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Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,044 ratings

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Can YouLearn to BeHappy?



YES . . . according to the teacher of HarvardUniversity’s most popular and life-changingcourse. One out of every five Harvard studentshas lined up to hear Tal Ben-Shahar’sinsightful and inspiring lectures on thatever-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

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Though everyone wants to be happier, how many of us can actually define what that means? In his class, "Positive Psychology," one of the most popular courses at Harvard University, Ben-Shahar teaches that happiness isn't as elusive a concept as people think, and can actually be learned; he commits the fundamentals of his course to paper in this primer on getting happy, which he defines as a combination of pleasure (short-term happiness) and meaning (long-term). Divided into three parts, "What is Happiness?", "Happiness Applied" and "Meditations on Happiness," Ben-Shahar provides insight and exercises, prodding reflection in readers ("Do you accept negative emotions as natural?" "Do you see your work as a job, a career, or a calling?") while explicating the relationships among happiness, motivation and goals. Though it sounds simple, Ben-Shahar insists on keen self-awareness and purposeful action to overcome entrenched patterns of despondency and/or disbelief. For answer-seekers, this is definitely a good start.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Jeff Woodman’s reading has a narrative drive that captures the author’s affirming ideas.”
AudioFile

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003XNTU5M
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ McGraw Hill; 1st edition (May 25, 2007)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 25, 2007
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1690 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Up to 4 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 213 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,044 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,044 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and helpful for understanding positive psychology. They describe it as a well-written, easy-to-understand guide with straightforward suggestions. Many consider it a valuable investment and say it's worth the price. However, some readers feel the length is too long and boring, lacking in research and clichés.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

82 customers mention "Positive psychology"78 positive4 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-written. They say it provides a good overview of why happiness matters, and is an enjoyable read. The book is full of wisdom, lessons, graphs, and exercises that help on many levels. Readers appreciate the footnotes full of great research papers, articles, and books. Overall, it serves as an excellent reminder for all of us.

"...Ben-Shahar was insightful, compelling, gave new language to my own experience in life - all the offerings of a really good read and a conviction to..." Read more

"...The book, though, is more practicum than theory. Each chapter has exercises that help the reader put these ideas into action...." Read more

"this book has helped me on so many levels. I have worked through this book over several weeks and just finished it...." Read more

"...The most significant observation in the book is that happiness is the ultimate currency. It's so basic, and so true...." Read more

27 customers mention "Readability"27 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They describe it as a quick read with real substance. The book is well-structured and structured in a clear, scientific language.

"...Ben-Shahar was insightful, compelling, gave new language to my own experience in life - all the offerings of a really good read and a conviction to..." Read more

"Ben-Shahar presents the reader with a straight-forward, quick book that lays out the highlights of research into happiness and into what make us..." Read more

"I think Ben-Shahar has done a great job with researching and writing this book...." Read more

"I have become a fan of Tal Ben-Shahar after reading this book - Very well written, very informative and an enjoyable read...." Read more

18 customers mention "Ease of application"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. It provides straightforward suggestions that are manageable and achievable. The book goes through the details and provides a how-to guide without being disjointed. Readers appreciate the simple yet true approach.

"...I have never seen it laid out so simply, yet it all made perfect sense...." Read more

"Ben-Shahar presents the reader with a straight-forward, quick book that lays out the highlights of research into happiness and into what make us..." Read more

"...It's so basic, and so true. All this stuff that we do in life is for the purpose of gaining happiness...." Read more

"...happiness and the other as the future happiness makes it very easy to understand...." Read more

5 customers mention "Value for money"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They say it's worth the investment, has the best price found on Amazon, and is a good book.

"...if this self-help book is better than any other, but it was very valuable to me. If you are in need, read it and do the exercises...." Read more

"...I hope it will have been worth the investment. Only time will tell." Read more

"...I am not the same....and I haven't finished yet! Worth buying it !" Read more

"Book came as expected, I'm only on the first chapter, so far so good. Best price I found here at Amazon. Hardcover and new...." Read more

6 customers mention "Length"2 positive4 negative

Customers have different views on the book's length. Some find it neither too long nor too short, while others feel it's too long and boring, lacking research and cliches. They also mention that it's not an academic level book, but a way to look at life in a happier way.

"...We really couldn't listen to them all--it was just too platitudinous and uninteresting...." Read more

"...By the way, the book is not too long and not too short. Every sentence is well weighted." Read more

"...It's short on research, and long on cliches. Basically, use your time efficiently and be grateful for the good stuff in your life...." Read more

"...It's not an academic level book, but a means to look at life in a more happier way, instead of being so grumpy." Read more

Happier
5 out of 5 stars
Happier
Book came as expected, I'm only on the first chapter, so far so good. Best price I found here at Amazon. Hardcover and new. I am glad I was able to find it on Amazon.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2024
    I really enjoyed this book and was challenged by the content. Ben-Shahar was insightful, compelling, gave new language to my own experience in life - all the offerings of a really good read and a conviction to do something different. I believe I am on a path to living a “happier” life, and this book will be gifted to many of my loved ones this year. His graph and description of happier, the rat race, the hedonist, and the nihilist were particularly brilliant. I have never seen it laid out so simply, yet it all made perfect sense. I am weary of bouncing between the rat race and the hedonist life, which then always eventually lands me in the nihilist space, burned out. I feel that I have some tangible tools now to avoid those pitfalls and to work towards seeing and experiencing life as it is meant to be experienced; in a place of peace, contentment, and joy. I am downloading his next book immediately to continue my work. If I could ask the author one favor, I’d ask him to create a book of daily thoughts from his work, where one could read and meditate on an excerpt to start the day.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2014
    Ben-Shahar presents the reader with a straight-forward, quick book that lays out the highlights of research into happiness and into what make us happy. The book, though, is more practicum than theory. Each chapter has exercises that help the reader put these ideas into action. I read the book straight through first and will go back to do the exercises. But already the insights that Ben-Shahar discusses have helped me to think differently about the nature of happiness and its relation to aspects of one’s life (such as work or the future).

