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The Happiness Files: Insights on Work and Life by Arthur C. Brooks
Harvard professor and bestselling author Arthur C. Brooks offers science-based insights on work and life in this curated collection from his "How to Build a Life" column in The Atlantic.
Imagine if your life were a startup. How would you lead it and shape it to be most successful?
That's the question behind The Happiness Files, a rich selection of enlightening and instructive essays by Arthur C. Brooks, known worldwide for his inspiring yet practical wisdom and advice in his weekly column for The Atlantic and in his bestselling books, From Strength to Strength and Build the Life You Want (coauthored with Oprah Winfrey).
The simple answer, as Brooks wisely explains, is to manage your life in a way that leads to truly valuable love, enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning—in other words, happiness.
Building on his popular Harvard Business School course "Leadership and Happiness," Brooks begins each essay with sharp observations and behavioral science research that shed light on how happiness really works, then offers experiential wisdom and practical advice. Beautifully written, the essays range from ancient philosophy to literature, pop culture, and the contemporary world of work. They explore topics and challenges such as "Procrastinate This, Not That," "Why Success Can Feel So Bitter," and "Five Pillars of a Good Life." Readers will find the chapters helpfully grouped by "On Managing Yourself," "On Jobs, Money, and Building Your Career," "On Balancing Work, Life, and Relationships," and more.
We all need more happiness in our work and in our lives. In The Happiness Files you'll find enlightenment, inspiration, and useful guidance for leading a happier, more successful, and more fulfilling life and career.
Imagine if your life were a startup. How would you lead it and shape it to be most successful?
That's the question behind The Happiness Files, a rich selection of enlightening and instructive essays by Arthur C. Brooks, known worldwide for his inspiring yet practical wisdom and advice in his weekly column for The Atlantic and in his bestselling books, From Strength to Strength and Build the Life You Want (coauthored with Oprah Winfrey).
The simple answer, as Brooks wisely explains, is to manage your life in a way that leads to truly valuable love, enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning—in other words, happiness.
Building on his popular Harvard Business School course "Leadership and Happiness," Brooks begins each essay with sharp observations and behavioral science research that shed light on how happiness really works, then offers experiential wisdom and practical advice. Beautifully written, the essays range from ancient philosophy to literature, pop culture, and the contemporary world of work. They explore topics and challenges such as "Procrastinate This, Not That," "Why Success Can Feel So Bitter," and "Five Pillars of a Good Life." Readers will find the chapters helpfully grouped by "On Managing Yourself," "On Jobs, Money, and Building Your Career," "On Balancing Work, Life, and Relationships," and more.
We all need more happiness in our work and in our lives. In The Happiness Files you'll find enlightenment, inspiration, and useful guidance for leading a happier, more successful, and more fulfilling life and career.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2025
644 people are currently reading
5353 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
July 28, 2025
This is one of those quiet reads that sticks with you. A collection of essays originally published in The Atlantic, it’s incredibly readable and is science first, then practical advice that feels surprisingly actionable.
Some ideas I keep thinking about:
- For complex decisions, going with your gut is often better than overanalyzing. Emotional decisions were more than twice as likely to lead to optimal outcomes.
- In midlife, your medium should shift from canvas to sculpture. Chipping away instead of adding more.
- Intelligence, like money or power, only becomes meaningful when shared.
- Ancient Egyptians had two words for procrastination: one for laziness, one for waiting for the right time. Knowing the difference matters.
Perfect as a lunchtime read or a quiet reset!
Some ideas I keep thinking about:
- For complex decisions, going with your gut is often better than overanalyzing. Emotional decisions were more than twice as likely to lead to optimal outcomes.
- In midlife, your medium should shift from canvas to sculpture. Chipping away instead of adding more.
- Intelligence, like money or power, only becomes meaningful when shared.
- Ancient Egyptians had two words for procrastination: one for laziness, one for waiting for the right time. Knowing the difference matters.
Perfect as a lunchtime read or a quiet reset!
August 1, 2025
So many things to consider about being happier
Read
May 14, 2025Lots of tried and true advice on happiness from formerly published columns of the author.
I like the author and appreciate his advice, but I’ve read much of this before so didn’t really find anything particularly new or interesting.
If this is your first foray into happiness material, you’ll probably find some good nuggets.
*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in return for my honest review.*
I like the author and appreciate his advice, but I’ve read much of this before so didn’t really find anything particularly new or interesting.
