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Name: Amazon.com: The Happiness Project, Tenth Anniversary 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 eBook : Rubin, Gretchen: Kindle Store
Rating: 4.3 (7408 reviews)

Gretchen Rubin

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The Happiness Project, Tenth Anniversary 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 Kindle Edition

by Gretchen Rubin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

7,408 ratings

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#1 New York Times Bestseller

“An enlightening, laugh-aloud read. . . . Filled with open, honest glimpses into [Rubin’s] real life, woven together with constant doses of humor.”—Christian Science Monitor

Gretchen Rubin’s year-long experiment to discover how to create true happiness. Drawing on cutting-edge science, classical philosophy, and real-world examples, Rubin delivers an engaging, eminently relatable chronicle of transformation. This special 10^th Anniversary edition features a Conversation with Gretchen Rubin, Happiness Project Stories, a guide to creating your own happiness project, a list of dozens of free resources, and more.

Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. “The days are long, but the years are short,” she realized. “Time is passing, and I’m not focusing enough on the things that really matter.” In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.

In this lively and compelling account—now updated with new material by the author—Rubin chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Among other things, she found that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that money can help buy happiness, when spent wisely; that outer order contributes to inner calm; and that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.

This updated edition includes:

An extensive new interview with the author
Stories of other people’s life-changing happiness projects
A resource guide to the dozens of free resources created for readers
The Happiness Project Manifesto
An excerpt from Rubin’s bestselling book The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles that Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People’s Lives Better, Too)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Rubin is not an unhappy woman: she has a loving husband, two great kids and a writing career in New York City. Still, she could-and, arguably, should-be happier. Thus, her methodical (and bizarre) happiness project: spend one year achieving careful, measurable goals in different areas of life (marriage, work, parenting, self-fulfillment) and build on them cumulatively, using concrete steps (such as, in January, going to bed earlier, exercising better, getting organized, and "acting more energetic"). By December, she's striving bemusedly to keep increasing happiness in every aspect of her life. The outcome is good, not perfect (in accordance with one of her "Secrets of Adulthood": "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good"), but Rubin's funny, perceptive account is both inspirational and forgiving, and sprinkled with just enough wise tips, concrete advice and timely research (including all those other recent books on happiness) to qualify as self-help. Defying self-help expectations, however, Rubin writes with keen senses of self and narrative, balancing the personal and the universal with a light touch. Rubin's project makes curiously compulsive reading, which is enough to make any reader happy.

Review

“Practical and never preachy . . . the rare self-help tome that doesn’t feel shameful to read.” (Daily Beast)

“Packed with fascinating facts about the science of happiness and rich examples of how she improves her life through changes small and big The Happiness Project made me happier by just reading it.” (Amy Scribner, Bookpage)

“An enlightening, laugh-aloud read. . . . Filled with open, honest glimpses into [Rubin’s] real life, woven together with constant doses of humor.” (Terry Hong, Christian Science Monitor)

“For those who generally loathe the self-help genre, Rubin’s book is a breath of peppermint-scented air. Well-researched and sharply written. . . . Rubin takes an orderly, methodical approach to forging her own path to a happier state of mind.” (Kim Crow, Cleveland Plain Dealer)

From the Back Cover

“Wonderful. . . . Rubin shows how you can be happier, starting right now, with small, actionable steps accessible to everyone.” —Julie Morgenstern, New York Times bestselling author of Organizing from the Inside Out

Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. “The days are long, but the years are short,” she realized. “Time is passing, and I’m not focusing enough on the things that really matter.” In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.

In this lively and compelling account—now updated with new material by the author—Rubin chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Among other things, she found that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that money can help buy happiness, when spent wisely; that outer order contributes to inner calm; and that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.

“An enlightening, laugh-aloud read.”—Christian Science Monitor

This updated edition includes:

· A new extensive interview with the author

· Secrets of Adulthood

· An excerpt from Gretchen Rubin’s new book, Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits—to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life

About the Author

I'm the author of the New York Times bestsellers "The Happiness Project," “Happier at Home” and “Better Than Before.” I write about my experiences as I test-drive the wisdom of the ages, current scientific studies, and lessons from popular culture about happiness, habits, and human nature. My next book will hit the shelves in summer 2017: “The Four Tendencies: The Surprising Truth about the Four Hidden Personality Types That Drive Everything We Do.”

