Books that Make You Re-Think Happiness

shelved under Self-Help

As a happiness seeker and someone who’s studied the philosophy, science and theory of happiness, this eclectic group of books has inspired me to think about happiness a little different after reading them than I did before picked them up

 

A Short Guide to a Happy Life

by Anna Quindlen

I love the pictures and simple message that happiness is about participating in life. It’s not about our stuff, titles or sitting on the sidelines… it’s appreciating the view.

 

Did I Wake You?: Haikus for Modern Living

by Beth Lapides

This book is short, funny and full of witty thoughts that make you think about life in a new light. You can read one page and you have your thoughts for the day.

 

Happiness from the Inside Out: The Art and Science of Fulfillment

by Robert Mack

This is a self-help book that actually helps you develop happy habits in a realistic way. It doesn’t have you pretending to be happy about unhappy things. And it teaches you to expand your ideas about where you find happiness. It’s where happiness meets reality.

 

Happiness Is

by Lisa Messenger

This is a book of happy color pictures and happy saying attached about everyday life—including family, friends, work, and spirituality. Just flipping through it makes you happy.

 

Life Cycles: Your Emotional Journey To Freedom And Happiness

by Christine DeLorey

This book has an uncanny insight into our emotional cycles and it helps you navigate then a little easier. Think about when it rains, if you’re prepared you don’t get drench, and you know a rainbow is coming. Life cycles helps you find more happiness because it eerily confirms what you are feeling.

 

The Big D!ck Contest: Exposed

by Lafferty Johnson

Life is a game (like it or not), and this book describes the game in a humorous way. You can’t avoid it, you usually can’t change it, but you can change the way you react to it if you understand it. And if you understand it, you’ll know when to play and when to sit on the sidelines and just have a laugh.

 

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World

by Eric Weiner

This book opens our eyes to the fact that different cultures think of happiness in entirely different ways. And we can learn about happiness from everyone. It’s about Eric’s travel adventures in some unlikely places and his personal insights. He’s a self-proclaimed cynic to boot.

 

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson

by Mitch Albom

This is a favorite because Morrie teaches us with his own attitude that happiness is relative to our current circumstances. That we really have a choice, allowing anger from changing circumstances to consume us or choosing to value what we actually have. Happiness really is about perspective.

 

Yeah Dave's Guide to Livin' the Moment: Getting to Ecstasy Through Wine, Chocolate and Your iPod Playlist

by David Romanelli

In our all too busy world, it’s really hard to live in the moment. In this book, the titular Dave talks about his quest to do just that in a world that's full-busy. It’s funny, honest and truthful. It makes me want to take some of Dave’s yoga classes… if only in my heart.