If this is your first foray into happiness material, you’ll probably find some good nuggets.
*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in return for my honest review.*
June 14, 2025
I received an ARC from NetGalley. I love Arthur C. Brooks and I regularly read his column. It's nice to have it all collected here, and I would absolutely purchase this as a gift. I will say it feels a bit more redundant than reading them a month at a time, but still clear, concise, and useful advice.
Read
November 2, 2025I don’t know that anyone else, at least in the modern era, has ever defined themselves as, specifically, a happiness expert. It’s almost too basic. Too fundamental. Like being a blinking expert, a drinking water expert, or a screaming expert. But Arthur Brooks has taken on that role and for that reason I recommend everyone follow him.
He’s not saying anything too controversial. This type of writing is more of the kind where once you take in one of its ideas, you realize you’ve known it all along. Writing like this doesn’t shake you or reorient what you thought was real, but it does remind you that, hey, you already know what you have to do. So go do it.
Give to the community, view your work as a service to others, don’t be too sarcastic in your humor, if you want happiness and success don’t chase success - chase happiness first, pleasure is temporary, goals are great when you’re working towards them but once you achieve them you’ll probably be unhappy again (just look at Olympic athletes) so keep creating new goals, love and deep relationships literally equal happiness so cultivate them, don’t pursue knowledge and intelligence if you want to more happiness.
And many more ideas. I think I’ll come back to this book again.
He’s not saying anything too controversial. This type of writing is more of the kind where once you take in one of its ideas, you realize you’ve known it all along. Writing like this doesn’t shake you or reorient what you thought was real, but it does remind you that, hey, you already know what you have to do. So go do it.
Give to the community, view your work as a service to others, don’t be too sarcastic in your humor, if you want happiness and success don’t chase success - chase happiness first, pleasure is temporary, goals are great when you’re working towards them but once you achieve them you’ll probably be unhappy again (just look at Olympic athletes) so keep creating new goals, love and deep relationships literally equal happiness so cultivate them, don’t pursue knowledge and intelligence if you want to more happiness.
And many more ideas. I think I’ll come back to this book again.
November 4, 2025
Amazing book.
Truly, if you’re looking to become an overall baseline happier person and stop chasing the endless cycle of meaningless dopamine filled temporary experiences… this is the book for you. “But I can just read the bullet points, and get the same info.. why read a whole book”? - ok sure, but you can also sprint through a forest and see all the same trees, right? But will you remember what you saw? Will you smell the pine needles? Will you have that feeling of “oh yeah… it actually feels good to take it slow?”. Maybe. But I like to take it easy and enjoy the ride. Which hey… maybe I learned to do from this book.
Arthur C. Brooks. - Musician, Harvard professor, Columnist for the Atlantic, Good dude.
Truly, if you’re looking to become an overall baseline happier person and stop chasing the endless cycle of meaningless dopamine filled temporary experiences… this is the book for you. “But I can just read the bullet points, and get the same info.. why read a whole book”? - ok sure, but you can also sprint through a forest and see all the same trees, right? But will you remember what you saw? Will you smell the pine needles? Will you have that feeling of “oh yeah… it actually feels good to take it slow?”. Maybe. But I like to take it easy and enjoy the ride. Which hey… maybe I learned to do from this book.
Arthur C. Brooks. - Musician, Harvard professor, Columnist for the Atlantic, Good dude.
September 25, 2025
I think by nature of being a collection of essays there was a lot of inevitable redundancy. I found a lot of his talking points either intuitive or things I had already known, but I enjoyed a few particular topics such as his thoughts on friendship, compliments, and criticisms.
December 11, 2025
I mean, it's Arthur Brooks. I asked for an Atlantic yearlong subscription as a gift so I could access his columns. However, I didn't get back far enough to read these so they are new to me.
It's the sort of solid information typical of him. There were a few standouts. One where I thought he maybe missed a datapoint. But maybe not. It's a really good waiting room or young mommy book. Good advice, short chapters, easy to pick up and put down.
I prefer him in person, though. I really just do.
Note: I found his point that Jung was religious a bit funny. Jordan B. Peterson is such a staunch athiest and Jungian. I'd love to see how he reconciles the two. But that's irrelevant to this book.
It's the sort of solid information typical of him. There were a few standouts. One where I thought he maybe missed a datapoint. But maybe not. It's a really good waiting room or young mommy book. Good advice, short chapters, easy to pick up and put down.
