I saw reference to this book from others who read and enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love. I loved Gilbert's book and was looking for something similar. Gretchen Rubin's book did not deliver. Rather than reading about someone's reflective, original path to discover happiness, Rubin compiles a bunch of fluff from various happiness studies and talks about how she implemented them as "resolutions". None of the ideas are fresh. I found nothing inspirational about her story and primarily just turned off by how pleased she is with herself and her success.

I've been reading both books that came out this year and of course the vapid privileged author, Gretchen Rubin, is the one on the bestseller list. Meanwhile the real researched book on happiness, Ariel Gore's delightful and inspiring and well researched Bluebird: Women and the New Psychology of Happiness is not there yet. I can only hope Amazon readers will see this and buy Ms. Gore's thoughtful and realistic approach to the topic instead.

I borrowed this book from my library and read it, loved it. Then I decided I needed to own it for myself as a feel good/reference book. Very positive reading.

Once I picked this up, I pretty much didn't do anything else until I finished it. I usually gravitate toward this kind of book and sometimes I am pleased with my choice and sometimes not. In this case, it was a wise investment of time and effort. Even though my husband isn't a big reader, I have passed it along to him since I think there are concepts in here that he will appreciate and benefit from.

Gretchen Rubin is a woman who appears to have it all - successful career, good marriage, healthy children, enough money, good relationships with family and friends. While going through her daily routine she realizes how much of her life is spent doing things on autopilot and not living in the moment (or really enjoying the moment). While things are largely going well for her, she realizes that things could always be better and so she decides to embark on a "happiness project" for a year to see what happens.

She is very clear -- this project is not for the person with clinical depression or other mental health issues that need to be addressed by the medical community. This book does not provide guidance for dealing with significant problems but rather looks at someone who has most everything in place for a happy, fulfilling life and examining what makes that person happy versus not. I have known several people over the years who have so many good things going for them but still manage to see only the negative and view the world through the victim's lens. I have known other people who have had really hard lives who manage to look at the world as a wonderful place and see the positive aspects to most situations. The author does a great job of walking the reader through all kinds of research and personal observations that show what influences happiness and how important happiness is to one's quality of life.

Each chapter focuses on one happiness concept and follows Ms. Rubin as she tries to implement that concept into her daily life. I truly loved the openness she showed in revealing her own struggles with being critical and snippy. Each of us has our own inner demons that we fight on our way to finding contentment and happiness and the fact she shared so much of herself was very beneficial to me.

Overall - a great book and one worth reading (and spending time with).

While I appreciate what she's trying to do, and think she's a good writer, Rubin's "revelations" are all too often no-brainers.

I agree with J. Peplinksi's review, and with a commenter's line, "The author has apparently written a book for those devoid of common sense."

When Rubin realized that, considering she's a writer, it may be useful to spend a daring $2.99 on a pen, and finally did so "after a fairly lengthy internal debate," I practically rolled my eyes.


More detrimental, though, she over-quotes experts using one-liners without getting into the meat of the original source. If she had truly shared and extrapolated on the deeper issues she uncovered in her research, this would have been a very educational book. Unfortunately, it's ultimately a diary -- one of a woman who is clearly more privileged and less "street smart" than most.

I will say that just the act of purchasing this book and reading about another person's dedication to the subject was inspiring, but there are likely better sources that are, if not relatable, educational and from a more grounded point of view.

Gretchen Rubin has a wonderful life, she's married to a patient and loving husband and has two children, she has a writing career and lives in New York City. Her in-laws live practically around the corner and she gets along with them! She has a revelation of sorts one day while riding on a city bus. She realizes that time is passing her by and she's not focusing on the things that truly matter. She realizes that she could be happier and appreciate her life and family more and embarks on a Happiness Project for one year. Gretchen methodically sets up resolutions, commandments and goals for each month of the year focusing on different aspects of her life to improve upon. She chronicles this journey in her honest and inspirational book.

The book takes us through the year of this project with Gretchen, month by month. Each month she sets a goal as well as ideas and projects for her to achieve the goal. They were different each month but tended to build on the previous goal. For example, in January her goal was to Boost Energy by getting more sleep, exercising more and what I found insightful was that Gretchen found "acting" more energetic and happy actually worked. Gretchen was inspired by this quote :

"Whoever is happy will make others happy, too." Mark Twain.