Find out your Tendency—are you an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel?—when you take the free quiz at GretchenRubin.com.

Subscribe to my award-winning weekly podcast “Happier with Gretchen Rubin” (more than 1 million downloads each month) and hear my sister and I discuss strategies and tips for how to make your daily life happier. I also created an app to help people harness the power of the Four Tendencies. Learn more at BetterApp.us or search the app store for “Better Gretchen Rubin.”

My previous books include a bestselling biography of Winston Churchill, "Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill,” and one of John Kennedy, “Forty Ways to Look at JFK.” My first book, “Power Money Fame S..: A User's Guide,” is social criticism in the guise of a user's manual. I wrote “Profane Waste” in collaboration with artist Dana Hoey. I've also written three dreadful novels that are safely locked away in a drawer.

Before turning to writing, I had a career in law. A graduate of Yale and Yale Law School, I clerked for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and was editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal. I live in New York City with my husband and two daughters.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Happiness Project

Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More FunBy Gretchen Rubin

Harper Paperbacks

Copyright © 2011 Gretchen Rubin
All right reserved.
ISBN: 9780061583261

Chapter One

Like 44 percent of Americans, I make
New Year?s resolutions?and usually
don?t keep them for long. How many times
had I resolved to exercise more, eat better, and
keep up with my e-mail in-box? This year,
though, I was making my resolutions in the
context of my happiness project, and I hoped
that would mean that I?d do a better job of
keeping them. To launch the new year and
my happiness project, I decided to focus on
boosting my energy. More vitality, I hoped,
would make it easier for me to stick to all
my happiness project resolutions in future
months.
¦ Go to sleep earlier.
¦ Exercise better.
¦ Toss, restore, organize.
¦ Tackle a nagging task.
¦ Act more energetic.
In a virtuous circle, research shows, being happy energizes you, and at the same time,
having more energy makes it easier for you to engage in activities?
like socializing and exercise?that
boost happiness. Studies also show that when you feel energetic, your self
esteem rises. Feeling tired, on the other hand, makes everything seem
arduous. An activity that you?d ordinarily find fun, like putting up holiday
decorations, feels difficult, and a more demanding task, like learning a new
software program, feels overwhelming.
I know that when I feel energetic, I find it much easier to behave in
ways that make me happy. I take the time to e-mail the grandparents with
a report from the pediatrician?s checkup. I don?t scold when Eliza drops her
glass of milk on the rug just as we?re leaving for school. I have the perseverance
to figure out why my computer screen is frozen. I take the time to put
my dishes in the dishwasher.
I decided to tackle both the physical and mental aspects of energy.
For my physical energy: I needed to make sure that I got enough
sleep and enough exercise. Although I?d already known that sleep and
exercise were important to good health, I?d been surprised to learn that
happiness? which can seem like a complex, lofty, and intangible goal?was
quite influenced by these straightforward habits. For my mental energy: I
needed to tackle my apartment and office, which felt oppressively messy
and crowded. Outer order, I hoped, would bring inner peace. What?s more,
I needed to clear away metaphorical clutter; I wanted to cross tasks off my
to do list. I added one last resolution that combined the mental and the
physical. Studies show that by acting as if you feel more energetic, you can
become more energetic. I was skeptical, but it seemed worth a try.
GO TO SLEEP EARLIER.
First: bodily energy.
A glamorous friend with a tendency to make sweeping pronouncements
had told me that ?Sleep is the new sex,? and I?d recently been at a
dinner party where each person at the table detailed the best nap he or she
had ever had, in lascivious detail, while everyone moaned in appreciation.
Millions of people fail to get the recommended seven to eight hours of
sleep a night, and one study revealed that along with tight work deadlines,
a bad night?s sleep was one of the top two factors that upset people?s daily
moods. Another study suggested that getting one extra hour of sleep each
night would do more for a person?s daily happiness than getting a $60,000
