und immer mal wieder als Denkanstoß in die Hand nimmt und gibt auch nicht vor, mehr zu sein.

...the parts where the author talks about food, that everyone knows fat is bad for you and similar statements. She could have excluded her "expertise" in nutrition, but other than that, it's a solid read.