Good book, somewhat interesting but poorly written

books:


	• Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment Tal Ben-Shahar McGraw-Hill, 2007 - 224 pages average customer review:based on 42 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Good book, somewhat interesting but poorly written

This book certainly introduces some central concepts which I found illuminating and useful. There are quite a few exercises ("time-ins") which everyone should do at some point in their life, if not regularily. I found some of these to be better than others whilst a few appeared to be there just for the sake of filling up space.

The writing itself is a little self-helpy which is something I couldn't quite get over. I would've liked to have more hard data and information to challenge me in my thinking around the topic. Much of the book is also repetative and I felt it was at times patronising.

It took a bit of concentration to get over the writing but once I focused on the topic at hand, I found the information quite illuminating.

All in all however, if you can get over the writing and into the crux of the topic, I think it's a very useful book and definitely worthy of a good read. Some of the exercises and meditations are useful and are things I would encourage any person to at least try.

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Happiness is a source

This book is a wonderful confirmation of my 77 years on earth. I have given three copies to my psychology compatriates. The basis for happiness is located inside and as with humor, wonder and curiosity fed by our contained energy part. So watch the drains (also in others). Thanks to the author I have freed myself even more from the jealousy of others.
Pieter G. Kuipers,
Sneek, The Netherlands

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I'll give this partial credit...

I read "Happier" over the Christmas holidays. It is an easy read, maybe even a bit simplistic in its day glo presentation. It is rooted in the "positive psychology" movement, based on a popular course at Harvard. The findings are hardly groundbreaking: happiness, the author contends, is a mixture of small pleasures in the moment and a sense of meaning in life overall. There are practical exercises ("time ins") in each chapter that should help you center your life around things you enjoy.

A few months after reading this book (I did most of the exercises), I am more focused on small pleasures and am feeling happier than I was. I have also maintained a 25 lb weight loss since the holidays, a first for me. I'm not giving all the credit to this book, but I think it's fair to say it might be one of the things that has helped me this year. This isn't the be all, end all pop psych book, but it's worth a read.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Can You Learn to Be Happy?

YES . . . according to the teacher of Harvard University?s most popular and life-changing course. One out of every five Harvard students has lined up to hear Tal Ben-Shahar?s insightful and inspiring lectures on that ever-elusive state: HAPPINESS.

HOW?
Grounded in the revolutionary ?positive psychology? movement, Ben-Shahar ingeniously combines scientific studies, scholarly research, self-help advice, and spiritual enlightenment. He weaves them together into a set of principles that you can apply to your daily life. Once you open your heart and mind to Happier ?s thoughts, you will feel more fulfilled, more connected . . . and, yes, HAPPIER.

?Dr. Ben-Shahar, one of the most popular teachers in Harvard?s recent history, has written a personal, informed, and highly enjoyable primer on how to become happier. It would be wise to take his advice.?
--Ellen J. Langer, author of Mindfulness and On Becoming an Artist

?This fine book shimmers with a rare brand of good sense that is imbedded in scientific knowledge about how to increase happiness. It is easy to see how this is the backbone of the most popular course at Harvard today."
--Martin E. P. Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness

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