Amy O. (cheermom140) reviewed 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 Fun on + 85 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 13
So disappointed in this book. With all the great 5-star reviews, I expected to be overwhelmed with fresh ideas, not trying to force myself to read stale drivel. Couldn't even finish it - you're better off reading the daily quotes on a Franklin Planner to get a good dose of positive vibes.
The author, Gretchen Rubin, is married to the son of Robert Rubin - former CEO of Goldman Sachs. Her husband is a super-rich hedge fund manager. She has housekeepers and nannies galore to clean and watch her children so she can look for "happiness."
from another reviewer but couldn't have said it better myself ..."I have not written a review before but felt compelled to do so after reading 1/3 to 1/2 of Ms. Rubin's work. Rather than feel happy or inspired myself, reading this book became painful. The author's constant reference to her past accomplishments were both self serving and unnecessary. I am still waiting for the "happy" part of the book to materialize. Your money would be better spent making a donation to the local food bank rather than buying this book - and I'll guarantee you'll feel happier."
The author, Gretchen Rubin, is married to the son of Robert Rubin - former CEO of Goldman Sachs. Her husband is a super-rich hedge fund manager. She has housekeepers and nannies galore to clean and watch her children so she can look for "happiness."
from another reviewer but couldn't have said it better myself ..."I have not written a review before but felt compelled to do so after reading 1/3 to 1/2 of Ms. Rubin's work. Rather than feel happy or inspired myself, reading this book became painful. The author's constant reference to her past accomplishments were both self serving and unnecessary. I am still waiting for the "happy" part of the book to materialize. Your money would be better spent making a donation to the local food bank rather than buying this book - and I'll guarantee you'll feel happier."
Moira Guthrie (moirawr) - , reviewed 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 Fun on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
While my initial response to this book wasn't the violent knee-jerk reaction of some of the other reviewers, I did find this book a bit tiresome to read. There were several chapters that were lighthearted and fun and the ideas were things that can be universally applied to everyone's life but other chapters I thought it sounded like she was just trying to convince herself of something. (Perhaps that she is happy.) And some chapters I just plain disagreed with - for instance, that money can buy happiness.
All in all, it wasn't a bad read but it definitely isn't a favorite and I won't be holding onto it. And I won't be picking up any other of Mrs. Rubin's books.
All in all, it wasn't a bad read but it definitely isn't a favorite and I won't be holding onto it. And I won't be picking up any other of Mrs. Rubin's books.
Beth H. reviewed 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 Fun on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Such a good book to be so infuriating. Ms. Reuben admits she has not dealt with many tragic events in her life and does not suffer from depression, but, my oh my, does it seem like she had the perfect life even before her "Happiness Project." Still, some real gems here. And a good read.
Cis H. (californiadreamin) reviewed 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 Fun on + 279 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Poor little Gretchen Rubin, can't find happiness with all she has going for her...aww. And her poor husband! If I were a man and my wife talked to me the way she barked and berated him, I'd have my bags packed and a lawyer on retainer. I was so disappointed in this book! Granted, I did glean a few new book titles to read, and I admit there were a FEW decent ideas, but I truly had to put this book down and walk away at least five times before I could finish it. I found Gretchen to be mean spirited, selfish, and boring. Those daughters will need all the Rubin's money for therapy some day!
John O. (buzzby) -
Helpful Score: 1
I seem to have a different philosophy of life than she does, I don't know if I can follow her path (especially the part about marrying the son of a fabulously wealthy man).
Barbara L. (Barbllm) reviewed 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 Fun on + 241 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Gretchen Rubin writes a book that is partly a memoir and partly a self-help book. She draws on the work of those in the field of positive psychology, and her book is peppered with quotes from various historical personas including Samuel Butler and Seneca. She asks if happiness is a worthwhile goal to have, and if its possible to be a happier person.
For Rubin, this isnt a difficult question. The paperback edition of the book shows tenements in New York but Rubin herself isnt an impoverished single mother; shes a successful attorney. Money makes a big difference in how happy a person can be, and most people already know this.
