One of the most amazing things about happiness is that many people still seek it despite a vast amount of knowledge on the subject. in fact, one of the largest portions of self-improvement books could easily be devoted to books on happiness, books on how to be happier and live a happier life.
While that might be a testament to how many of the books aren’t that helpful, there are definitely some diamonds under all of these books. Below, I’ve reviewed the many books on happiness and put together a list of books that are popular and cover this topic in the best possible way.
You are reading: Books about being happy
Before we get to this list of books on happiness, here are the criteria we’ve used to review the many books on happiness.
- perspective: Because there are so many books on happiness to choose from, perspective is one of the most valuable pieces here. Everyone’s views on happiness and living a happier life vary, so it’s vital to find books that are atypical of traditional positivity books and blogs. this list will offer unique perspectives from many different people.
- realistic thinking: when people think of happiness or happy life, one of the first things that comes to mind they are the visions of big houses or luxury cars. this way of thinking is ancient, as many of the most prominent books on happiness focus on a meaningful existence. a good way to think about this is that a good book about happiness will make you think realistically.
- explorer: a book about happiness will make you look deeper into yourself itself and your way of thinking should not take you away from that possibility or distract you with something else.
1. 10% happier
A method that many people suggest to seek happiness is meditation. Many people have sang the praises of how meditation has changed their lives, and it’s the one habit they encourage other people to make.
Although meditation is great, many people still don’t fully understand it or can’t understand it. this is where this book comes in. 10% Happier by Dan Harris is an excellent book that provides a unique insight into meditation. Instead of focusing on what many other bloggers have tried to explain in their posts, Harris talks about meditation in a unique way.
shop 10% happier here.
2. the happiness project
One of the best books on happiness you can read is this New York Times bestseller. It definitely deserves it since the author, Gretchen Rubin, spent an entire year of her life testing various theories about what it means to improve your happiness.
Based on a year’s worth of results, he begins recording his findings in this book to show what really works and what doesn’t. is remarkable because when it comes to tips, we know there’s a lot to sift through. And while Rubin won’t be able to cover it all, his insights can help you find more happiness in your own life.
Buy the happiness project here.
3. prosper
arianna huffington, the owner of the huffington post, is an extraordinary woman when you consider all that she has been through. In her book Thrive, she shares her own medical and emotional crisis that pushed her to make a massive change in her own life.
Often, to be happier, it’s important to handle problems constructively. Whether you are in a rut or not in your life, there are definitely some issues that are bothering you. this book could give you a new perspective on those issues and help you thrive.
buy prosper here.
4. present over perfect
There are many blocks to people’s happiness, of course, but most of the time they are barriers that we put on ourselves. One of the most common is perfectionistic tendencies. sometimes, you won’t make a move unless you’re guaranteed to succeed. or maybe you spend too much time working on something to make sure it’s perfect in your own eyes.
these trends can get in the way most of the time and shauna niequist is all too familiar with them. that’s why she wrote this book. She had these perfectionist tendencies like many of us, and she spends a lot of time helping those in this situation live in a whole new way.
Of course, it’s not easy. As Niequist explains, change requires courage, simplifying life and saying no to many things. but through this book, the process can help you get in touch with yourself and also mitigate these tendencies in your life.
purchase present envelope perfect here.
5. the art of happiness
published in 2009, this book was written by dr. Cutler based on interviews he conducted with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, possibly the happiest and most loved person in the world.
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the interviews dr. Cutler did at the time lasted an entire week, and the two discussed the Dalai Lama’s personal sense of peace and happiness in the book. Through these interviews, the goal of this book is to help readers reach that same level, or gain a new perspective on happiness.
on top of that, dr. Cutler presents his own science-based insights along with the teachings of the Dalai Lama, providing a new perspective on what it means to be happy.
Buy the art of happiness here.
6. authentic happiness
written by martin seligman in 2004, this book remains relevant to the topic of living a happier life. seligman is a psychologist and best-selling author who posits the idea that happiness is not the result of having the right genes or having to be lucky to achieve happiness.
according to seligman, true and lasting happiness comes from paying attention to your own strengths rather than your perceived weaknesses. while that kind of advice is given a lot, don’t focus on the bad, focus on the good, this book goes beyond stating the obvious and provides practical advice backed by psychological research.
