Synopses & Reviews
#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.
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, 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.
Review
"Practical and never preachy...the rare self-help tome that doesn’t feel shameful to read." Terry Hong, Christian Science Monitor
Review
"This book made me happy in the first five pages." AJ Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
Review
"A cross between the Dalai Lama's The Art of Happiness and Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love." Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness
Review
"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." Chris Abani, author of Graceland, Song for Night and The Virgin of Flames
Review
“An enlightening, laugh-aloud read....Filled with open, honest glimpses into [Rubins] real life, woven together with constant doses of humor.” Terry Hong, Christian Science Monitor
Review
“Practical and never preachy...the rare self-help tome that doesnt feel shameful to read.” Daily Beast
About the Author
Gretchen Rubin is the author of several books, including the bestselling Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill. She was clerking for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor when she realized that she really wanted to be a writer. She lives in New York City with her husband and two young daughters.