She divides the book into monthly sections and details what shes going to be working on. While she apparently has done some research, there are points in the book where I wondered how she couldnt know some of this information already. While discussing her marriage, she notes that "you can't change your partner, you can only change yourself." Is this really new information for her, because it has been the focus of many, many articles on relationships. In another example, she has an epiphany that she can store her childrens photos in file boxes. How does someone get this far in life without having ever heard of organizing papers into files?
Rubin does make a good point in stating that learning from someone elses example (success and failure) can be a catalyst for change more so than learning an abstract concept. She generously reveals personal details in her book about her own happiness project, and the reader takes away ideas for identifying sources of joy in daily life and taking steps to become happier. She writes in a conversational style, so you dont feel as though you are reading a self-help book with checklists of what to do and when to do it; you feel as though youre conversing with someone. She also writes a blog and much of the book is simply comments from readers from her blog, which seems like shes taking the last way out and just wants to fill more pages. Its an interesting read nonetheless.
For Rubin, this isnt a difficult question. The paperback edition of the book shows tenements in New York but Rubin herself isnt an impoverished single mother; shes a successful attorney. Money makes a big difference in how happy a person can be, and most people already know this.
She divides the book into monthly sections and details what shes going to be working on. While she apparently has done some research, there are points in the book where I wondered how she couldnt know some of this information already. While discussing her marriage, she notes that "you can't change your partner, you can only change yourself." Is this really new information for her, because it has been the focus of many, many articles on relationships. In another example, she has an epiphany that she can store her childrens photos in file boxes. How does someone get this far in life without having ever heard of organizing papers into files?
Rubin does make a good point in stating that learning from someone elses example (success and failure) can be a catalyst for change more so than learning an abstract concept. She generously reveals personal details in her book about her own happiness project, and the reader takes away ideas for identifying sources of joy in daily life and taking steps to become happier. She writes in a conversational style, so you dont feel as though you are reading a self-help book with checklists of what to do and when to do it; you feel as though youre conversing with someone. She also writes a blog and much of the book is simply comments from readers from her blog, which seems like shes taking the last way out and just wants to fill more pages. Its an interesting read nonetheless.
Donna G. reviewed 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 Fun on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I love resolutions and self improvement goals, so I really wanted to like this book. The first half I had to force myself to continue reading. I felt it was so shallow and nothing that I hadn't heard many times before. Around the middle of the book, the information improved, and I did find helpful insights. I never felt connected to the author's personality, and just didn't find her interesting or likeable - maybe because our interests are so different. I'm glad I read it, but wouldn't recommend the book to others.
Rachel J. (rachelkyle) reviewed 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 Fun on + 18 more book reviews
I had to think long and hard about what I wanted to write for my review. The author makes a point several times in her book to say that it is easier to criticize then be uplifting and happy.
However I will start with a little criticism and finish with happy. I found that author to be a generally negative person who portrays herself as someone who snaps at people a lot of generally has a negative, or critical attitude. Those things really put me off from the book and at times I wondered why I was punishing myself to finish the book.
However I did glean several things from it:
1) a recommendation of the next book I want to read "The Story of a Soul"
2) I learned that hugging for 6 seconds is the minimum to gain the positive effects from the action
3) To remember that the years are short
4) Enjoy the present
5) Portraying yourself as happy can indeed make you happier
I don't want to continue for it might spoil the rest of the book.
I struggled with whether to say I would recommend this book. Initially I would have said "HECK NO" but after completion I think there are plenty of people who can relate to her and take up some of her suggestions. She can be a bit repetitive and can at times seem trite with the things she did...but this was HER project and these were things that she thought might make HER happy (I wouldn't need to copy them exactly myself just the spirit would need to be imitated).
So I say yes I would recommend it but read it in small doses :)
However I will start with a little criticism and finish with happy. I found that author to be a generally negative person who portrays herself as someone who snaps at people a lot of generally has a negative, or critical attitude. Those things really put me off from the book and at times I wondered why I was punishing myself to finish the book.