I prefer him in person, though. I really just do.
Note: I found his point that Jung was religious a bit funny. Jordan B. Peterson is such a staunch athiest and Jungian. I'd love to see how he reconciles the two. But that's irrelevant to this book.
September 29, 2025
This was a super good book. I used to love positive psychology books, but then I realized a ton of it was filled with BS. I was concerned this would be one of those, but it wasn’t. Arthur C. Brooks is a social scientist who writes for The Atlantic, and this book is exactly the type of book I love. It was short and sweet because it’s basically a collection of articles he’s written. What I loved the most about this book is that Brooks does an excellent job interweaving a ton of studies with how they can be applied to real life in a practical way. This is an excellent book that I highly recommend.
October 4, 2025
I love everything I’ve read by Dr. Brooks. All so well researched, clearly outlined, and thoughtfully delivered. Rated this 4-stars though it probably deserves 4.5-ish and only suffers because so much of this has appeared in his other books or talks, so this is more a compendium and less original to me. Still, if you haven’t read Brooks, this would be a great start or maybe even a great way to get the essence of most of his research and writing in one book!
September 12, 2025
The Happiness Files
Arthur Brooks has done it again. Book after book of inspiration and wisdom. I am so thankful to Squawk Box for introducing me to this wonderful contributor to our society through interviews there. Please read!!
Arthur Brooks has done it again. Book after book of inspiration and wisdom. I am so thankful to Squawk Box for introducing me to this wonderful contributor to our society through interviews there. Please read!!
October 18, 2025
I like Arthur Brooks. This has a lot of good info and insight about happiness. It’s an enjoyable read. I wish the audiobook was fully narrated by the author. And even though it has a lot of good practical advice, at the end of the day, it’s still just a lot of typical self-help type advice.
September 6, 2025
Lots of quick, interesting ideas about life 😃
September 13, 2025
3.5, didn’t realize that the book is mostly a collection of his short essays that appear in his weekly column in the Atlantic. Overall enjoy his content
September 24, 2025
A really great read while I’m experiencing difficulties at work, and refocusing where I can best utilize my energy
September 8, 2025
Excellent and insightful
October 30, 2025
This slim collection, The Happiness Files distils Arthur C. Brooks’s trademark mix of social science, philosophy, and practical wisdom into bite-sized essays on what really drives satisfaction in work and life. Drawing on his Harvard Business Review columns, Brooks unpacks everything from ambition and purpose to friendship and meaning, blending research with personal reflection in a way that’s both grounded and uplifting.
I found it sharp, sincere, and refreshingly free of the usual self-help fluff. Brooks doesn’t preach; he nudges. His take on balancing striving with gratitude really landed with me, as did his reminder that happiness isn’t the absence of struggle but the presence of growth and connection. Perfect for dipping into over coffee when you need a quick recalibration.
I found it sharp, sincere, and refreshingly free of the usual self-help fluff. Brooks doesn’t preach; he nudges. His take on balancing striving with gratitude really landed with me, as did his reminder that happiness isn’t the absence of struggle but the presence of growth and connection. Perfect for dipping into over coffee when you need a quick recalibration.
August 15, 2025
Beautifully written and deeply human, this book turns the pursuit of happiness into something achievable.
October 19, 2025
My advisor’s newest book!
Read
December 15, 2025The approach in these essays treats professional goals like a rhumb line - navigational term for the straight course toward a destination, with the full knowledge and acceptance that circumstances will change that course and maybe even the destination itself
*The evidence shows that the best way to absorb, retain, and use ideas is to understand them intellectually and change your habits based on your understanding.
Dealing with failure - keep your ideals front and center. Remember why you took a risk in seeking a goal in the first place. Our core, intrinsic values are “resistant to disillusionment”
If you find yourself overwhelmed and taking on too much, make “no” your default and consider whether you want to opt IN to something vs having to opt out.
Write a worry down. Defines and put limits around the sources of your discomfort and makes them emotionally manageable.
Write down the best outcome, worst outcome, likeliest outcome and what you can do in the event of each.
For complex decisions, a feeling-based decision was more than twice as likely to lead to an optimal outcome as one based on analysis of details (Mikels et al. (2011). Should I go with my gut? Investigating the benefits of emotion-focused decision-making. Emotion.)