raise. Nevertheless, the average adult sleeps only 6.9 hours during the
week, and 7.9 on the weekend?20 percent less than in 1900. Although
people adjust to feeling sleepy, sleep deprivation impairs memory, weakens
the immune system, slows metabolism, and might, some studies suggest,
foster weight gain.
My new, not exactly startling resolution for getting more sleep was to
turn off the light. Too often I stayed up to read, answer e-mails, watch TV,
pay bills, or whatever, instead of going to bed.
Nevertheless, just a few days into the happiness project, although I
practically fell asleep on Eliza?s purple sheets as I was tucking her in, I
wavered for a moment when Jamie proposed watching our latest Netflix
DVD, The Conversation. I love movies; I wanted to spend time with Jamie;
9:30 P.M. seemed a ridiculously early hour to go to bed; and I knew from
experience that if I started watching, I?d perk up. On the other hand, I felt
exhausted.
Why does it often seem more tiring to go to bed than to stay up?
Inertia, I suppose. Plus there?s the pre-bed work of taking out my contact
lenses, brushing my teeth, and washing my face. But I?d made my resolution,
so resolutely I headed to bed. I slept eight solid hours and woke up
an hour early, at 5:30 A.M., so in addition to getting a good night?s sleep,
I had the chance to do a peaceful block of work while my family was still
in bed.
I?m a real know-it-all, so I was pleased when my sister called and
complained of insomnia. Elizabeth is five years younger than I am, but usually
I?m the one asking her for advice.
?I?m not getting any sleep,? she said. ?I?ve already given up caffeine.
What else can I do??
?Lots of things,? I said, prepared to rattle off the tips that I?d
uncovered in my research. ?Near your bedtime, don?t do any work that
requires alert thinking. Keep your bedroom slightly chilly. Do a few pre-bed
stretches. Also?this is important?because light confuses the body?s
circadian clock, keep the lights low around bedtime, say, if you go to the
bathroom. Also, make sure your room is very dark when the lights are out.
Like a hotel room.?
?Do you really think it can make a difference?? she asked.
?All the studies say that it does.?
I?d tried all these steps myself, and I?d found the last one?keeping
our bedroom dark?surprisingly difficult to accomplish.
?What are you doing?? Jamie had asked one night when he caught me
rearranging various devices throughout our room.
?I?m trying to block the light from all these gizmos,? I answered. ?I
read that even a tiny light from a digital alarm clock can disrupt a sleep
cycle, and it?s like a mad scientist?s lab in here. Our Blackberrys, the
computer, the cable box?everything blinks or glows bright green.?
?Huh? was all he said, but he did help me move some things on the
nightstand to block the light coming from our alarm clock.
These changes did seem to make falling asleep easier. But I often lost
sleep for another reason: I?d wake up in the middle of the night?
curiously, usually at 3:18 A.M.?and be unable to go back to sleep. For those
nights, I developed another set of tricks. I breathed deeply and slowly until
I couldn?t stand it anymore. When my mind was racing with a to do list,
I wrote everything down. There?s evidence that too little blood flow to
the extremities can keep you awake, so if my feet were cold, I put on wool
socks?which, though it made me feel frumpish, did seem to help.
Two of my most useful getting to sleep strategies were my own invention.
First, I tried to get ready for bed well before bedtime. Sometimes
I stayed up late because I was too tired to take out my contacts?plus,
putting on my glasses had an effect like putting the cover on the parrot?s
cage. Also, if I woke up in the night, I?d tell myself, ?I have to get up in
two minutes.? I?d imagine that I?d just hit the snooze alarm and in two
minutes, I?d have to march through my morning routine. Often this was
an exhausting enough prospect to make me fall asleep.
And sometimes I gave up and took an Ambien.
After a week or so of more sleep, I began to feel a real difference. I felt
more energetic and cheerful with my children in the morning. I didn?t feel
a painful, never fulfilled urge to take a nap in the afternoon. Getting out
of bed in the morning was no longer torture; it?s so much nicer to wake up
naturally instead of being jerked out of sleep by a buzzing alarm.
Nevertheless, despite all the benefits, I still struggled to put myself
to bed as soon as I felt sleepy. Those last few hours of the day were
precious?when the workday was finished, Jamie was home, my daughters