She then tackles her marriage in the next month with the goal to Remember Love. She then adds other months that address work, parenthood, leisure, friendship and more. I liked how the book was organized into dedicated chapters for each month. It was nice to focus on the one goal and it made it easier to read and the book flowed well.

Gretchen is not done learning but she did find out how important this project was in getting to know herself and be herself. She was very honest in sharing her weaknesses as well as her struggles and successes along the way. I enjoyed her honesty and sense of humor and some of her conclusions were very interesting. The Happiness Project is full of ideas to inspire you and you just may learn a few new things that may challenge you to start a Happiness Project of your own.

The author of this book has an epiphany one day--she could be happier.

Sure, at the beginning of the book she is already living a pretty good life. She is married to a great guy and has two sweet children. She lives in New York City and has good relationships with her family members. She is able to write for a living and has leisure time and extra money. She feels like she should be ecstatic. Why isn't she?

Thus begins a quest, to research and test various theories that should increase her happiness, in an effort to get everything she can out of her life, rather than letting it pass her by.

I really liked parts of this book, and enjoyed reading the small ways the author was able to change her life for the better. I feel inspired to make some changes myself.

However, I found it hard to relate to this author. I seem to be at the opposite end of the spectrum; I tend to be optimistic and cheerful and revel in positive energy, whereas the author of this book describes herself often as negative and critical, someone who tends to bring others down and who is constantly looking for a pat on the back. I found myself frustrated reading about the way she acted toward others in her life, possibly just because her feelings and impulses were a bit foreign to me.

When reading this book, I think it's important to know that Gretchen Rubin belongs to a family that is almost unbelievably wealthy. (she doesn't tell us this)

Her father in law worked at Goldman Sachs for 26 years, and was Co-chairman of the Board. He is a former Secretary of the Treasury. He worked at Citigroup, where, by some reports, he received $126 million when departing. His work there has been criticized as well.

Gretchen's husband, James, is not your average dad. He is a highly successful hedge fund manager.

Thus, she may have more time, resources, and connections to follow her own suggestions about happiness.

The book seems carefully edited to avoid any mention of household help or nannies.

I'm not quite done with this book yet, but, it's been a MOST enjoyable read! I've taken away some great, practical ideas for increasing my happiness and the happiness of those around me. It's amazing how much alike the author and I are. What I love most about this book is that it isn't trying to be anything it isn't; nor is the author trying to be anything but blatantly honest about herself and her project. This won't be a miracle cure for unhappiness, but what the author points out very readily is that happiness is a choice and there are MANY things we can "choose" to do to ensure we're getting the most out of our lives. Well worth the money!

I have purchased four copies of this book and given them to others (it's part of my happiness project). Here's why: it's smart, practical and very realistic. Gretchen Rubin takes on the role of your smart best friend. Others have given longer reviews so I will opt to be brief. The book is simply great.

My daughter made a conscience decision when she was in late middle school. She could choose to be happy or choose to let things get her down. She chose happy. At 20, she truly is one of the happiest people I know. I call her "Sunshine". It's not that everything always goes perfectly for her, and I realize at 20 she has many more challenges ahead. Regardless she tries to maintain that positive, happy attitude. She's contagious. Spend some time with her and you can't help but feel happier hereself.

Thus I began my search for happy as well. I've read several other books regarding happiness, but I found "The Happiness Project" to be the one that gave me actionable tasks to start my journey. I'm not done yet. I'm going back reading the book for pointers. The author seems to have a real sense of what it takes and appreciates the set backs and goals. I found the book interesting, entertaining and indeed helpful.

I picked up this book based on the advice of a friend. I admit, I consider myself overall happy. You could call me a "spoiled woman of leisure" if the moniker applies to the author. Reading the first chapter, I found myself identifying with the author. I was always the straight-A student brown-noser, make charts, seek "praise" etc. I thought I would really like the book.

However, as the book drags on, it does become a little self-indulgent. From when she starts patting herself on the back for starting a blog on, it was a tough read. I could barely bring myself to finish it.

I loved the first half of the book: how she organizes her project, the first parts of it's undertaking, how she tracks her progress and makes herself accountable. That was right up my alley and I was really excited to see how she progressed, and even inspired to create some charts of my own. I could have done with more that and less of her self-congratulatory tone of the second half. . . but this was HER happiness project, not mine. I guess in a way, her self-congratulations prove it was successful.

