Sustainable Happiness: Live Simply, Live Well, Make a Difference

by Sarah van Gelder (Editor), The staff of YES! Magazine (Editor)

We're bombarded by messages telling us that more, bigger, and better things are the keys to happiness. But after we pile up the stuff and pile on the hours, we end up exhausted and broke on a planet full of trash. 
Sarah van Gelder and her colleagues at YES! Magazine have been exploring the meaning of real happiness for eighteen years.  In this much-needed volume, they marshal fascinating research, in-depth essays, and compelling personal stories that lead to a life-altering what makes us truly happy are the depth of our relationships, the quality of our communities, the contribution we make through the work we do, and the renewal we receive from a thriving natural world.  The authors offer creative ways to cultivate a happiness that is sustainable in every one that is nurturing, enduring, just, and life affirming for individuals, society, and the earth.

Genres: Nonfiction, Personal Development, Environment, Philosophy, Psychology

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this in a Friends of the Library book sale. It was a quick read (considering they're magazine articles consolidated into a book) on a subject that I've been fascinated with. This is a good book to have for instant inspirations.

[Anne McLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a library book, but I may need to get a copy for myself, it had so much practical information in it. While a lot of it was what I'd read before for many years, I loved the anecdotes that illustrated the principles: the neighborhood that surveyed residents, adults and children, about what interests and abilities they'd like to learn about or could teach someone else, and then paired them up; the incident in which restorative justice brought real healing and help to teacher, student, and parent; the Karma Kitchen in which customers pay it forward.

My favorite was the story of the Hawaiian student who, when asked by facilitator Puanani Burgess to tell the story of his gift, at first angrily declared that he had none - he didn't read well, he could do math, he was here because he was in this special ed class. The facilitator felt terrible, devastated that he felt so shamed by the process. But two weeks later, Burgess ran into him at the grocery store and he happily described his gift - fishing! He was proud of and grateful for his ability to put food on his family's table and to realize too when to stop, telling the shark, "Uncle I not going take plenty fish. I just going to take one, two fish just for my family. All the rest I leave for you." Burgess asks, "...What would his life had been like if this curriculum were gift-based? If we were able to see the gift in each of our children and taught around that gift? What would happen if our community was gift-based? If we could really understand what the gift of each of our communities were, and really began to support that?" (p. 93).

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out with solid research on happiness. It went from research and actionable information to people talking about what makes them happy and case studies of awesome things that are unlikely to be implemented on a wider scale. They also had minimal descriptions on how to actually do the things they say create sustainable happiness. This book is also for a very privileged class of people, those with enough money to decide to stop buying too much, to buy fair-trade and local, and to "act before thinking". I loved the first section, but enjoyed the book less and less as it went on.

Great book club choice, it has some excellent talking points.

[September Michaud · Rating 2 out of 5]

Includes a few good essays, but nothing I'm going to miss once it's returned to the library.

[Veronuska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sustainable Happiness was assigned as part of my sociology class as well. This one I resonated with more, it made me stop and think about what actually makes life feel full and meaningful.

The message that real happiness comes from connection, purpose, and balance rather than material things — really resonated with me. It reminded me how easy it is to get caught up in chasing goals that look good on paper but don’t always feed your soul or your current needs.

Sarah van Gelder’s collection of essays felt warm and hopeful, like a gently reminder us that we already have what we need to live well — community, nature, and each other. I liked how it tied personal happiness to social and environmental well-being, showing that our joy isn’t separate from the world around us. That idea really stuck with me, because it reframes happiness as something collective, not just individual.

I gave it three stars mostly because, as with Normal Sucks, the essays felt repetitive at time. I found myself wanting a more depth and personal storytelling. But overall, it was an uplifting and grounding read — the kind that makes you want to slow down and live more intentionally.

Sustainable Happiness was a reminder a meaningful life isn’t about constant striving — it’s about connection, gratitude, and choosing joy in ways that don’t come at the expense of others or the planet.

[Jennifer Willcutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked out this book from a group of books on a shelf in our vacation “bus-camper” outside of Marquette, MI. I have been reading about simple living, letting go of stuff, and this book is about that but also about giving and community. This is a great book of short essays on the benefits of sustainable living and maintaining happiness. There are a lot of good ideas about how to be mindful and practice gratitude while moving away from consumerism and into a more fulfilling, Earth-friendly lifestyle. A great read for enjoying the simple summer nature life.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A good book for someone getting started on the sustainability, minimalism, mindfulness journey. The articles barely scratched the surface and I often wanted more depth from the authors. I hadn’t heard of Yes! Magazine, but the book shows variety from respected writers and is well done. I just wanted more and didn’t find it revolutionary, but it may be the perfect accessible book to get someone started or keep someone going deeper.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delight to read, but I am not sure how well the writers understood the science, so I'm a bit skeptical. Journalists without a strong background in science notoriously make too much of single studies, and don't look at peer reviews or meta-analyses. So I am giving it a cautious four star review. Please do comment to let me know if you have found the articles in this book to cite studies faithfully, I am not sure I have time to look into them myself.

