Choosing Happiness: Keys to a Joyful Life

by Alexandra Stoddard

Based on her more than thirty years as a noted thinker and speaker on personal contentment, Alexandra Stoddard shares what she has learned about the small but significant changes you can make to be happier day by day. A fun first quickly write down ten words that define who you are—perhaps beaches, family, food, home—and what else? This and dozens of other inventive ideas will help you pursue happiness wisely and well. In challenging times, it is easy to question whether happiness is a choice. Alexandra Stoddard affirms that not only is it possible to choose happiness but that happiness is the best choice we can make. It is the "first principle" of life that unites humankind because it is what we all desire. Happiness lies in the passions we pursue and in the pressures we decline. It is in knowing how to work and when to play. It is in the treasured objects we keep nearby and in the ordinary moments we elevate into small celebrations. It is in the note we write to a friend and the kindness we show a stranger. Happiness is what you make it, where you make it. Happiness is our best choice.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Inspirational, Personal Development, Psychology

192 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2002

About the author

ALEXANDRA STODDARD is a philosopher of contemporary living and author of many best selling books, including the classic Living a Beautiful Life: 500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty and Joy to Every Day of Your Life, Choosing Happiness: Keys to a Joyful Life, Things I Want My Daughters to Know: A Small Book About the Big Issues in Life, and You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life. Alexandra's newest book Happiness For Two: 75 Secrets for Finding More Joy Together, published in January 2008, is now in its second printing.

Reviews

[kylajaclyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should be called "All the Rainbows I Have Farted from My Ass."

I feel this book is mainly for older adult women, i.e. mid 40s or 50s. She constantly mentioned spending time with your kids. Well, what if you don't like children (like me) and do not plan to have any (like me)? What if you just wanted something to pull you up on your bootstraps without cloying you to death?

No such luck. The optimism of this book is suffocating. What of those who suffer from depression and want to be happy but cannot because it is a chemical imbalance in our heads?? When you are depressed you might feel vaguely like you SHOULD be going for a walk or reading a nice book, but you cannot at all bring yourself to actually do it.

I will give it two stars for her nice inclusion of quotes. I am a firm believer in quotes... and if you cannot generate any from your own originality (of which she has virtually none), then it is best to pepper your book with phrases from the great minds of past generations.

There is nothing new here. I say you find happiness where you can get... and breathe a sigh of relief if you can hold on to it for more than a minute.

[Rachael · Rating 1 out of 5]

My sister's mother-in-law gave me this book for Christmas, presumably because we have very different world-perspectives and she would like me to share hers. This would mean being abnormally and disgustingly chipper at all times whilst making under-handed, passive agressive insults to all of those around you. I prefer the more blatant insult, and enjoy experiencing the full range of human emotions. This book helped me with that, as it made me sick almost to the point of vomiting with it's triteness, then it made me rageful with it's smug and superior tone, and finally it merely annoyed me with it's repetitive self-help vibe. When I was done with it, I was happy. If only I had chosen to stop before the end, I could have been happier that much sooner.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Serving others is love. By giving and receiving acts of love, we sustain each other."

Among other observations, Stoddard is right. Many of her recommendations are more specific than general, more related to her own preferences than universal. The sections of the book might be too short, as well, and this may be more a book of aphorisms than anything else.

She observes that happiness is a choice, and I'm still undecided on that. I guess that freewill is a prerequisite, or belief in it, and I'm not really studied up on that.

I think the book moves a little too quickly and is too wide-ranging and unfocused. Still, there's quite a lot here. I think my happiness, when it happens, is much more subdued -- I don't really do exuberance.

[Mary Kenyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites, and not just because I have a signed copy. Inspirational. Another lovely book by Alexandra Stoddard.

[Bernadette]

Great purse book, you can read bits and pieces here and there. Very helpful and lots of "Oh, yeah" material

[Amelia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read about 20% before I gave up. She has some materialistic notions of what makes us happy.

[Stacy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Outdated and contrite

[chrisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

There wasn't much that I hadn't read about or heard somewhere else in this book but reminders of things we know to be true are good for us all. I liked the quotes she includes though at first I found the inclusion of them overwheming. I do find that she oversimplifies some topics excessively. Overall, when I was done with the book I felt a little meh about it.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept this book on my desk at work and read a few pages everyday. It was like getting a little vitamin boost for joy and happiness. It's filled with amazing quotes nestled in alongside Alexandra's carefully crafted and truthful words. Happiness is all up to us and there's many ways to get to know ourselves, accept ourselves, and love ourselves. ♥ Love this little book!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read with some great practices I will add to my day!

[Kathe Shout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexandra Stoddard is one of my favorite lifestyle writers. She includes many inspiring quotations and tips for living a meaningful, creative and rewarding life.

[bookishlyfina · Rating 3 out of 5]

hard to read the quotes with the placement and quite distracting. Overall the content has good points and beneficial practice which we can apply in our life

[Mary Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few gems, but otherwise not noteworthy.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author is a bit nutty, but it's a great thing to read when you're feeling grumpy and need some small or big reasons to smile.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good points, but a little bit over the top. It made me happy just hearing Kurt's reactions to the parts I read aloud!

[Lisa]

Life

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read most of her books. She is a little wacky, but she really lives a beautiful life and inspires me.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this book. i have read all of ms stoddard's book to date i believe.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to re-read this and other books of hers as a reminder....we can choose to be happy.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific advice from numerous great minds we could all learn from to improve our lives. Lots to think on.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book encouraged me to find happiness in the ordinary things in life. That's something I like to do anyway, but that I probably should do more often, so this was a nice reminder.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very good. Simplistic and a little shallow.

[Jane]

I am sure that the author means well. I bet she is a gracious person and does not intend to come across as haughty but NOT a book to read if you suffer from depression unless you are well on your way to being healed! For the clinically depressed you cannot just" choose to be happy. " It cannot just be WILLED, Having said that, it's got nice little pointers of everyday appreciation. It's also clear that the author has "means" and the good health to enjoy a comfortable life. Like many of her books I feel ambiguous about them: hence the "day-dreamers" category. My rating is between a 2-3 depending upon my mood. Her examples (the joy of a Tiffany's bag, etc.) come from a certain lifestyle that many of her readers (myself included) do not have. I am sure this review comes across as more critical them I intend as there were things about the book I did actually like!