were asleep, and I had some free time. Only the daily reminder on my
Resolutions Chart kept me from staying up until midnight most nights.
EXERCISE BETTER.
There?s a staggering amount of evidence to show that exercise is good for
you. Among other benefits, people who exercise are healthier, think more
clearly, sleep better, and have delayed onset of dementia. Regular exercise
boosts energy levels; although some people assume that working out is
tiring, in fact, it boosts energy, especially in sedentary people?of whom
there are many. A recent study showed that 25 percent of Americans don?t
get any exercise at all. Just by exercising twenty minutes a day three days a
week for six weeks, persistently tired people boosted their energy.
Even knowing all these benefits, though, you can find it difficult to change
from a couch potato into a gym enthusiast. Many years ago, I?d managed to
turn myself into a regular exerciser, but it hadn?t been easy. My idea of fun
has always been to lie in bed reading. Preferably while eating a snack.
When I was in high school, I wanted to redecorate my bedroom to
replace the stylized flowered wallpaper that I thought wasn?t sufficiently
sophisticated for a freshman, and I wrote a long proposal laying out my
argument to my parents. My father considered the proposal and said, ?All
right, we?ll redecorate your room. But in return, you have to do something
four times a week for twenty minutes.?
?What do I have to do?? I asked, suspicious.
?You have to take it or leave it. It?s twenty minutes. How bad can
it be??
?Okay, I?ll take the deal,? I decided. ?What do I have to do??
His answer: ?Go for a run.?
My father, himself a dedicated runner, never told me how far I had to
run or how fast; he didn?t even keep track of whether I went for twenty
minutes. All he asked was that I put on my running shoes and shut the
door behind me. My father?s deal got me to commit to a routine, and once
I started running, I found that I didn?t mind exercising, I just didn?t like
sports.
My father?s approach might well have backfired. 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.? Parents, for example,
are warned not to reward children for reading?they?re teaching kids to
read for a reward, not for pleasure. By giving me an extrinsic motivation,
my father risked sapping my inclination to exercise on my own. As
it happened, in my case, he provided an extrinsic motivation that
unleashed my intrinsic motivation.
Ever since that room redecoration, I?ve been exercising regularly. I never
push myself hard, but I get myself out the door several times a week. For
a long time, however, I?d been thinking that I really should start strength
training. Lifting weights increases muscle mass, strengthens bones, firms
the core, and?I admit, most important to me?improves shape. People
who work out with weights maintain more muscle and gain less fat as they
age. A few times over the years, I?d halfheartedly tried lifting weights, but
I?d never stuck to it; now, with my resolution to ?Exercise better,? it was
time to start.
There?s a Buddhist saying that I?ve found to be uncannily true: ?When
the student is ready, the teacher appears.? Just a few days after I committed
to my resolution to ?exercise better,? I met a friend for coffee, and she
mentioned that she?d started a great weight training program at a gym in
my neighborhood.
?I don?t like the idea of working out with a trainer,? I objected. ?I?d feel
self conscious, and it?s expensive. I want to do it on my own.?
?Try it,? my friend urged. ?I promise, you?ll love it. It?s a super efficient
way to exercise. The whole workout takes only twenty minutes. Plus??she
paused dramatically??you don?t sweat. You work out without having to
shower afterward.?
This was a major selling point. I dislike taking showers. ?But,? I asked
doubtfully, ?how can a good workout take only twenty minutes if you?re
not even sweating??
?You lift weights at the very outer limit of your strength. You don?t do
many repetitions, and you do only one set. Believe me, it works. I love it.?
In Daniel Gilbert?s book 'Stumbling on Happiness?, he argues that the
most effective way to judge whether a particular course of action will make
you happy in the future is to ask people who are following that course of
action right now if they?re happy and assume that you?ll feel the same way.
According to his theory, the fact that my friend raved about this fitness
routine was a pretty good indicator that I?d be enthusiastic, too. Also, I
reminded myself, one of my Secrets of Adulthood was ?Most decisions don?t
require extensive research.?