    Ben-Shahar's uses his own life experiences, hypothetical cases, and metaphors to concretize the theory. I particularly liked his quadrant of the rat-race, hedonism, nihilism, and happiness. This captures more of the nuance of what kind of life (or rather one's perspective on life) is more likely to lead to happiness.

    Ben-Shahar's advice is practical and doesn't rely on quick fixes or some formula. It's intellectual work. It's about thinking about one's values and the hierarchy of those values: find out what is important and how to balance these in your life. It is also about finding the balance between past, present, and future. Living in the past or living for the future is not a recipe for happiness. One needs to be present, but can't forget their past or their future either. None of this is easy to do: but the pay off of a happy, fulfilling life is worth the work.
    20 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2023
    this book has helped me on so many levels. I have worked through this book over several weeks and just finished it. It’s great for mental health, if anyone is looking for a recommendation
    Customer image
    4.0 out of 5 stars Loved
    Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2023
    this book has helped me on so many levels. I have worked through this book over several weeks and just finished it. It’s great for mental health, if anyone is looking for a recommendation
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2008
    I think self-help books are the hardest genre to write. People's reasons for looking for help and inspiration are so varied, and their problems so diverse, that what fits perfectly for one person is totally inappropriate for the next. What is perfect advice for a thirty year old single mother suffering from terminal brain cancer wouldn't work for a teenager trying to decide what college to apply to, and vice versa.

    This work does an excellent job of putting people's issues in the context of the empirical research regarding what makes us happy. Rarely, in a book of this nature, do I find myself inspired to do the exercises. I have never felt moved to change my daily life habits based upon something I have read. Yet, as the result of reading "Happier", I have done both.

    For anyone who is looking for a little guidance on how to improve your happiness, which is probably all of us, I would strongly recommend this book. The only caveat is that I would suggest slowly reading every page and actually doing the exercises, in writing. This is not the type of work that one can just breeze through and get the full benefit of it. But I think the extra effort will pay off.
    21 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2009
    I read this book during the lowest point in my life. Now that I look back, about 1.5 years later, it was the catalyst that put me on the road to recovery. A few minutes ago I was sitting in my room looking at my bookshelf and caught sight of the yellow spine. I thought, "Damn. I HAVE to write a review."

    The most significant observation in the book is that happiness is the ultimate currency. It's so basic, and so true. All this stuff that we do in life is for the purpose of gaining happiness. When I realized that status, possessions, relationships and accomplishments have no intrinsic value, I began to rethink my approach to life. The funny thing is, I do just about the same things today that I did back then. The difference is my experience of them. For me, it was matter of changing the way I motivated myself. For you it will probably be something else.

    I don't know if this self-help book is better than any other, but it was very valuable to me. If you are in need, read it and do the exercises. The results will not be instant, but hopefully it will start or continue something good in your life.

    Best of luck, everyone.
    156 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2014
    I think Ben-Shahar has done a great job with researching and writing this book. Most of what he is saying is very true and definitely relevant to our culture, especially in America. The only thing i could think of was certain values like loyalty, and righteousness.The answer in a nutshell is almost unattainable in most countries in the Middle East, Indonesia, China and other countries of similar nature. That only works here in America. What about in Muslim countries: If you wanted to be a christian, because lets say that brought you joy now and for the future, if you said anything to anyone about that, you would literally be stoned to death. Like I said, before great book, great research, I question the answer.

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Excell 431
    5.0 out of 5 stars The book is in a perfect state like indicated
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 12, 2024
    Every think was perfect.
    The description of the book, number of pages, size and the possibility to read some pages are very important.
  • Francois
    5.0 out of 5 stars concepts clairs et pertinents
    Reviewed in France on June 14, 2023
    Très bon livre agréable à lire avec des concepts simples, clairs et pertinents. Le livre est également assez synthétique et ne se répète pas.
  • Kevin K.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ein Großartiges Buch
    Reviewed in Germany on March 10, 2021
    Meines Erachtens ist die moderne Ratgeberliteratur größtenteils nur ein Schatten weniger exzellenter Bücher. Längst bekannte Konzepte werden in schöne Metaphern gepackt und bilden eine gelungene Bettlektüre. Dieses Buch ist aber eines von diesen großartigen Büchern. Alle Ansätze, Aussagen und Aufgaben stehen auf einem wissenschaftlichen Fundament, sind leicht verständlich und gut anwendbar. Wer dieses Buch ordentlich durcharbeitet, viel nachdenkt und es auch ein zweites Mal liest wird vieles mitnehmen können.
    Und die vielen Autoren die hier zitiert werden sind sicherlich eine spannende Ergänzung für alle die weiter einsteigen möchten.
  • Sandra
    5.0 out of 5 stars No puedo parar de leer
    Reviewed in Mexico on April 2, 2019
    Desde que abrí no puedo de parar de leer, muy bueno
  • Andreia Sousa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Apresenta "ferramentas" neurocientíficas para se ter mais felicidade
    Reviewed in Brazil on March 12, 2018
    Rompe com a lógica vigente de que o sucesso traz felicidade. Apresenta "ferramentas" na forma de práticas diárias que trilham o caminho de uma vida mais positiva.

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