The feeling that should never be absent when making a significant decision eg about a job is excitement. This refers to prospective happiness, or joy about having a better future in sight. Anticipated meaning, which is crucial for wellbeing, and excitement about the future are closely linked (Van Tilburg & Igou. (2019). Dreaming of a brighter future: Anticipating happiness instills meaning in life. Journal of Happiness Studies).
Fear before making a big decision - can indicate a level of meaningful challenge. If it’s dread, it’s the anticipation of failure.
The third feeling to watch for you in your gut is deadness or emptiness. You should not be feeling this before making a big decision.
At lower incomes, money buys happiness by decreasing unhappiness.
Raising positive emotions and lowering negative ones involve independent neurological processes. Wellbeing requires a focus on each.
Spending money on experiences especially with loved ones, saving time, and giving, reliably raise happiness.
To avoid a midlife crisis: Focus on what aging has given you, not what it has taken away. And choose subtraction over addition, ie your life should be like a sculpture vs a painting.
Most people do not report actually having a midlife crisis. In fact, for most people, life gets better. Research shows that on average people get steadily psychologically healthier after 30.
Don’t take criticism personally. Use it as insider information.
People tend to engage in “surface acting” (faking emotions that are deemed appropriate) during work meetings, which is emotionally draining and correlated with the intention to quit (Shanock et al., 2013).
Zoom fatigue has 6 root causes: asynchronicity of communication, lack of body language, lack of eye contact, increased self-awareness (you are looking at yourself), interaction w multiple faces which is confusing and unnatural, and multitasking opportunities.
Some people are more strongly affected by Zoom fatigue than others.
Videoconferencing makes people less productive and less creative.
Turning off your camera or using the phone is better for you (Shockley et al. (2021). The fatiguing effects of camera use in virtual meetings: A within-person field experiment. Journal of Applied Psychology).
When you want to say a hard truth or have a difficult conversation, practice 10x so you get used to hearing yourself say it.
The two dimensions of personality that parenting impacts most are conscientiousness and agreeableness. Children were more conscientious when parents were more involved in their lives and provided more cultural stimulation. Children were more agreeable when parents raised them with more structure and goals.
Parental behavior appears to significantly affect the roughly half of children’s happiness that may not be genetically determined. Parental warmth and affection (with slightly more weight to that of fathers) has been shown to make up about a third of psychological adjustment differences in children.
When you don’t know what to do with your children, be warm and loving.
Be the person you want your kids to become.
To look nonthreatening, trustworthy and competent, simply look happy.
Men judge a happy expression as the most sexually attractive way for a woman to look.
The most successful relationships resemble mature start-ups as opposed to mergers. (ACB has an Atlantic essay on this).
10 keys to happiness based on the research: invest in family and friends, voluntarily and regularly associate with other people (social capital), be active mentally and physically (to keep it simple, walk an hr and read an hr each day), practice your religion, get physical exercise (in addition to the daily walk), act nicely (agreeableness can be increased relatively easily), be generous, check your health (don’t neglect chronic pain or anxiety. Visit the doctor and dentist regularly), experience nature, socialize w colleagues outside work (hm).
To get happier, you need an integrated strategy: commit yourself to understanding happiness (can be psychologically, philosophically, spiritually). Practice good happiness hygiene (ie the above strategies on a regular basis). Share your knowledge and progress with others.
Don’t try to be happy. Try to be happier.
Satisfaction is not brought by audacious wins but by forward momentum.
“Post-achievement hangover” - Stephanie Rose Zoccatelli - a feeling of restlessness and mild depression in the days after a major milestone (like getting married)
Ask yourself if you are enjoying the journey, if you want more of the same once you achieve your goal (eg getting PhD, do you like academia?), and if you can break the goal into small steps that are each a victory.
*The evidence shows that the best way to absorb, retain, and use ideas is to understand them intellectually and change your habits based on your understanding.
Dealing with failure - keep your ideals front and center. Remember why you took a risk in seeking a goal in the first place. Our core, intrinsic values are “resistant to disillusionment”
If you find yourself overwhelmed and taking on too much, make “no” your default and consider whether you want to opt IN to something vs having to opt out.
Write a worry down. Defines and put limits around the sources of your discomfort and makes them emotionally manageable.
Write down the best outcome, worst outcome, likeliest outcome and what you can do in the event of each.
For complex decisions, a feeling-based decision was more than twice as likely to lead to an optimal outcome as one based on analysis of details (Mikels et al. (2011). Should I go with my gut? Investigating the benefits of emotion-focused decision-making. Emotion.)
