The Happiness Project (Revised Edition): Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun

Yes, I'm four years behind on finding this book, but I'm so glad that I finally caught up! I don't think this book needs a synopsis at this point - at 780 reviews and counting, it's been done. I'll just cover what I enjoyed about it. I think what makes Rubin's writing so appealing is that she admits that she isn't perfect; she's not afraid to show her ugly side instead of painting a picture of sunshine and rainbows. I really identified with her when she spoke about wishing she would like something because others did. I have often wished I: •Was a morning person •Could be the person who picks out her outfits the night before •Could be the person who picks out her outfits for the week on Sundays and prepared them •Wrapped gifts beautifully •Could drive without ever getting upset with another driver •Save money •Enjoyed volunteering •Cared if my bag matched my shoes •Enjoyed going to see rock bands •Enjoyed making my own smoothies everyday •Enjoyed the raw food diet But I'm not any of those things. I have accepted that I will likely always be a night person, that I made the right decision to sell my Vitamix (after only using it a handful of times over 2 years), and that I would rather donate money then have to show up at a place at an assigned time to volunteer. This is who I am, and that's okay - the world needs me and the world needs the person who is all of the things I'm not. Favorite moments from the book: •What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while. •You don't have to be good at everything. •With extrinsic motivation, people act to win external rewards or avoid external punishments; with intrinsic motivation, people act for their own satisfaction. Studies show that if you reward people for doing an activity, they often stop doing it for fun; being paid turns it into "work." •The repetitive activity of walking, studies who, triggers the body's relaxation response and so helps reduce stress; at the same time, even a quick ten-minute walk provides an immediate energy boost and improves mood - in fact, exercises is an effective way to snap out of a funk. •Also, having few clothing choices made me feel happier. Although people believe they like to have lots of choice, in fact, having too many choices can be discouraging. Instead of making people feel more satisfied, a wide range of options can paralyze them. •I'd been self-righteously telling myself that I did certain chores or made certain efforts "for Jamie" or "for the team." Though this sounded generous, it led to a bad result, because I sulked when Jamie didn't appreciate my efforts. Instead, I started to tell myself, "I'm doing this for myself. This is what I want." •Perhaps because men have this low standard for what qualifies as intimacy, both men and women find relationships with women to be more enjoyable than those with men. In fact, for both men and women, the most reliable predictor of not being lonely is the amount of contact with women. Time spent with men doesn't make a difference. •Learning that men and women both turn to women for understanding showed me that Jamie wasn't ignoring me out of lack of interest or affection; he just wasn't good at giving that kind of support. •I've never forgotten something I read in college, by Pierre Reverdy: "There is no love; there are only proofs of love." Whatever love I might feel in my heart, others will see only my actions. •"Feeling right" is about living the life that's right for you - in occupation, location, marital status, and so on. •When thinking about happiness in marriage, you may have an almost irresistible impulse to focus on your spouse, to emphasize how he or she should change in order to boost your happiness. But the fact is, you can't change anyone but yourself. •"Between the ages of twenty and forty we are engaged in the process of discovering who we are, which involves learning the difference between accidental limitations which it is our duty to outgrow and the necessary limitations of our nature beyond which we cannot trespass with impunity." (Auden) •Studies show that people tend to persevere longer with problems they've been told are difficult as opposed to easy. •In fact, researchers reported that out of fifteen daily activities, they found only one during which people were happier alone rather than with other people - and that was praying. •Studies show that because of this psychological phenomenon, people unintentionally transfer to me the traits I ascribe to other people. So if I tell Jean that Pat is arrogant, unconsciously Jean associates that quality with me...What I say about other people sticks to me - even when I talk to someone who already knows me. •I'd noticed idly that a lot of people use the term "goal" instead of "resolution," and one day in December, it struck me that the difference was in fact significant. You hit a goal, you keep a resolution. Needless to say, I identified with a lot of what she wrote. I loved the book. Rubin also has a website where you can download examples of her resolution charts. Highly recommend.

After reading some of the reviews of this book, I decided to read a chapter at a time and try to apply what I have read to my life before continuing on with the book. I really think the book has more meaning that way. I tried to read a chapter at a time and some chapters applied more to me than others so I was able to finish the book in 10 months. Crazy! What did I learn? I learned that I really needed to slow down and smell the roses, I needed to do things for myself and others and appreciate things- all things! I need to be grateful and handle tasks and not put things off.I needed to have fun, set goals, find a passion and buy some happiness. Yep...that's all. LOL I know that is a lot but this is a learning process and I am not totally done. I was not a sad person before reading the book but I am a more happier persn because I learned that it is okay to do somethings and to be proud to do them. Yes, I can make time for myself. Yes, I can indulge in buying something. Yes, I need to eat more healthy as that makes me have more energy FOR ME not for anyone else but FOR ME. Am I preaching to buy or read this book, no. I needed this book to direct me and as a parent, I am used to getting the backseat but now I know it is okay to step up and he heard, seen or be there. So read it and apply some of it if you need a boost. It is not a hard book to read and don't read it all in one sitting. When you find something that applies to you- stop, apply it for a while before continuing on in your reading. That is what I tried to do. Each chapter is a month with topics like: boost energy, remember love, be serious about play, make times for friends, pay attention, pursue a passion, etc.

