H+ (Plus) A New Religion?: How to Live Your Life Positively Through Happiness, Humour, Help, Hope, Health

by Edward de Bono

While many religions focus on the negative by telling us exactly what we should not do, this groundbreaking guide suggests that achievement and success are reachable through positive daily deeds. The fundamental principles presented here are not concerned with avoiding evils but on producing good in the world, whether by making someone laugh or helping an elderly person across the road. Altruistic and helpful actions produce a sense of achievement which in turn creates self-esteem and mental wellbeing. The act of aiding others and improving the world leads to a brighter and better outlook on life.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2006

About the author

Edward de Bono was a Maltese physician, author, inventor, and consultant. He is best known as the originator of the term lateral thinking (structured creativity) and the leading proponent of the deliberate teaching of thinking in schools.

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

H+ proposes a framework for living which puts an emphasis on achievement (or life’s purpose) being the result of consciously positive actions. De Bono calls these positive actions ‘pons’ and they can be complex or something simple like picking up rubbish in your neighbourhood, or helping someone carry their shopping to the car. Essentially the type of things I remember calling ‘good turns’ when I was in the Brownies/Guides (‘A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself and does a Good Turn every day’).
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H+ stands for Human+ - the positive aspects of humanity. Then there’s a heap of other Hs thrown into the mix: happiness, help, hope, health and humour. I saw value in his views on each of these in a general sense.
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Where the book lost me was in the sections on failure, fines and achievement, and signals. If you fail to carry out your pon target for the day, you fine yourself (in money) and then send those fines to the H+ central headquarters, To signal your adherence to H+, a secret hand signal is suggested. Personally, I just can’t come at any ‘religion’ that wants me to fine myself, or to awkwardly point to my nose and eye in the presence of others.
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A quick read which filled a gap, but I don’t think I’ll be baptising myself in the H+ religion anytime soon.

[Siobhan O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually liked the book, it was a simple read and I really understood what Dr Bono was saying.
If we all tried his method especially the "pons" the world would be a happier place to live .

[Tanushri Indoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This little thin book is a must read for all those who believe in positive way of living, happiness, humour and good vibes.

Its 93 pages of pure bliss on how to live a positive way of life.
And it's not just talks. It provides you with a framework for happiness. It tells you that happiness is something which is brewed on a daily basis and exists in little things.
Little things like offering help, making someone smile or laugh, boosting people's confidence and all such altruistic acts which do lead to a certain sense of achievement. And this my fellow readers is true happiness!

[Leon van den Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edward de Bono wrote not for reading pleasure. Rather than escapism all of his many books are like great recipes, of which the proof is in the eating — that of his 'H+ (PLUS)' is in the fun of doing to others what you would have them do to you. This simple H+-recipe gives me, at 75, great pleasure from sunrise to well after sunset. Enjoy!

[Renata’s World · Rating 2 out of 5]

The message was clear: help others and be a better person.. The length of 85 pages and also the price were unnecessary.

[Bhomit Bhandari · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ideas in the book are good from moral and ethics standpoint but one would expect more from Edward de bono rather than convincing to join a cult.

[Achal Khaneja · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst read imaginable. Random ramblings which neither inspire nor move you to action.

[Yohei Nimura · Rating 1 out of 5]

ฝรั่ง ดจร เขียนยกอัตตาตัวเอง

[Kshitija Ghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a book on "believing in yourself" through happiness, help, hope, health, humour. But something seemed to be missing to me, I don't know what

[attronoctis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a sinking suspicion that Edward de Bono drank a bit too much alcohol while writing this book.

[Tisaranavamsa · Rating 1 out of 5]

HARE-BRAINED.

De Bono is one of the greatest thinkers of all time but he is not known for being immune to hare-brained ideas. So this is a book that has emerged out of one such hare-brained idea.
In this book, De Bono tries to take his shot at being a messiah and badly fails at it.
Is H+ a new religion? He says "Maybe." Later he goes on to say that it is supplementary to other religions.
So he has worked out ways to salute (by touching corners of nose & eye) and direct funds to his own institution through this book. Wow! (i actually meant WTF!)

He writing shows poor understanding of eastern devotional and spiritual practices.
He simply thinks that he is creating something novel for miserable mortals which he actually doesn't.
One time he had suggested FIFA to count corners as a parameter in football which FIFA rejected without giving a second thought.
De Bono has wry sense of humour which often proceeds by his hare-brained ideas. This book was full of several 'Yuk' moments for me.

[Vandita · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth spending more than 15-20mins on this Edward de Bono book, which has a powerful message of living life with a positive frame of mind, but the content can be summarised in a page (and should have been written in a page rather than a 100 page book!). Recommends living life through H+ i.e. Happiness, Humour, Help (giving help to others), Hope and Health. These ingredients, if followed like a religion, will result in high self esteem, sense of achievement and fulfilled lives. I agree totally with the premise but repetition of this central theme over and over again in 100 pages, dilutes the strength of the message rather than reinforce it. So, if you read this review and can think about the 5 Hs above, that should do it - no need to pick up this book!

[Abe Hanara · Rating 2 out of 5]

the shortest book of all Edward De bono's books. His comparisons with religion and his thinking movement being comparative to a religion were humorous and brave. Another great simple communicative tool, in discussing this complex topic of thinking with others. An average first read for those who aren't particularly interested in Edward De bono. Edwards views on the less effectiveness of organised religion are apparent in this simple read. These views highlighting the negative effects of religion are over done a bit in this work as well as his other publications, sort of like a bit of a 'band-wagon' topic or his 'pet-peeve'.

[Srinivas Reddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good and thought provoking.
I liked it a lot as it is matching with my own personal interests.
However, I dint like the ending of the book with a concept of building a community/organization of people with a structure.

[HARTATI · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thinking is very important for happiness, very much to do with expectation.

I like this book, the first book of De Bono I have.

[Vasu Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my 50th Book!!@@#$@%@@...

Simple book tells importance of doing small good things which will make you feel satisfied, acheived thereby increasing your self esteem.

[Beth]

I'm not sure if this book was meant to be a parody of religion or taken seriously. Either way I enjoyed it.

[Najla · Rating 1 out of 5]

i can feel the illuminate touch or "ideology" in this book but nice try, No!!

[Pritesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

has given me new insights into a religion.
will give more stars or not that i will decide after practicing it

[Lim Chin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simple concept belaboured repeatedly over close to 100 pages. Talks about religion was irrelevant to the central theme. Collection of 'fines' and send them to the author cheapens the book.

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't find a lot in this

[Truc · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short and boring book. I didn't find any thought provoking ideas from it.

[Riham Ibrahim · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very boring book that adds nothing to your knowledge.

[justbeingarlyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring indeed.

[Ambika Rani K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book which focuses more on how to be positive in each and every apsect of your life.

[Me · Rating 1 out of 5]

I get it.. so any body can write a book.. worse, any body can become a best selling author.

he claims that his new religion is different and proactive while all other religions are basically passive. he probably never bothered reading about other religions before crowning his new belief to be a better way of life.