However I did glean several things from it:
1) a recommendation of the next book I want to read "The Story of a Soul"
2) I learned that hugging for 6 seconds is the minimum to gain the positive effects from the action
3) To remember that the years are short
4) Enjoy the present
5) Portraying yourself as happy can indeed make you happier
I don't want to continue for it might spoil the rest of the book.
I struggled with whether to say I would recommend this book. Initially I would have said "HECK NO" but after completion I think there are plenty of people who can relate to her and take up some of her suggestions. She can be a bit repetitive and can at times seem trite with the things she did...but this was HER project and these were things that she thought might make HER happy (I wouldn't need to copy them exactly myself just the spirit would need to be imitated).
So I say yes I would recommend it but read it in small doses :)
Marcia C. reviewed 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 Fun on + 670 more book reviews
If you are willing to believe that you can "spend your way to happiness" and if you want to read a superficial book of happiness tips from someone who has never had any real hardships in her life, then you may enjoy this book. I didn't. And I must have missed the part where she read Aristotle, because there is no philosophical depth in the book. Sad!
Lois B. (galaxy911) reviewed 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 Fun on + 2 more book reviews
WOW! Such negative reviews. I really loved this book. It was positive and uplifting and everyone can take parts of it to individualize their own Happiness Project. Take it for what it is and enjoy the ride! That is what the whole book is about!
Barbara M. (barbiecat) reviewed 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 Fun on + 17 more book reviews
This book changed my life for the better.....I borrowed it from the library originally and loved it so much that I knew that I had to have my own copy to read and review over and over
Dustin C. (meDustin) reviewed 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 Fun on
I enjoyed it. Nice thoughts about how to move through our hectic world and carve out some thoughts on improving our lives.
Well written.
I wonder (as a parent of a small child myself) how in earth Gretchen had this much time to spend on herself, but a NYC apartment, work at home job, and in-laws around the corner sure must help!
Well written.
I wonder (as a parent of a small child myself) how in earth Gretchen had this much time to spend on herself, but a NYC apartment, work at home job, and in-laws around the corner sure must help!
Victoria T. (justicepirate) reviewed 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 Fun on + 350 more book reviews
I think I had something else in mind when I started reading this book. One of my best friends suggested that I read it. She and I are both minimalists and I think that when she suggested it, my thought was that it would be on that subject. The only thing minimalist about this book is when Gretchen would clean her closet and other people's closets a few times through and found it to be an addiction (as someone who does the same, it is).
This book otherwise was about a woman who set monthly resolutions for herself throughout a year's time. She was changing her life little by little with these things she planned on doing and would work towards them.
While the concept is great, and I think one should find their happiness and seek out how to better themselves in different ways, it just wasn't the book for me. It had some inspiring insight and showed realness in Gretchen's life that many people would probably love.
This book otherwise was about a woman who set monthly resolutions for herself throughout a year's time. She was changing her life little by little with these things she planned on doing and would work towards them.
While the concept is great, and I think one should find their happiness and seek out how to better themselves in different ways, it just wasn't the book for me. It had some inspiring insight and showed realness in Gretchen's life that many people would probably love.
Naomi D. (nomer15) -
While pondering the idea of happiness, Rubin decided to take a year to improve her happiness level. Tackling one area per month, she covered things like meditation, clutter, exercise, and marriage. The idea behind the project was an interesting one, but I found myself getting bored and eager for the end. I didn't find a whole lot of eye-opening insights, but there were some good refreshers about ways to infuse more happiness into my own life.
Rachel B. (travnray) reviewed 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 Fun on + 182 more book reviews
This is a great little book that everyone should read once. I just couldn't help but read this one with a pencil- underlining my favorite stories, mantras and one-liners. I appreciate this book and feel like it has changed me for the better. I can't say that I agreed with everything that she said, but I definitely took a deeper look at myself and very much appreciated what I learned.
She said "the only thing better than reading, is re-reading." I love that, and I'm going to start rereading some of my favorites that I e been putting off.
She said "the only thing better than reading, is re-reading." I love that, and I'm going to start rereading some of my favorites that I e been putting off.