[Shaunna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self help books are not appealing to me. And I am unsure if this book falls into that genre but it definitely helped me frame my outlook on what being a realistic environmentalist participating in this capitalist/consumerist society can be if you do put effort into conscious living. I devoured this book.

[Nina Szudzik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this one up to mixed my reading and throw in a thoughtful non-fiction read. Honestly, I didn't review the summary prior to starting, so I had no expectations. This is a timely read on the state of communities, the planet, and society. Throughout reading it, I found myself saddened and hopefully all at once and sharing this book with others.

[KWinks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just started subscribing to Yes! Magazine and I feel like I have missed A LOT, so this helps. It's kind of a best-of on articles published in Yes! over the years on the topic of sustainable happiness. All of the articles are short, insightful and well written. This is worth the time.

[Vera · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️

I love this book, read it twice already. It has a lot of great ideas and it’s perfect reminder about world around us and that we have to take care of it

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really new but good reminders - quick read.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

All good points, no new information for me. The article quality was quite variable.

[Cecilia Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were an updated version of the book since society has changed a lot in the years after it was published.

[jaden · Rating 3 out of 5]

more like 3.25

[Sass Frass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, quick, inspiring read. Much needed at this time as an American.

[Katharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is really more of a 2.5 stars for me. It is a collection of essays and some other writings (lists, poems, etc.) by different authors, so it is really hard to rate as a whole. Some pieces I disagreed with and/or really didn't do it for me, however others I found very inspiring and powerful.

I've never heard of Yes Magazine before and happened to see this come in as a new book a while back and was intrigued by the title (and its cute polka dot flower pots on the cover). The book contains notes for each essay and an index.

All in all, it did give me some food for thought and reaffirmed my desire to become more connected, engaged, and active in a community. Definitely not recommended for everyone, as some of the viewpoints may be a bit extreme for some readers.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that you'll keep in your library to refer to later, at least I will! The book speaks directly to that which I feel is important and the challenges of meeting that need. A lot of the tips and tricks revolve around living more simply, being part of a community, seizing the moment, etc. What makes this book different is that those tricks are supported by quotes from great leaders who have walked the walk, showing us that it can be done. I can only imagine the energy in the room when van Gelder interviewed the leaders and how invigorating it must have been to come back and tell her team about these experiences. My favorite is the 'Fragrance of Peace' and intend to embrace it.

[Anandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sustainable Happiness resonates with why I do what I do and how I am doing it! Each story is a seed of its own with lessons that will grow into a larger movement. I am re-energized with my purpose in co-creating equitable and sustainable ecosystems, urban agriculture, and continuing to do so in a way that acknowledges the voices that may not have a seat at the table. I have renewed hope for a positive shift in our world with the allies Yes! Magazine has gathered.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

So inspiring! So many different perspectives that work well together as a collective. I want to do everything! Collaborative community building, restorative justice, mindfulness, giving forward....and all tucked together in a beautifully intentioned, easy to read book. A+ if you're looking for inspiration, confirmation and a greater purpose in life. It will help you realize you have much more than you think you have.

[Tori Montes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It made me think about what my responsibilities as a human is to myself, my neighborhood and the world as a whole. As a sort of introvert I do spend a lot of time to myself and never really forced the whole family dinner etc... Maybe I just felt I didn't have that much to say so maybe my sons missed out but it did make me wonder who I am and whether I am a person who can do a better job contributing to the human race as a whole.

[Alice Heiserman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sustainable happiness, it turns out, multiplies as it's shared; it blossoms when individuals, families, communities, and the natural world are thriving." This book offers short chapters on how to enrich your life and deepen your happiness while caring for others. This is a how-to primer for socially conscious individuals and provides some examples to help us each remember that we are part of a larger community and responsible for each other.

[Daniel McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite quote from the book is "pain that is not transformed is transmitted"... so happiness is much more important than just to our own personal lives... it's important to our culture. Defining what is "happiness" in our consumer-centric world is key. It's a quick read and thought provoking. Give it a read.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some good ideas here, but ultimately I felt that the compilation doesn't really go into things with enough depth to create a compelling and persuasive collection as a whole. By definition, it's summarised and quite 'light' and so I felt that what the authors was saying didn't really stick, even if they were talking about important topics.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easily digestible book that really resounded with things I've been thinking about lately: consumerism, living more simply, and interacting with people/making connections and building community. first nonfiction I've read so quickly and enjoyed!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This concise book is full of "powerful ideas and practical actions." I would love to see this book on required reading lists for high school students and then have them create a group project around one of the ideas.

[Diane Kidman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book and finished it in one day. Had it been my own, perhaps I would have savored it a bit more. I'd like my own copy so I can reread it. I have a feeling I'd find even more in it after a second read.

[Adbeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical ways to build community

This book has lots on how to be happy as individuals, but the parts I love the most are those on building community for sustainable happiness for all. The idea of using mindfulness and restorative justice in our neighborhoods is inspiring.

[Ellie Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. No great revelations found....