The feeling that should never be absent when making a significant decision eg about a job is excitement. This refers to prospective happiness, or joy about having a better future in sight. Anticipated meaning, which is crucial for wellbeing, and excitement about the future are closely linked (Van Tilburg & Igou. (2019). Dreaming of a brighter future: Anticipating happiness instills meaning in life. Journal of Happiness Studies).
Fear before making a big decision - can indicate a level of meaningful challenge. If it’s dread, it’s the anticipation of failure.
The third feeling to watch for you in your gut is deadness or emptiness. You should not be feeling this before making a big decision.
At lower incomes, money buys happiness by decreasing unhappiness.
Raising positive emotions and lowering negative ones involve independent neurological processes. Wellbeing requires a focus on each.
Spending money on experiences especially with loved ones, saving time, and giving, reliably raise happiness.
To avoid a midlife crisis: Focus on what aging has given you, not what it has taken away. And choose subtraction over addition, ie your life should be like a sculpture vs a painting.
Most people do not report actually having a midlife crisis. In fact, for most people, life gets better. Research shows that on average people get steadily psychologically healthier after 30.
Don’t take criticism personally. Use it as insider information.
People tend to engage in “surface acting” (faking emotions that are deemed appropriate) during work meetings, which is emotionally draining and correlated with the intention to quit (Shanock et al., 2013).
Zoom fatigue has 6 root causes: asynchronicity of communication, lack of body language, lack of eye contact, increased self-awareness (you are looking at yourself), interaction w multiple faces which is confusing and unnatural, and multitasking opportunities.
Some people are more strongly affected by Zoom fatigue than others.
Videoconferencing makes people less productive and less creative.
Turning off your camera or using the phone is better for you (Shockley et al. (2021). The fatiguing effects of camera use in virtual meetings: A within-person field experiment. Journal of Applied Psychology).
When you want to say a hard truth or have a difficult conversation, practice 10x so you get used to hearing yourself say it.
The two dimensions of personality that parenting impacts most are conscientiousness and agreeableness. Children were more conscientious when parents were more involved in their lives and provided more cultural stimulation. Children were more agreeable when parents raised them with more structure and goals.
Parental behavior appears to significantly affect the roughly half of children’s happiness that may not be genetically determined. Parental warmth and affection (with slightly more weight to that of fathers) has been shown to make up about a third of psychological adjustment differences in children.
When you don’t know what to do with your children, be warm and loving.
Be the person you want your kids to become.
To look nonthreatening, trustworthy and competent, simply look happy.
Men judge a happy expression as the most sexually attractive way for a woman to look.
The most successful relationships resemble mature start-ups as opposed to mergers. (ACB has an Atlantic essay on this).
10 keys to happiness based on the research: invest in family and friends, voluntarily and regularly associate with other people (social capital), be active mentally and physically (to keep it simple, walk an hr and read an hr each day), practice your religion, get physical exercise (in addition to the daily walk), act nicely (agreeableness can be increased relatively easily), be generous, check your health (don’t neglect chronic pain or anxiety. Visit the doctor and dentist regularly), experience nature, socialize w colleagues outside work (hm).
To get happier, you need an integrated strategy: commit yourself to understanding happiness (can be psychologically, philosophically, spiritually). Practice good happiness hygiene (ie the above strategies on a regular basis). Share your knowledge and progress with others.
Don’t try to be happy. Try to be happier.
Satisfaction is not brought by audacious wins but by forward momentum.
“Post-achievement hangover” - Stephanie Rose Zoccatelli - a feeling of restlessness and mild depression in the days after a major milestone (like getting married)
Ask yourself if you are enjoying the journey, if you want more of the same once you achieve your goal (eg getting PhD, do you like academia?), and if you can break the goal into small steps that are each a victory.
September 9, 2025
I received this book courtesy of the Goodreads First Reads Program for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: What are some of the secrets to a happy successful life? Many different people will give you many different answers. Mr. Brooks has decided to give us his answer. If you have read his column called "How to Build a Life" that's found in the Atlantic, then you might already know his results. Will he give us some good ideas? Let's find out.
Dislikes: Some of the scientific sections of the articles make for dry reading.
Likes: Much of the advice in these articles is good advice. He also collected the articles under different sub-topics.
We have a large section of indexes, references, and other notes.
