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Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment

by Tal Ben-Shahar

Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment Cover

ISBN13: 9780071492393
ISBN10: 0071492399
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
All Product Details

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Can You Learn to Be Happy?

YES...according to the teacher of Harvard University's most popular and life-changing course. One out of every five Harvard students has lined up to hear Tal Ben-Shahar's insightful and inspiring lectures on that ever-elusive state: HAPPINESS.

HOW?
Grounded in the revolutionary "positive psychology" movement, Ben-Shahar ingeniously combines scientific studies, scholarly research, self-help advice, and spiritual enlightenment. He weaves them together into a set of principles that you can apply to your daily life. Once you open your heart and mind to Happier's thoughts, you will feel more fulfilled, more connected...and, yes, HAPPIER.

Review:

"Dr. Ben-Shahar, one of the most popular teachers in Harvard's recent history, has written a personal, informed, and highly enjoyable primer on how to become happier. It would be wise to take his advice." Ellen J. Langer, author of Mindfulness and On Becoming an Artist

Review:

"This fine book shimmers with a rare brand of good sense that is imbedded in scientific knowledge about how to increase happiness. It is easy to see how this is the backbone of the most popular course at Harvard today." Martin E. P. Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness

Synopsis:

Can YouLearn to BeHappy?

YES . . . according to the teacher of HarvardUniversitys most popular and life-changingcourse. One out of every five Harvard studentshas lined up to hear Tal Ben-Shaharsinsightful and inspiring lectures on thatever-elusive state: HAPPINESS.

HOW?

Grounded in the revolutionary “positive psychology” movement,Ben-Shahar ingeniously combines scientific studies, scholarly research, self-help advice, and spiritual enlightenment. He weaves them together into a set of principles that you can apply to your daily life. Once you open your heart and mind to Happier s thoughts, you will feel more fulfilled, more connected . . . and, yes, HAPPIER.

“Dr. Ben-Shahar, one of the most popular teachers in Harvards recent history, has written a personal, informed, and highly enjoyable primer on how to become happier. It would be wise to take his advice.”

--Ellen J. Langer, author of Mindfulness and On Becoming an Artist

“This fine book shimmers with a rare brand of good sense that is imbedded in scientific knowledge about how to increase happiness. It is easy to see how this is the backbone of the most popular course at Harvard today."

--Martin E. P. Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness

If you're a “rat racer,” who lives inthe hope of being happy in the future, and yet isunable to enjoy the here-and-now . . .

If you're a “hedonist,” who findssome pleasure in the good things in life--goodwine, good food, good company--and yet isunable to enjoy lasting fulfillment . . .

If you're a “nihilist,” whos completelygiven up on finding happiness . . .you can learn to be happier!

Thousands of Harvard University students havediscovered that you can become happier. Theylearned the secret to lasting fulfillment fromacclaimed teacher Tal Ben-Shahars class onpositive psychology--a branch of psychologythat combines the latest scientific research withgood old common sense. Now you can join hisclass and learn how positive psychology canmake you happier right now--no lottery windfall,job promotion, or new love required.

Think of Happier as your own personalworkbook. As you read each chapters illuminatingdiscussion on happiness and incorporateits simple exercises into your daily routine, youwill see every aspect of your life with new eyesand a new sense of purpose.

When you learn how to live for today andfor tomorrow at the same time, you learn how tobalance your immediate personal needs withlong-term goals and enjoy life as you never havebefore.

About the Author

Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., is one ofHarvard Universitys most popular lecturers.He has been profiled on NPR and featured on CNN, CBS, and in the New York Times and theBoston Globe. His classes attract 1,400 studentsper semester--approximately 20 percent of allHarvard graduates. Ben-Shahar graduated fromHarvard with a degree in philosophy and psychology.For the last ten years, he has beenteaching personal and organizational excellence,leadership, ethics, and self-esteem.For more information,m

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
happinessresearch, February 23, 2009 (view all comments by happinessresearch)
No-Nonsense Happiness Info

I really liked this book. While conducting my ongoing research on the subject of happiness, this book caught my eye with its bright red and yellow cover. Glancing through the book, the information caught my attention.

