We all want to create more happiness in our life.
Summer makes us happier. Its true. Sunlight helps the body make serotonin, the ‘happy’ hormone. And schools out, holidays are on. Time for that good book and more happiness.
This list will help you build and keep that happy habit. From to achieving flow in the workplace, learning to be optimistic or even your own happiness project. Being happy is your life’s work. Learn more now by reading these happiness books.
7 Books to create more Happiness
1. Flow – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
The concept of flow, in Csikszentmihalyi’s work, is defined as being in a state which one becomes so involve in an activity and being the moment that nothing else matters. This is the natural state of happiness which we can achieve through the control of one’s inner thoughts. Flow presents the principles for more happiness from the author’s years of research. How you will turn those principles into practice is entirely up to you.
2. Learned Optimism – Martin E. P. Seligman
It is no secret that optimism is one of the keys to success and happiness, and it is a learned behaviour. Seligman’s book is a factual book on optimism, with examples from his own clinical studies. It’s not a pep-talk kind of book, which sort of sets it apart from the typical self-help material. So, if you are looking to cultivate a more positive attitude, and you are a logical person who prefer something more direct and objective, this book is for you.
3. Authentic Happiness – Martin E. P. Seligman
If you are looking to read an even more practical book on how to be happier, Seligman’s work is what you are looking for. The author presents a rather scientific and psychological angle to the formula of being happy. Basically, according to Seligman, we can always make changes to our personal circumstances with activities that promote happiness, and by nurturing certain personality traits.
4. Toward a Psychology of Being – Abraham Maslow
Maslow is known for introducing the hierarchy of needs in the form of a pyramid. This book gives you the basics of what to do in order to see yourself in a more positive light, in order to achieve self-fulfillment, which is at the top of the needs pyramid. Whether you agree or not with his theory of psychological health and fulfillment – about which many have pointed out flaws – his work is still worth reading just for a general view of what constitutes a positive psychology.
5. 59 Seconds – Richard Wiseman
The appeal of Wiseman’s book is the simple premise that taking small easy steps can effectively amount to great changes in one’s life. This book is very action plan-based; you will learn techniques that are easy to implement daily, and with consistent practice, can improve various aspects of one’s life. There are plenty to be learned, from exercises for making better decisions to assessing your child’s emotional intelligence. Plus, the suggestions he offers are based on actual research done. More happiness in less than a minute.
6. Happier – Tal Ben-Shahar
Who doesn’t want to be happier? Though a lot of the concepts presented in Happier is not that new to the positive psychology genre, there are still a few enlightening ones. The most valuable aspect of the book is the useful exercises and meditations which anyone can try. Readers who prefer a more scientific data-driven material may not be too keen on this book though.
7. Happiness Project – Gretchen Rubin
Rubin’s book is like a catalog of ideas for starting your own ‘happiness project’ – the little things you do in your day-to-day that makes you happier. It is a very personal book as the authors draws many of the examples from her “daily adventures of happiness”. She was not unhappy – but identified she could still be happier. It is an easy to read book and you will find some great ideas to shake up your own daily routine. WhyToRead are enjoying re-reading this, with highlighter in hand, create more happiness in our own life.
