Helpful Score: 16
Don't let the title throw you. This isn't a sad story of someone who's very unhappy with her life. Gretchen admits up front that she has a great life. She also admits that she's becoming complacent and wants to feel more gratitude for all life's blessings. She knows happiness is often a choice and often takes effort. Making the effort to be happy now, when things are good, will better prepare you to weather the storm when things go south. She also states several times that her happiness project is not intended to treat depression. Having said that, Gretchen takes readers through a year in her life where she made resolutions each month. She resolves to "lighten up", "sing in the morning", "stop nagging her husband" and everything in between. Everyone's happiness project will be unique to individual needs and desires. I found it to be a manual for life improvement. If you can identify a problem area, Gretchen gives suggestions and inspiration for improving that area. I highly recommend it!
Helpful Score: 8
Meh. I thought the author had a good concept but implemented it not so well. I found this book to be preachy and uninteresting.
Helpful Score: 2
Blogger turned author Gretchen Rubin has created an inspiring book that will give you a system for engaging in your own happiness project. Share her journey and start your own!
Helpful Score: 2
The self-discovery of a woman who decides that she's going to devote 12 months to generally put more happiness into her life. Her first steps? Which I found so true of most women: Creating order out of chaos in her home and in her private and professional life!
Her projects for the twelve months: January: Boost Energy; February: Remember Love; March: Aim Higher; April: Lighten Up; May: Be Serious About Play; June: Make Time For Friends; July: Buy Some Happiness; August: Contemplate the Heavems' September: Pursue a Passion; October: Pay Attention; November: Keep a Contented Heart; December: Boot Camp Perfect.
A good, interesting, inspirational read!
Her projects for the twelve months: January: Boost Energy; February: Remember Love; March: Aim Higher; April: Lighten Up; May: Be Serious About Play; June: Make Time For Friends; July: Buy Some Happiness; August: Contemplate the Heavems' September: Pursue a Passion; October: Pay Attention; November: Keep a Contented Heart; December: Boot Camp Perfect.
A good, interesting, inspirational read!
Helpful Score: 2
I waited over a year to get this book, and when it came i could not get into it! To me it was a bit boring and the author came accross as a bit of a whiner. I tried to enjoy it, but unfortunately it did not make me happy so i finally decided that it was not for me...
Helpful Score: 1
This book is a great journey of one person who decides to be happier. It made me happier to just read it. Overall, it is a great book and I couldn't put it down.
Not exactly what I was expecting but I still enjoyed it. It made me realize that I am probably a pretty happy person in general but gave me lots of ideas for showing appreciation to others and enjoying the day to day things in life more. I liked that the author was realistic and honest. Definitely worth reading.
The author's goals to be happier and how it worked out for her over the course of a year. My goals/takeaways from this book:
(1) exercise better - 20 min every day, wear my fitbit, lift weights (see a trainer for this)
(2) eat better - track what I eat, eat more fruit, don't snack after 7 pm
(3) tackle a nagging task on the to do list every day - usually takes only a few minutes and these things being on the list are mentally draining
(4) give proofs of love!! don't just think you love someone; show them
(5) work smarter, be time efficient
(6) evening tidy up - don't wake up to a mess
(7) remove make up every night
(8) enjoy now. make time for fun. be in the moment.
(9) be happy. be positive. and always act that way. when you act that way, you will be that way.
(1) exercise better - 20 min every day, wear my fitbit, lift weights (see a trainer for this)
(2) eat better - track what I eat, eat more fruit, don't snack after 7 pm
(3) tackle a nagging task on the to do list every day - usually takes only a few minutes and these things being on the list are mentally draining
(4) give proofs of love!! don't just think you love someone; show them
(5) work smarter, be time efficient
(6) evening tidy up - don't wake up to a mess
(7) remove make up every night
(8) enjoy now. make time for fun. be in the moment.
(9) be happy. be positive. and always act that way. when you act that way, you will be that way.
I enjoyed it, usually much more into fiction but I liked the approach to this topic. Easy to read with the mini topics, resolutions, and sub goals for each month of the year. I liked that she wasn't depressed in order to search for more happiness, rather she just wanted to maximize how much she appreciated now and how happy she could be. I found a lot to relate to in the book and it made me think about what I like and what makes me happy. Some of the best things were pointing out that doing things you wished you liked (but don't actually like) isn't going to help happiness and the quote on page 198 about unappreciated and unenjoyed yesterdays. Having my first child and approaching a new decade of life have already put me in the ponder life mood so this fit with that. Excited to read the next book focusing on happiness at home.
While I won't say this book is useless, I can't, in all honesty, recommend it to anyone.