I guess what I liked best about it, and what sets it apart from the rest of the happiness books on the shelf, was the author's approach. Right off the bat, the book makes it clear that one's goal should not be to merely strive for a great state of happiness. As it points out, this approach suggests happiness is a point you try and reach, and then you've "made it"- game over.

Wrong. Nobody goes around in a perfectly blissful state all the time, and pursuing such a goal is doomed to fail.

Instead, our approach should be to try and continually work on being "happier" (hence the reason for the title of the book). The trying to be "happier" approach leaves us with a much more realistic goal- and suggests that it is more of an ongoing process in life we should be shooting for, rather than trying to reach a state of happiness and then you're good to go forever. So just how does the book intend to make one "happier"?

In two words, the research. Since the author teaches a class in positive psychology at Harvard, the book's tips to increase your happiness, such as setting goals and expressing gratitude, stand on solid ground. I also believe most readers will find them pretty doable.

When all was said and done, I found this book to be pretty good read with a sensible approach to becoming happier. Not only does it explain the happiness research in a digestable language, and give you practical happiness boosting tips, it's biggest asset to readers just might be that it helps re-frame the whole idea of how we should go about pursuing happiness. Readers who like this evidence-based book may also want to check out "Finding Happiness in a Frustrating World". Happy trails!
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780071492393
Subtitle:
Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment
Author:
Ben-Shahar, Tal
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Companies
Subject:
Happiness
Subject:
Personal Growth - Happiness
Subject:
Happiness, Happy, positive psychology, Harvard, abundance,
Subject:
healing, self-help, the secret, gratitude, emotions, spiritual, happy for no reason, success, be happy, connection, depression, finding happiness, grace, happy life, joy, overcoming depression, positive, proactive, self-empowerment, success tools, the min
Subject:
healing, self-help, the secret, gratitude, emotions, spiritual, happy for no reason, success, be happy, connection, depression, finding happiness, grace, happy life, joy, overcoming depression, positive, proactive, self-empowerment, success tools, the min
Subject:
healing, self-help, the secret, gratitude, emotions, spiritual, happy for no reason, success, be happy, connection, depression, finding happiness, grace, happy life, joy, overcoming depression, positive, proactive, self-empowerment, success tools, the min
Subject:
healing, self-help, the secret, gratitude, emotions, spiritual, happy for no reason, success, be happy, connection, depression, finding happiness, grace, happy life, joy, overcoming depression, positive, proactive, self-empowerment, success tools, the min
Subject:
healing, self-help, the secret, gratitude, emotions, spiritual, happy for no reason, success, be happy, connection, depression, finding happiness, grace, happy life, joy, overcoming depression, positive, proactive, self-empowerment, success tools, the min
Subject:
healing, self-help, the secret, gratitude, emotions, spiritual, happy for no reason, success, be happy, connection, depression, finding happiness, grace, happy life, joy, overcoming depression, positive, proactive, self-empowerment, success tools, the min
Subject:
healing, self-help, the secret, gratitude, emotions, spiritual, happy for no reason, success, be happy, connection, depression, finding happiness, grace, happy life, joy, overcoming depression, positive, proactive, self-empowerment, success tools, the min
Subject:
healing, self-help, the secret, gratitude, emotions, spiritual, happy for no reason, success, be happy, connection, depression, finding happiness, grace, happy life, joy, overcoming depression, positive, proactive, self-empowerment, success tools, the min
Subject:
healing, self-help, the secret, gratitude, emotions, spiritual, happy for no reason, success, be happy, connection, depression, finding happiness, grace, happy life, joy, overcoming depression, positive, proactive, self-empowerment, success tools, the min
Copyright:
Edition Number:
1
Publication Date:
May 2007
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
192
Dimensions:
8.54x6.66x.81 in. .83 lbs.

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