Conclusion: This is a helpful book. If you like educational self-help articles, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Overview: What are some of the secrets to a happy successful life? Many different people will give you many different answers. Mr. Brooks has decided to give us his answer. If you have read his column called "How to Build a Life" that's found in the Atlantic, then you might already know his results. Will he give us some good ideas? Let's find out.
Dislikes: Some of the scientific sections of the articles make for dry reading.
Likes: Much of the advice in these articles is good advice. He also collected the articles under different sub-topics.
We have a large section of indexes, references, and other notes.
Conclusion: This is a helpful book. If you like educational self-help articles, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
June 18, 2025
A compendium of articles with practical advice for life inclusive of work. Useful validation - it would probably suit younger people earlier in their career, as I didn’t learn anything new. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
August 17, 2025
"The Happiness Files" by Arthur C. Brooks is a collection of his previously published essays from his popular "How to Build a Life" column in The Atlantic. This essay collection is organized by themes, ranging from the interpersonal realm to goal setting, managing your career, and seeking happiness through balance.
There were a number of essays in this collection that I hadn't previously encountered that were delightful and thought-provoking, which I flagged to return back to for times I find myself in a thought spiral. I particularly enjoyed the first section ("On Managing Yourself") as it contained essays that spoke to the specifics of common dilemmas most of us find ourselves grappling with. Brooks offers relevant research that speaks to each of these challenges (from dealing with overwhelm to burn-out to worrying less) and practical tactics that one can apply in their life right away.
The strongest section was "On Jobs, Money, and Building Your Career" and it is clear why his class on leadership and happiness at Harvard Business School is so popular. The insights from this section are clear, pointed, and prompt the reader to consider self-reflecting in purposeful ways.
The section "On Balancing Work, Life, and Relationships" was not as strong, as it seemed like it was pulling from research that just scratched at the surface of these topics (friendships, conflict, parenting) which are each large topics within themselves. I could easily see an entire book dedicated to just this section, that is fleshed out even further. That being said, there are still some interesting nuggets to consider that readers will find helpful.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading through this collection of essays. As someone who has followed Arthur Brooks' work so far, it was nice to see some of the gems from his previous work highlighted in this collection. I wish there had been a bit more context-setting or voiceover for each section, with Brooks offering a bit more of a narrative wrapper around each bundle of essays. I would have loved to get more of his perspective on how he sees the ideas from each of these essays connected to each other and an overarching narrative thread connecting them. Aside from that one area of improvement, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone hoping to get a broad survey on research behind happiness science.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher — I received an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There were a number of essays in this collection that I hadn't previously encountered that were delightful and thought-provoking, which I flagged to return back to for times I find myself in a thought spiral. I particularly enjoyed the first section ("On Managing Yourself") as it contained essays that spoke to the specifics of common dilemmas most of us find ourselves grappling with. Brooks offers relevant research that speaks to each of these challenges (from dealing with overwhelm to burn-out to worrying less) and practical tactics that one can apply in their life right away.
The strongest section was "On Jobs, Money, and Building Your Career" and it is clear why his class on leadership and happiness at Harvard Business School is so popular. The insights from this section are clear, pointed, and prompt the reader to consider self-reflecting in purposeful ways.
The section "On Balancing Work, Life, and Relationships" was not as strong, as it seemed like it was pulling from research that just scratched at the surface of these topics (friendships, conflict, parenting) which are each large topics within themselves. I could easily see an entire book dedicated to just this section, that is fleshed out even further. That being said, there are still some interesting nuggets to consider that readers will find helpful.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading through this collection of essays. As someone who has followed Arthur Brooks' work so far, it was nice to see some of the gems from his previous work highlighted in this collection. I wish there had been a bit more context-setting or voiceover for each section, with Brooks offering a bit more of a narrative wrapper around each bundle of essays. I would have loved to get more of his perspective on how he sees the ideas from each of these essays connected to each other and an overarching narrative thread connecting them. Aside from that one area of improvement, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone hoping to get a broad survey on research behind happiness science.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher — I received an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2025
Arthur Brooks challenges each of us to answer this core question by managing our lives "in a way that leads to truly valuable rewards: love, enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning (in other words, happiness)."
Drawing on his Harvard Business School course, Brooks shares essays from his "How to Build a Life" Atlantic column, grouped into five themes:
- Managing Yourself
- Jobs, Money & Career
- Communication & Connection
- Work–Life Balance & Relationships
- Defining Success
Insights that stayed with me:
- Your life is your most important startup. When we act like the CEO in our own lives by strategizing, iterating, and embracing risk, we foster meaning, joy, and growth.