The author, Gretchen Rubin, spent an entire year working on something we all could use more of in our lives - happiness. Taking each month to focus on one part of her life to improve her overall happiness, Rubin examined different aspects like marriage, parenting, money and friendship and tried to find ways to add more fun and happiness to each. Based on her own extensive research, Rubin peppers her book with references to psychological studies and concepts and uses pertinent quotes from famous authors and historical figures. What really drives the narrative though is her ability to take this research, apply it to her life and come up with useful lessons for her readers. One lesson I found incredibly simple, but extremely helpful was her use of file boxes to arrange the pictures, cards, invitations, programs and schoolwork of her daughters year by year. I know some of my best memories are from the knick knacks and photos I accumulated while young and can look back upon now with the benefit of hindsight. This idea isn't groundbreaking, but Rubin ties these ideas together to build a happiness manifesto that I believe anyone can draw from to improve their lives. Each chapter lists the goals she set for herself for that month. When it came to marriage she found such things as hugging her husband more and longer had a positive effect on both. And a friend's marriage mantra to love her husband "just as he is" demonstrates that some happiness advice can just as easily be found among friends and acquaintances. Rubin sums up the reason for her happiness quest best by saying "the days are long, but the years are short". She decided to do something about it to make sure she was happier in her own life and luckily for us she has shared her discoveries with a world that can always be a little happier. Rubin mentions that a small child laughs more than 400 times a day while an adult will only average 17. Somewhere along the way we all seem to lose that joy and happiness of our childhoods. Gretchen Rubin's book can't guarantee bringing it back, but it offers a multitude of tips, tricks and insights that have already been tested in her own life and are a great place to start in ours. I highly recommend this book.

Kindle版を買いました。 内容が面白いので読みやすいです。 Kindleなのでどうしても分からない言葉は辞書で調べたりworldwide機能を使ったりして読み進めました。 Kindle版なのでそういうものなのかもしれませんが、私が買ったときは2000円くらいだったのに、いつの間にかびっくりするくらい値下げされていて、ちょっと損した気分です。2000円払う価値のある本だとは思いますが…

I have no idea how to properly convey how I feel about this book. I felt so much for it and because of it and it's kind of crazy. I saw so much of myself in the author and some of the examples she explained, half the time I was sitting there dumbstruck. She breaks down her resolutions in such a way it's very easy to follow along and she is so specific in how they work out you really can't ask for much more. Rubin writes in a way that it was very easy for me to relate to and understand. It's a real achievement how much research she did and how many information she is easily able to get across to the reader. Just her Happiness Project in general was a large undertaking but it seemed like so much fun as well. I actually feel happier just having read it and also trying out and noticing little things here and there about myself. This is a book that I think will stay with me forever and one that's definitely worth a yearly read, I can not stop talking about it. I would consider it a must read for just about anyone. I found myself only reading a bit a day so I could draw it out longer, I didn't want it to end. It's funny that I've reacted to The Happiness Project so strongly too because originally it just sounded like a cute and fun memoir which is something I love to read, but it was so so much more than that. You might think with it being a bit of a self help book that it could get preachy or be filled with boring clinical talk or charts and graphs but it's nothing at all like that. It's someone sharing their wonderful experience with great insight that is very easy to transfer to your own life. The Happiness Project is an achievement by the author and I would strongly suggest this book to everyone.

My own feeling that something was missing in my life led me to find this great book. It is a great mirror to reflect on your own life and the author shows her own humanity and weaknesses that can encourage you to keep at it in your own search for happiness.

It's a great book about the search for happiness, it's funny and has great insights I could use myself. At the same time, Gretchen is a very privileged woman with a lot of resources that (like money) that a lot of people don't have. I find it hard sometimes not to think: get over it, you have it so good! when she was nagging about stuff. On the other hand, that's what people do (I know I do) and she is brutally honest about it and trying to do something with it, and that's something I admire her for (and aim for me to do myself).

I recently purchased The Happiness Project after a friend had recommened it to me and I am so glad that I did! This is a wonderful book that helps remind you of the "little" things in life that bring us joy or helps you find them in case you've forgot. It is also a reminder that we can create our own happiness no matter what your situation may be....if you have a dream you have longed for then only you can make it a reality, even if it seems out of reach, by taking baby steps YOU CAN make it happen! I had lost my way for awhile and this book is helping me find my way back one day and one page at a time.