In recent years, the discussion of happiness has become more nuanced. yes, it is a universal truth that every human being wants to experience more. but we are beginning to learn what really leads to happiness, and what gets us only halfway there. a way to reap more of the mood feeling? reading all the books on happiness that your home library can contain.
While for some, a “happy life” brings visions of a big house and a fancy car, we are increasingly realizing that true happiness comes from a more meaningful existence: connection with others, giving back to others. world around us and get in touch with our spiritual being.
You are reading: Self help books finding happiness
When I reflect on the books I’ve loved over the years, I’m amazed at how many of them have propelled me on my own journey toward finding a deeper, more moving happiness. Scroll down to 11 of my favorite books on happiness and share in the comments if there are any I should add to my list.
featured image by teal thomsen.
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11 books on happiness to inspire a purposeful life
happy by ingrid fetelle lee
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Layout contributor stacey lindsay (who is full of light and brimming with joy) loves this book, and we all want to reap the happiness-enhancing benefits of its pages. As Stacey has previously written, “By infusing our days with more joy, we build more happiness into our lives. this book continues to light up my sun all by itself, which in turn makes everything else flow in life.” When it comes to books on happiness, that review alone confirms it: this read should be at the top of your list.
10% happier by dan harris
I know you know: There are countless benefits that come with a consistent meditation practice. but if you’ve had a hard time implementing that generalized advice, know this too: you’re not alone. Fortunately, Dan Harris wrote what Elizabeth Gilbert called “an enormously intelligent, clear-eyed, brave, and highly personal look at the benefits of meditation.” he does a brilliant job of not only making us feel seen in our meditation and mindfulness woes, but offering innovative, evidence-backed ways to make peace with the voice in our head and harness its influence for good in the form of more productivity, better performance and kindness with ourselves.
the gretchen rubin happiness project
This is the queen of all happiness books: a New York Times bestseller for a ridiculous amount of time. there are so many snippets of wisdom here that have made their way into my psyche and informed the way I approach day to day. -day life Gretchen Rubin spends a year of her life testing theories about what actually increases happiness, and she puts on her social scientist hat to record the findings so we can learn what works and what doesn’t.
thrive by arianna huffington
This is the book that transformed my sleeping habits, and I’ve found that it has a huge effect on my overall happiness throughout the day. Huffington shares her own medical and emotional crisis that sent her on a mission to change her life in some pretty amazing ways. If the woman behind the huffington post can make time to sleep, relax, and unwind, I think it’s safe to say we can too!
braving the desert by brené brown
You can’t have a most moving life book list without including some major Brennee action on there. Honestly, I could have included any of your own here, but this is a good place to start: you’ll question all your previous assumptions about what it means to belong to our culture, and more importantly, you’ll become more in tune with your authentic self. .
happier at home by gretchen rubin
this is a continuation of the happiness project (slide 2), but i got a lot of new ideas from rubin’s personal experiment to make his home the happiest place possible, from his surroundings to his marriage to how he spent his time outdoors free. of working hours.
year of yes by shonda rhimes
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The creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal chronicles her own journey to conquer her fears and live a bolder, more inspired life where she learned what it means to truly love yourself. If your fears often get in the way of the kind of person you aspire to be, this book is for you.
present on perfect by shauna niequist
*sigh* I think I need to read this book again. All people with perfectionist tendencies (raised hand) will totally identify with Niequist’s personal path from being exhausted and too busy to finding a totally new way of living. it takes courage, simplifying and saying no a lot. but as she shows in her own story, it is what leads you to get in touch with your essential self. #worth it
love does it for bob goff
I recently purchased this sweet collection of wise and whimsical stories from the life of goff. it’s a reminder that fun, joy, and meaning await us every day, and often in the most unlikely places. this is a good book to read when you need reminders of all the good things in the world.
simple abundance by sarah ban breathnach
the og book on happiness. one of my mom’s friends gave her this when she was a teenager, and she loved it from the beginning and still love it now. there’s an entry for every day of the year, each one meant to inspire us to wake up to quiet joys, simple pleasures, and the beauty that surrounds us if we open our eyes to see it.
the book without pictures of b.j. novak
Okay, this one might not be as deep as the others on the list, but if you need a laugh… read this book to a child under 10 and I dare you not to laugh. no control.
This post was originally published on July 14, 2020 and has since been updated.
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