Throughout the book, Seligman shares 24 strengths and virtues that make up our own psyche. then it explains how to identify what each person has and how to take advantage of them in each area of their life. by doing this, you may find yourself living happier and more authentic happiness.
Buy authentic happiness here.
7. stumbling on happiness
Written by Professor Daniel Gilbert, this is a book on happiness that is engaging and fun to read. The main focus of this book is based on the fact that most of us don’t really know how to make ourselves happy.
For his research, he draws on various fields of psychology, neuroscience, economics, and philosophy to explain why this is so and how we can stumble upon our happiness through that information. he also explores another area in this book that won’t be explored in many other books on happiness: human motivation.
Buy stumbling on happiness here.
8. the happiness trap
dr. Russ Harris has a medical background with a primary focus on stress management. she trains coaches, psychologists, doctors and many other health professionals around the idea of mindfulness. based on his own experiences, dr. harriss published this book in 2013.
In this easy-to-read self-help book, she provides practical and empowering methods for achieving happiness in act form (acceptance and commitment therapy). in fact, acting has been adopted as an approach to psychotherapy and much research has been done on its effectiveness.
beyond that, dr. Harris explains the various popular myths and ideas surrounding happiness and suggests that they are all misleading and inaccurate. she goes so far as to say that those ideas and myths actually cause more stress, anxiety, and depression.
Buy the happiness trap here.
9. the happiness advantage
shawn achor, harvard university professor and co-designer of the harvard “happiness” course, reveals 7 fundamental principles of positive psychology based on the largest studies on happiness and human potential ever conducted, surveying to more than 1600 students.
Because the sample size is so large, it’s easy to see this book as a practical guide to legitimate ways to be happier.
Shop the happiness advantage here.
10. happiness is an inside job
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Written by Sylvia Boorstein, Ph.D., this book begins with two key questions:
- How is it possible to stay engaged with life day after day?
- How can we keep our minds in a happy frame of mind and continue to love when life itself is complicated, challenging and often disappointing? ?
Based on those two questions alone, you can tell that this is an inspiring book that provides detailed advice and offers a lot of wisdom. Boorstein explores that despite all the odds being stacked against us, we can still find our own sense of happiness. This book is also based on more than three decades of his work and offers sound advice on how we can live a happier life.
Buying happiness is an inside job here.
11. the happiness hypothesis
written by another professor of psychology, this book is the first book written by jonathan haidt that is available to a general audience. this book is particularly interesting because it is inspired by both science and philosophy.
what the book aims to do is connect old ways of thinking with current beliefs and how that can affect our own happiness. For example, messages like “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” or “happiness comes from within” could have been passed from one family member to another.
The thing is that we often don’t question these platitudes and cling to these things among other ways of thinking. examples are when we will feel truly happy if we make more money, find our true love, or achieve some kind of great success. this book breaks down all this traditional wisdom and adds modern science to it in a unique way.
Shop the happiness hypothesis here.
12. the equation of happiness
Awarded an MBA from Harvard, Neil Pasricha is a featured TED presenter and founder of the Institute for Global Happiness. In this book, he reveals nine secrets to happiness and shows readers that to have everything you want in life, you must want nothing and do anything to get it.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding this book because of its counterintuitive thinking. however, it is refreshing to see a book that takes common ideals and presents them in a completely different light. meanwhile, the book provides good humor and sage practical advice along with it.
Shop the happiness equation here.
13. the happiness factor
The last book to cover is The Happiness Factor. Published in 2008, Kirk Wilkinson offers practical advice that remains relevant to this day.
for example, on page 33, wilkinson writes, “change the way you look at things…and the things you look at change.”
This quote alone provides some perspective on what this book has to offer: a perspective on how you can face adversity and overcome it to discover true and lasting happiness. this book goes to great lengths to show us that we are not all defined by the circumstances or problems we face.
Buy the happiness factor here.
final thoughts
Despite the abundance of happiness books available to read, there are all sorts of unique perspectives on what it means to be happy. many of these books will make you think more about what it means to be happy while giving you good advice to guide you through your own kind of problems. by doing that, you may just get closer to living a happier and more fulfilling life.
more books on happiness
- 15 Positive Thinking Books You Need For A Happy Life
- Top 10 Inspiring Books That Can Change Your Life
- 14 Books You Should Read When You Feel Lost In life
featured photo credit: josh felise via unsplash.com
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