That is what it boils down to: this is HER project. This is really more of a memoir than a "self-help" book. You will get a few nuggets of wisdom, but you'll gain more insight into the author than yourself.

"My idea of fun has always been to lie in bed reading." ~ Gretchen Rubin

Except for the small percentage of our society who seems to enjoy being unhappy, happiness is a worthy goal for the rest of us. I think most people who buy self-help books are actually looking for a feeling of peace, contentment and joy. So what if you decided you were going to dedicate a year to becoming happier? Well this is exactly what Gretchen Rubin decides to do. Each month she focuses on a different topic like leisure, friendship, marriage, work, vitality, money, eternity, books, mindfulness and attitude.

There are a variety of ways to react to this book. One is to accuse Gretchen Rubin of being a narcissist or a control freak, which I don't think she is. Then you could also say she has the time and money to take on such a big project. If on the other hand you find other people's lives interesting and you are willing to look past their flaws and mistakes then I think you could learn something valuable by reading this book. Yes, parenting is work and so is writing a book. So those who say she is just a woman of leisure seem to be disregarding the fact that she is a writer at heart and has published numerous books.

What I found most enjoyable about "The Happiness Project" is how Gretchen Rubin has an uncanny way of locating the perfect quotation to back up her philosophy of life. She is also flawed in some ways (she admits to being angry a lot, etc.) as we all are and so that in itself makes her more likeable. I think a lot of readers will completely relate to many of her experiences.

While some didn't seem to appreciate the inclusion of her blog comments I found them enjoyable to read. Gretchen Rubin also shares some surprisingly good advice from friends at parties. However, some of the best advice comes from Gretchen herself as she learns to deal with her children's dissatisfaction. She learned ways of acting that changed dysfunctional situations into peaceful resolutions.

In the chapter about how you can buy happiness I was wondering why she didn't include some information on how sponsoring children through an organization like worldvision dot org could make you happier. That in my mind is money well spent and it can make you happier to know you are supporting a child in need.

The main idea that seems to run through this book is perhaps obvious to all. I think we all struggle with selfishness and when we get that under control we become more loving, giving and open to receiving love.

I personally think that reading this book will make you a better person. Perhaps not the minute after you are finished reading, but perhaps in the months ahead as you contemplate the principles presented.

~The Rebecca Review

"My idea of fun has always been to lie in bed reading." ~ Gretchen Rubin

Except for the small percentage of our society who seems to enjoy being unhappy, happiness is a worthy goal for the rest of us. I think most people who buy self-help books are actually looking for a feeling of peace, contentment and joy. So what if you decided you were going to dedicate a year to becoming happier? Well this is exactly what Gretchen Rubin decides to do. Each month she focuses on a different topic like leisure, friendship, marriage, work, vitality, money, eternity, books, mindfulness and attitude.

There are a variety of ways to react to this book. One is to accuse Gretchen Rubin of being a narcissist or a control freak, which I don't think she is. Then you could also say she has the time and money to take on such a big project. If on the other hand you find other people's lives interesting and you are willing to look past their flaws and mistakes then I think you could learn something valuable by reading this book. Yes, parenting is work and so is writing a book. So those who say she is just a woman of leisure seem to be disregarding the fact that she is a writer at heart and has published numerous books.

What I found most enjoyable about "The Happiness Project" is how Gretchen Rubin has an uncanny way of locating the perfect quotation to back up her philosophy of life. She is also deeply flawed in some ways as we all are and so that in itself makes her more likeable. I think a lot of readers will completely relate to many of her experiences.

While some didn't seem to appreciate the inclusion of her blog comments I found them enjoyable to read. Gretchen Rubin also shares some surprisingly good advice from friends at parties. However, some of the best advice comes from Gretchen herself as she learns to deal with her children's dissatisfaction. She learned ways of acting that changed dysfunctional situations into peaceful resolutions.

In the chapter about how you can buy happiness I was wondering why she didn't include some information on how sponsoring children through an organization like worldvision dot org could make you happier. That in my mind is money well spent and it can make you happier to know you are supporting a child in need.

The main idea that seems to run through this book is perhaps obvious to all. I think we all struggle with selfishness and when we get that under control we become more loving, giving and open to receiving love.

I personally think that reading this book will make you a better person. Perhaps not the minute after you are finished reading, but perhaps in the months ahead as you contemplate the principles presented.