(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Happiness Projectby Gretchen Rubin Copyright © 2011 by Gretchen Rubin. Excerpted by permission of Harper Paperbacks. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07CRQMQ17
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Paperbacks; Anniversary edition (October 30, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 30, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4.1 MB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #13,080 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #5 in Reference & Collections of Biographies
- #29 in Happiness
- #35 in Success eBooks

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7,408 ratings

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Gretchen Rubin

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Gretchen Rubin is one of today’s most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature.

Her previous books include the #1 New York Times bestseller THE HAPPINESS PROJECT, as well as the bestselling books BETTER THAN BEFORE, HAPPIER AT HOME, THE FOUR TENDENCIES, and OUTER ORDER, INNER CALM. Her latest book is LIFE IN FIVE SENSES.

She’s the host of the popular, award-winning podcast "Happier with Gretchen Rubin," where she and her co-host (and sister) Elizabeth Craft explore strategies and insights about how to make life happier. As the founder of The Happiness Project, she has helped create imaginative products for people to use in their own happiness projects.

She has been interviewed by Oprah, eaten dinner with Nobel Prize-winner Daniel Kahneman, walked arm-in-arm with the Dalai Lama, had her work reported on in a medical journal, been written up in the New Yorker, and been an answer on Jeopardy!

Gretchen Rubin started her career in law, and she realized she wanted to be a writer while she was clerking for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Raised in Kansas City, she lives in New York City with her family.

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written, with one noting how clearly the actions are laid out. They appreciate the author's honesty about her life experiences and find it inspiring, with one review highlighting its systematic approach to personal improvement. The humor receives positive feedback, with customers laughing and crying along with the author. While some customers consider it well worth the money, others feel it's not worth the price. Some customers find the book boring and repetitive.

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611 customers mention "Readability"553 positive58 negative

Customers find the book engaging and fascinating, describing it as a read-and-do book that readers will thoroughly enjoy.

"...Needless to say, I identified with a lot of what she wrote. I loved the book...." Read more

"...She's an authentic story teller. I could empathize with her daily struggles. Her life felt like my life. I think that's the secret to great writing...." Read more

"The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin is an inspiring and relatable read that truly resonated with me...." Read more

"...All in all it's certainly not a bad book, her systematic approach is energizing, I think you can find quite a bit of inspiration here to launch your..." Read more

552 customers mention "Inspiration"552 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspirational, with many noting it offers valuable lessons and ideas for improving daily life. One customer mentions it provides fascinating insights into everyday experiences, while another describes it as extraordinary life-changing 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..." Read more

"...Project, not just for the wonderful story telling, or the amazing insights, but for the total happiness ecosystem that Gretchen has so generously..." Read more

"...Her activities and projects feel practical and achievable, making it easy to see how her insights could apply to my own life...." Read more

"...She's not miserable when she starts, she's not depressed, she has a law degree, she seems to be very well connected, her husband didn't just leave..." Read more

280 customers mention "Writing style"263 positive17 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it easy yet impactful to read, with one customer noting how clearly the actions are laid out.

"...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..." Read more

"...It can be found at [...] . There you can write your own set of happiness Resolutions or join with other people in a Group Resolution...." Read more

"...Rubin’s sincerity and down-to-earth approach shine through as she embarks on her year-long journey to bring more happiness into her life...." Read more

"...Her systematic approach is impressive, every month, for one year, she tries out different things to see what it does to her levels of happiness...." Read more

135 customers mention "Perspective"98 positive37 negative

Customers appreciate the book's perspective, with several noting how it helps them find a different outlook on life, and one customer highlighting its systematic approach to self-improvement.

"...All in all it's certainly not a bad book, her systematic approach is energizing, I think you can find quite a bit of inspiration here to launch your..." Read more

"...is very personal, thoroughly researched, fun, easy-to-read yet full of challenges. I delighted in learning about Rubin's process...." Read more

"...She also quotes a lot of random statistics, like "47% of Americans feel happier after X, Y or Z." Meh...." Read more

"...struggle a little bit with it through the book... but the principles are pretty universal...." Read more

64 customers mention "Personal insight"64 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's personal insights, noting the author's honesty about her life and experiences.

"...She's an authentic story teller. I could empathize with her daily struggles. Her life felt like my life. I think that's the secret to great writing...." Read more

"...I loved how authentic and honest she is about her struggles and successes, which made her story all the more engaging and impactful...." Read more

"...-It's very personal -- Rubin discusses her sister's diagnosis of diabetes, her husband's hepatitis C, her father's perhaps-feigned delight over take-..." Read more

"...I liked her honesty, though there seem to be quite a few reviewers who thought she was bitchy...." Read more

48 customers mention "Humor"48 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it both funny and relatable, with many mentioning they laugh and cry along with the author.

"...to it, Gretchen mixes actual research with her own experiences with a humorous and effective tone...." Read more

"...In other words, there is no snarkiness, no false comparisons, no trying to cut people down for effect, no writing off other people's experiences...." Read more

"Ms. Rubin is honest and funny. She did the work to research on happiness, and tests out her findings...." Read more

"...The reader will thoroughly enjoy this journey and laugh and cry along with the author as she works out all the ups and downs in life...." Read more

40 customers mention "Value for money"18 positive22 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's value for money, with some finding it well worth the money while others consider it a waste of money.