~The Rebecca Review

I ordered this book because I read such great reviews and The Happiness Project has received quite a bit of publicity. I thought it might be more like Eat, Pray, Love, which really captured my interest (despite the sometimes self-indulgent tone to that book). I do have to add a disclaimer that I seldom read self-help books, and it appears many people have found some great advice in this book and have felt a sense of connection with the author. This one, though, didn't keep my attention. The concept was good, the writing strong, but for some reason, I wasn't captivated. My lack of interest may have been because the things Rubin does to achieve happiness have all been done/suggested before, and I, personally, didn't feel sympathetic/connected to Rubin's story.

I recently read The Happiness Project for book club. I found the organization of the book a huge plus. Rubin told us what she was going to cover, she covered it, then she recapped what she covered. You knew exactly what you were getting in each chapter and could skim over the less appealing sections. Rubin wasn't trying to be someone she was wasn't and she admitted her shortcomings. I was happy to discover that this was less of a "self help" and more of a "here's what worked for me" type book. Her happiness may not be yours but you can pick and choose what you take from the book.

At times I became a bit bored with the book (and skipped over a lot of the blog updates) and some other book club members didn't like that Rubin had self doubt about the book she was writing. I likened the book to "Eat, Pray, Love" which I enjoyed much more than this book, but found it to be around the same thread.

Overall I am glad I read the book, but don't go in with super high expectations or you may be let down.

Over the top! I highly recommend this for anyone looking for greater happiness in this life.

As a woman "of a certain age", I find myself at a crossroad between the career I've had for 30 years and the new lifestyle that awaits me once I'm retired. Reading Gretchen's book is a great way to shake the cobwebs out of my routine and begin to look at everything with a fresher outlook. "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Couldn't agree more!

It would be nice to review the book if I ever receive it!!!!!!!! It's been a month!!!! And it sounded like a worthwhile book.

A great memoir from a woman who is, as one Amazon reviewer so eloquently put it, "a rich nerdy woman of leisure." This is not a book about overcoming a serious illness or an economic hardship. She IS slightly nerdy and financially well-off. (These are issues that Rubin addresses directly in the text, as she is wracked with guilt over writing a memoir without facing any serious adversity.) THE HAPPINESS PROJECT is simply about an average, upper middle-class woman who decided to improve her own life "from good to great."

Rubin clears clutter from her apartment and life and tries different month-long experiments in an attempt to wring more enjoyment out of life. Her book isn't for everyone--most criticism has been centered around its lightweight tone and content. She cherry-picks her quotes from Aristotle and other philosophers--they're good quotes, but I wouldn't trust advice on happiness from Friedrich Nietzsche, for instance. These criticisms aside, THE HAPPINESS PROJECT is the perfect book for readers who are looking to be happier and more productive.

If you're looking for three easy tips to take away and make an immediate difference in your life, you won't find it in this book. The author, Gretchen Rubin, asks her readers to dig deeper and examine their own lives, coming up with their own "Happiness Resolutions" and life lessons to live by. It's a valuable guide for the journey of self-discovery -- and yes, you just might end up happier along the way. Not for the weak of heart, Rubin's book is full of philosophical and psychological questioning, which, in my mind, makes it all the more valuable.

I bought this book for my mother, who grew up during the Depression and has not had an easy life. I'm glad I read it first, because it would have been an insult to give this to a genuine person who's experienced some hard knocks.

According to Ms Rubin, the origin of this book is an epiphany she had watching a woman yakking on a cell phone, crossing a Manhattan street with a toddler and a stroller. She identified with this person, because for Ms. Rubin, that is the very picture of a sad, harried person who's life is just passing her by. Yeah, life's pretty tough when you've got to walk your kids home to the nanny between your pedicure and yoga class.

I found Ms Rubin's solution system humorous. Evidently, her problems were all of the sort that can be fixed by things like an orange scented candle, reading random magazines, a laminator, tossing out frayed underpants, shopping for bluebird collectibles and so on. That is, after she walked away from her high pay attorney job, thanks to her hedge fund manager husband's income. (It is sad to think some other applicant was refused a seat at Yale, so that this woman could squander her degree to make herself happy at an unrelated fantasy career.)