"...Money does not buy happiness. That is clear...." Read more

"...just leave her for a 20 something hardbody, she is definitely not strapped for cash, doesn't seem to have gone through any severe emotional trauma,..." Read more

"...I bought as a gift and decided it was not worthy of giving." Read more

"...Well worth the money!" Read more

50 customers mention "Boredom"8 positive42 negative

Customers find the book boring and repetitive.

"...To me, she sounds whiny, bored, and a kind of spoiled...." Read more

"...chapter 6 or 7 things get a little long-winded and - much worse - repetitive (to the point where I thought "I've read this part before")..." Read more

"...In someone else’s hands, this whole concept could have been trite and silly, but Gretchen Rubin’s approach to defining and working through her kinks..." Read more

"...She is just not much of a story teller. I really love the idea of small incremental steps to improve happiness in ourselves and those around us...." Read more

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Angela Risner The Sassy Orange
I really identified with her findings
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2013
Verified Purchase

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.

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Tony Loyd
More than a book...an ecosystem of happiness
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2010
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With The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin has created more than a book, she has created an entire ecosystem of happiness. Before the book, Gretchen spent a year blogging about happiness. Blog comments were incorporated into the book. The blog continues with rich insights about the truths that she learned. You can find it at [...].

As if a book and a blog were not enough, Gretchen has generously created a tool set to help you apply The Happiness Project principles into your life. It can be found at [...] . There you can write your own set of happiness Resolutions or join with other people in a Group Resolution. You can write your own list of Personal Commandments and share your Secrets of Adulthood. You can make your own lists (I recorded my bucket list) or share your insights through Happiness Hacks or the Inspiration Board. Even more fun than recording your own thoughts is to read what others have written. If it is true that none of us is as smart as all of us, there is a lot to be learned from the other people who are sharing their journey at [...] .

I first learned of Gretchen Rubin when I heard her interview on NPR. After checking into her web site, I picked up the book and (as cliché as this may be to say) found myself unwilling to put it down. She's an authentic story teller. I could empathize with her daily struggles. Her life felt like my life. I think that's the secret to great writing. Gretchen allows others to live along side her as if they were a member of her family.

All in all, I would recommend The Happiness Project, not just for the wonderful story telling, or the amazing insights, but for the total happiness ecosystem that Gretchen has so generously created.

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Nazli Isikli
Very Inspiring…Loved it
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2025
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The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin is an inspiring and relatable read that truly resonated with me. Rubin’s sincerity and down-to-earth approach shine through as she embarks on her year-long journey to bring more happiness into her life. Her activities and projects feel practical and achievable, making it easy to see how her insights could apply to my own life. I loved how authentic and honest she is about her struggles and successes, which made her story all the more engaging and impactful. It’s a book that leaves you both motivated and comforted, knowing that happiness is something we can all work toward in meaningful ways.

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Amazon カスタマー
読みやすい
Reviewed in Japan on April 25, 2025
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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…

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Eva Kutsche
Awesome book!
Reviewed in Germany on December 20, 2017
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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.

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M. van Driel
Great insights, a little to much about the author sometimes
Reviewed in the Netherlands on June 30, 2016
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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).

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amazon#1fan
Amazing Purchase!
Reviewed in Canada on August 8, 2012
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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.

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Paula
Absolutely love it!!!
Reviewed in Mexico on December 6, 2017
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I started with the free sample because I should admit I’ve read many reviews criticizing the author for not having a difficult life (so how can she ever discover / develop her path for happiness right???). But I found an inspiring book that would fit most people on how to live the life you actually want to live (notice I didn’t say happier). Also I love the mundane references and everyday’s ups and downs, that help to understand the hypothesis, habits and clues better. Fully recommended.

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5.0 out of 5 stars I really identified with her findings

4.0 out of 5 stars More than a book...an ecosystem of happiness

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4.0 out of 5 stars Great insights, a little to much about the author sometimes

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I really identified with her findings

More than a book...an ecosystem of happiness

Very Inspiring…Loved it

読みやすい

Awesome book!

Great insights, a little to much about the author sometimes

Amazing Purchase!

Absolutely love it!!!