I also enjoyed the occasional insights on her neurotic personality and private life. M&Ms make her cranky, she prefers to wear yoga pants and her idea of fun in bed is reading Tolstoy, she considers herself fortunate because she has naturally red hair. She's quick to scold her husband, and while she buys her T shirts at Bloomingdales, she thinks a $3 pen is an extravagance. She wore coke bottle glasses as a kid. I got the picture of a self-centered, controlling nerd with a quick temper, little appreciation for how insular and privileged her life has been, and lacking the self-realization to pick a more appropriate topic to write about.

I guess if any of that describes you, this trite little book might be helpful and insightful, if not, save your money. I quit half way through and give it two stars for the cheap laughs I got imagining this manhattanite's yoga pants lifestyle.

I don't read self-help books because I don't believe you can just will yourself to change. I found Gretchen's approach sometimes to be elementary but there was this honesty about her. She did not sugar coat her struggle with her imperfections. She stated them and worked to make small changes. Yea, so ok she never thought of putting her kids stuff into a file box. Well, I will admit that I had not thought of this simple solution either and I am a nut about being organized! Gretchen is a flawed human, just like all of us and it was nice to have an author be that real.

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 tells of the author's year-long journey to study happiness to see what lessons she could apply to her own life. Her quest to become happier didn't involve changing her entire life - it involved improving her life as it existed. Each month she tackled a new set of resolutions - and her discoveries and blog about her experiences led to others' insights and changes as well. This inspirational memoir is a top pick for any general lending library.

I liked this book. It was recommened by several magazines so I gave it a try.

I was looking forward to reading this book since I found the idea of it intriguing. As I was reading, I realized that something was bothering me, but initially I couldn't figure out what it was. Finally, about half way through, it hit me: the author seems to be boasting. She goes on and on about how great her life is by letting the reader know that she has a soul mate husband, wonderful kids, a great education, her dream job, perfect relationships with in-laws and parents, tons of friends and acquaintances, etc. It had me wondering why she even embarked on this project other than the obvious: money. If she's not as happy as she could be with all of these advantages, then I am not interested in her journey, anyway. If you're looking for something insightful, I would not recommend this book.

I loved this book and could not put it down. It offered a lot of insight about the author's personality, struggles and resolve. I share the same personality traits with her, so I can relate to many things she was struggling with. Her insights are also very action oriented, and I was able to take some small steps immediately. I am tracking my happiness activities on my chart and found it to be very helpful.

The author's first commandment is "Be Gretchan". That is what we get in this book. I laughed out loud at her sincere attempts to be nicer to her husband even though he didn't seem to notice when she did an "Extreme Nice" week towards him. Her honesty about needing and wanting a gold star for all of the things she feels she needs to do to be a good wife, a good daughter, and a good daughter-in-law yields a lot of good suggestions. It's just that she can't seem to let go of her strong need for approval and a pat on the back. Her husband's "please don't make me" plea not to be coerced into stuffing and sealing Valentine photo card envelopes which is solely her idea was a tender observation of her self-described personality traits (anger, self-righteousness and prickly critical reactions.) I thought the weakest part of her sojourn was spirituality and mindfulness. Especially her quick resistance ("Be Gretchan") to exploring or even reading about Buddhism and mindfulness: no desire to do extensive research here. Her ignorance and subsequent arrogance shows up when she comes up with her own "koans" as though she already has an understanding of what Zen Koans and Buddhism are about. Cleaning out one's closets does make one feel better. There ARE a lot of helpful suggestions. In the end, Gretchan has written a book about DOING THINGS that will make one happier: the ultimate Western World approach to completing goals in life. What she is less willing to explore by "being Gretchan" is Eastern, which teaches BEING in the world. There, the striving quiets down and the self is able to reflect its true nature. Without even trying.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Some of it was really good and resonated with me (including the included comments from her blog), some I thought was plain stupid. I also thought a lot of it was written in a very egocentric tone and somewhat lengthy - I had to skip over some pages to keep going. But then again, Rubin makes quite clear that this book is about her project, so why shouldn't she speak about herself?
Overall, I liked it and it got me thinking, but it is not a literary masterpiece - like most blogs turned books.

Great book, I couldn't put it down! Gretchen Rubin does and excellent job of combining wit, philosophy and advice with her own personal journey on her "Happiness Project." It'll encourage you to improve your own life and even after a few chapters I could feel a difference.

This was a great book. It made me want to make some good changes in my life!

I found this book a very enjoyable and informative read. Gretchen Rubin wrote this in not only a humorous manner but very insightful. This is a book that everyone can learn something from. Though your circumstances may be different than Ms. Rubin's you may find ways that will increase the happiness in your life. Share this book with someone you love.

Ms. Rubin implies that she's a "regular Jane." In fact, her father-in-law is Robert Rubin - former CEO of Goldman Sachs. Her husband is a rich hedge fund manager. She has household help to clean her home, and to tend for her children.

Have a rough day at "work"? Well, find a new job. Go the library to read whatever books you want. There's no need to work, after all, when your husband is a multi-millionaire who can subsidize your hobbies and indulgences; and who doesn't even expect you to care for your own children.

Ms. Rubin, in other words, is rich enough to take as much "Gretchen time" as she needs to find happiness. Is anyone really surprised, then, that she found it?

If you don't need to work because you had rich relatives supporting your every indulgence, and because you have "the help" to manage the mundane chores of life: You'd probably be pretty happy, too.

If you want to find the secret to happiness, talk to people who have actual life problems - rather than someone who eats every meal from a silver spoon, and for whom work is an optional annoyance of life.

I found this book by accident and am now in the process of really "digging in". I read it once non-stop in a straight marathon session. Now I am reading for application. I just stopped worked due to illness and can't wait to see what I will be able to do with my life. This book will definitely enhance that. Very rarely do I ever read a book that will contribute to a better life but this will be one. I have since let several friends know about it and we will do some of this together. This one book gave me even more purpose during a difficult time. It can be tailored to fit your life, to fit your beliefs (secular, faith based, etc.), or whatever need you have. All you have to do is jump in. The worst that will happen is you and those around you will be a little better for the effort.
My advice, buy it. If you have made it this far, buy it. You can't regret it.

The Happiness Project is an effective guide to changing your everyday perspective on, and appreciation for, everyday life. It's a wonderfully entertaining read, and contains simple tactics that will elevate your mood and improve your overall demeanor - I loved it!

I bought this book hoping for something entertaining, light, vulnerable, amusing. I was hoping for blunders and confessions. Instead, it is a bunch of self-promotional "me"-talk: "Look how good I am because I did this" and reads less like a memoir and more like the reader giving Lawyer-like, stiff, analytical instruction to the reader which is entangled in the facade that she's learning something for herself.

It is a book collated with extensive research, analysis, statistics and quotes we've all heard a million times and then a lot of the word "me" without anything heart felt or vulnerable. She never puts anything on the line. She never takes bold risks.

However, she does manage to give us accidental peeps into her personality.

She's controlling and self-righteous. She doesn't respect her husband (constant digs). She seems to resent the fact she has kids (having kids plummets your happiness levels, she says more than once). She treats people in her life as though they're pawns in her own personal game. Her life revolves around getting praised by others. She really seems unaware of the experience of others.

I was disturbed by the inconsistency she gives to her family throughout the Happiness Project. One day, she snaps at her husband for juggling oranges to amuse the kids while they're unloading the groceries, saying something along the lines of "Lets just get this done". She realises the mistake (which is great) and makes a note to self to be more playful. The next time they're unloading groceries, SHE monkeys around with the kids, stealing her husband's act. I'm sure this is very confusing for everyone. Yet she never admits to anyone "I'm sorry, I was irritated, I shouldn't have shut you down like that." She just does a Jekkyl and Hyde, then explains it in her book like she's such a great person because she improved herself. What she did was steal her husbands act so the kids would laugh at HER (a form of praise). It is a waste of time for anything to take place around her that doesn't involve some type of gain for herself.

Gretchen Rubin is an extremely controlling person. Her 'solutions' for happiness are really just Band-Aids on a big hole. This book isn't creative or well written and it is a weed garden of adverbs. "Cautiously, almost furtively, I opened the email."

I love this book. It is well written and filled with everyday practical things that can be done to boost happiness! Who couldn't benefit from being happier?

Great job and thanks!

I read this book over a couple of days and found it enjoyable, positive, and inspiring. It is well-written and helpful. I would definitely recommend it.

I read this book over a couple of days and found it enjoyable and inspiring. Although, her suggestions were a bit common-place, it was well-written and thoughtful.

We should all be thrilled with freedom, health, and financial stability. But most of us just aren't that happy, even though we are so blessed. A normal person who needs a little practical motivation to start being happier will find practical advice in this book.

This book is exactly what it claimed to be - full of personal anecdotes about how a normal every day almost-happy American woman applied happiness research into her everyday life.
I thought it was great, bc I don't have time to read all of the dozens of books she did about happiness. And I don't know how many of those theories would work in real life, anyway. So Gretchen's specific personal commandments, splendid truths, and focused resolutions were a great example of how to actively change your own life.

I saw the author on a TV show interview and what she said made sense to me. I found the book at Amazon and was able to "Look Inside" a feature that I like very much. I've read the book and it was just what I was looking for at this particular time in my life. The author writes well and gives you the insight learned from her project as it encourages those who wish to do a similar journey to use various tools to do so. The book offers insight in a more personal way than the standard self help book and motivates you to explore what might add to the happiness of your own life. I am re-reading it now and making my own notes for my happiness project.

As a former student of Martin Seligman, I have read almost every happiness book published to date. I am happy to report that Ms. Rubin offers something rather different. To read The Happiness Project is to go on an intimate journey with the author as she applies--month by month--the empirical findings of positive psychology, the age-old wisdom of philosophers, and the common sense notions of current well-being gurus.

I thoroughly enjoyed every candid, funny, and insightful page of her happiness project account. In fact, her experiment provides an exceedingly useful framework for those who would like to put all the good happiness research out there into practice. From the high-minded (creating her own personal commandments) to the silly (dancing with yourself to top 40s pop while your husband takes your children to the park), there will definitely be a few goals, practices, or experiences that will speak to you.

It's a goodie...happy reading!

Although I am not entirely finished with the book, I can honestly say this book has been a light in my life. Gretchen's search for happiness in her life lead her to experiment with different ways of living in order to obtain a more truthful and pure happiness. She constantly gives scientific research to support her ideas, and tests these hypotheses out on her own. Most of the time her attempts at gaining happiness are successful, which keeps the reader hopeful. I think most people who purchase this book are looking for the same thing Gretchen was, and in my case, this book was a tremendous help and gave such insight to what it really means to be happy. Even if you are a completely happy person, this book is still a GREAT read. Although it has a female writer, and female experiences, it is equally helpful for men. I would recommend it to anyone!

This relationship expert adores this book. Gretchen focuses on what you want more of happiness, instead attempting to decrease unhappiness.

The idea is so simple it is brilliant. When one increases their happiness others benefit since happiness infects everyone around you.

Gretchen has tagged Feburary the month to remember love. This and other ideas in the book are energizing and fun.

Great for a Sunday read and more for later... gave me a light-hearted look at self-improvements I could make, some as easy as "cleaning out my closets" which I did immediately after reading. A nice little pep-talk in the middle of my heavier self-help books that constantly wear me out! :) smile. This book gave me a simple way to get started and get out of the rut of "impossibilities" I find myself stuck in some times.

Thanks to the author for cheering me up when I needed it most!

After reading the engaging Eat, Pray, Love and Committed I was so disappointed. The first two pages left me longing for another Elizabeth Gilbert novel. I honestly think I could write a better book myself.

I consider myself a happy person, but I always felt happier after reading this book. It's a quick read that contains a great deal of wisdom - most of it obvious, but often overlooked. It may not make depressed people happy, but it will make happy people happier.

I think that one of the most useful phenomena that has accompanied the rise of the internet is that normal people increasingly share the little tips, tricks, and nuggets of wisdom they have discovered about how to live right and be happier. I'm the kind of person who has always enjoyed thinking about how to be happier, both theoretically and practically. So, when I discovered Gretchen Rubin's blog on her Happiness Project, I was instantly hooked. I love how she approaches the quest to be happier in an unabashedly personal way. The fact is, there is no specific secret to happiness that will work equally well for everyone, but there are general habits that almost anyone can use to discover happier ways of living. I think Rubin understands this well, and that is why her discussion of her personal efforts to be happier are so illuminating.

The book is a real addition to the blog, not just more of the same. I think everyone should find the time to work on being happier, whether its through a systematic project like Rubin's (it worked for her!) or some other approach that works better for you. If you have no idea how to start, this book has a bunch of great suggestions.

I wasn't familiar with the blog, but saw the book on my Amazon Kindle recommendations/best sellers or something.
I did read Eat, Pray Love a while back and liked it, thought this was similar and I was in the mood for a 'think about your life and do something' book anyway.
So I bought it.

The good:
It's a read-and-do book, and fun to follow along and think about how to apply the process to your own life.
I really enjoyed reading the first 6-7 chapters of the book.
Lots of things to work with and think about.
Even though I am single almost 30 woman without kids and am not in great health, I could still relate to most of it (or imagine myself being there some day).
GR obviously did a lot of reading and research, and I feel like reading this book has saved me a lot of that work.

I also really like the reading list in the back, and will definitely check out a lot of those books.

The bad:
After about 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")
More a summary of insights that resulted from her lots of research than any new insights. It's all been said before.
(or as another reviewer put it 'duh!'. )

The in between:
While this book resulted in a list of small things I can change daily/weekly, they are - for now - just small things.
I don't yet know if this will actually make a difference, or just become a 'hassle'.

I have read more than my fair share of self-help books, or books that I expected to help me find my way to happiness. I am not a depressed person, I have just always felt, given my circumstances, that I should be a happier person. This book has been the most influential one I have ever read. It is true, as some of the other reviewers suggested, that this book is not filled with new universal theories of truth. It covers the basics... and yes, they're a collection of what other brilliant people have said. But I didn't read this book to learn about Gretchen Rubin's directions for happiness or lofty epiphanies about what happiness is really all about. She is an author, a wife, a mom, a New Yorker, a business woman, not a Doctor of Happiness or a pillar of peace - and I'm ok with that. I can relate to that. She still has lots of interesting things to say, even without a Doctorate of Happiness.

One of the main things I got from this book was that there are things you can do every single day to be happier (and doing them everyday makes the real difference). Now, to some that might sound like a "duh!" statement; of course there are. But the reason this wasn't a "duh!" statement for me, is because before reading this book, I spent every day thinking that I should have been happier and doing things that I thought would make me happy. But I wasn't happy! I was focusing on things that didn't actually bring me happiness! One of Gretchen's realizations (or at least my translation of her realization) is that sometimes you won't be happy while you're working to get happier. In me, I recognized that I often want to nap when things are stressful or I when want to be indulgent. But with her insight, I realized that taking a nap won't bring me as much happiness as taking on a challenge and trying to do something that I've been avoiding. And the reason I was able to take her somewhat lofty announcement (happiness doesn't always make you feel happy) and turn it into something that resonated with me, is because of her anecdotal stories. I saw myself in some of them, and I could easily turn her experiences into something that was about me.

Now, obviously, you might not lean towards napping (or towards collecting, as Gretchen tries one month)to bring happiness, but that doesn't mean this book won't resonate with you. Gretchen talks about herself and doesn't make any excuses or try to claim that her truths would be relevant for you. This is a book about HER happiness project. She doesn't pretend that her goals should be your goals or that her insights should be your insights. Instead, she gives a few concrete ideas (like the daily check list, which has been a life changer for me), and then talks about how she felt about each one. The reader is left to make his or her own decisions about whether each idea sounds interesting, and is invited to personalize their own happiness project.

One other thing: In my opinion, this is not a book that you can read and just expect to be a happier person when your done. You may get some enjoyment out of it and find it entertaining, but if you want to make real, meaningful changes to the way you think about your daily life, and are really interested in becoming a happier person, you have to do some work. Just reading the book is not enough. Find some of Gretchen's suggestions that really resonate with you and make a commitment to sticking with them. For me, that has meant creating and using a daily check list to keep myself focused on the things that really make me happy. Each day I also record the following things in my journal: nice things I did for my husband and nice things he did for me (so I can remember that I WANT to do them, and so I can remember that he's not a jerk when we disagree!), my happiest moment of the day (so I can always look back with joy and not forget the little things), my daily mood (so I can remember the reality, not the twisted image in my head), and more.

This book has had a greater impact on me than any other of its kind. I am excited to read it again! I think Gretchen is very easy to relate to (I suppose that could be because I am also a mom, wife, business owner, woman) and I like her writing style. If I wanted the Dalai Lama, I would have read the Dalai Lama. And frankly, I have. That was also full of insight (admittedly on a different level), but it didn't do as much for me. I felt like it SHOULD have been helpful, but it just didn't click with me. It was harder to read, harder to personalize, harder to relate to - great on an "idea" level, but not quite as helpful on a "what can I do to make a difference today" level.

I would recommend The Happiness Project as an easy-to-use set of ideas about things you can do to become happier. It isn't lofty or brilliant, but it's full of great ideas and insight from a smart woman. It worked fabulously for me.