- Happiness is three-fold: enjoyment, satisfaction, and purpose. No one element will help you achieve happiness. Balance your portfolio.
- Happiness isn’t about escaping unhappiness. Discomfort, failure, and uncertainty are indicators we’re learning and growing. Negative emotions are feedback that can shift mindsets and actions for better outcomes, if we listen and act on them.
Arthur Brooks offers tools to embrace life’s complexity as the path to real fulfillment. If you’re navigating career transitions, burnout, or are finding yourself stuck in a “success without satisfaction” loop, this book offers compassion, perspective, and actionable guidance.
Drawing on his Harvard Business School course, Brooks shares essays from his "How to Build a Life" Atlantic column, grouped into five themes:
- Managing Yourself
- Jobs, Money & Career
- Communication & Connection
- Work–Life Balance & Relationships
- Defining Success
Insights that stayed with me:
- Your life is your most important startup. When we act like the CEO in our own lives by strategizing, iterating, and embracing risk, we foster meaning, joy, and growth.
- Happiness is three-fold: enjoyment, satisfaction, and purpose. No one element will help you achieve happiness. Balance your portfolio.
- Happiness isn’t about escaping unhappiness. Discomfort, failure, and uncertainty are indicators we’re learning and growing. Negative emotions are feedback that can shift mindsets and actions for better outcomes, if we listen and act on them.
Arthur Brooks offers tools to embrace life’s complexity as the path to real fulfillment. If you’re navigating career transitions, burnout, or are finding yourself stuck in a “success without satisfaction” loop, this book offers compassion, perspective, and actionable guidance.
December 7, 2025
I really enjoy Arthur Brooks’ recent books—Build the Life You Want and From Strength to Strength—along with his weekly Atlantic columns. This book, essentially a collection of those columns, felt a bit like mainlining Brooks: all of his core ideas delivered in quick, concentrated bursts. His full-length books have a gentler pacing that makes them easier to settle into, whereas this one is better suited to “snack” reading. It works well in small doses, though reading it straight through wasn’t quite what I was looking for.
Published by Harvard Business Review, the collection leans mostly—though not entirely—toward business-oriented use cases. Some of Brooks’ best columns, at least for me, weren’t included here. Still, there’s something for everyone, and depending on your personal situation, certain chapters will land more deeply than others.
Given where I am in life, I found the sections on mid-career shifts especially resonant: How do you change jobs? How do you keep midlife at bay? Why can success feel surprisingly bittersweet? Is going for the top job worth it? These chapters in particular felt timely and grounding. Overall, it’s a book I expect to return to when I’m wrestling with questions about work, purpose, and the next chapter.
Published by Harvard Business Review, the collection leans mostly—though not entirely—toward business-oriented use cases. Some of Brooks’ best columns, at least for me, weren’t included here. Still, there’s something for everyone, and depending on your personal situation, certain chapters will land more deeply than others.
Given where I am in life, I found the sections on mid-career shifts especially resonant: How do you change jobs? How do you keep midlife at bay? Why can success feel surprisingly bittersweet? Is going for the top job worth it? These chapters in particular felt timely and grounding. Overall, it’s a book I expect to return to when I’m wrestling with questions about work, purpose, and the next chapter.
December 13, 2025
This book is a collection of essays that include practical, science-based tips to make a person happier. Personally I found myself getting a little bored toward the end, though at the beginning I was really interested. This one's short so if you need a quick one to meet your reading goal or something to jumpstart your new year, this would be a good one.
Some notes I took:
Ruminating leaves you stuck in the past. Writing about your failures helps you process, learn, and move forward
The true waste of time is to do things that we don't even enjoy. Downtime is necessary - schedule your downtime.
Procrastination isn't just a time management issue, but an emotional management one.
Procrastination isn't always bad. Rushing into tasks can also be a way of trying to avoid stress (pre-crastinate). Waiting to do a task means you are taking time to mull them over.
Worry strategies:
-Write worries down. Naming the worry makes things emotionally manageable.
-Consider outcomes, not problems. What is the best/worst/likely outcomes? What would you do in each case?
-Seize the day. Set intentions.
-Don't beat yourself up for worrying. -Recognize that politics and news profit from your worry and you are being manipulated into worrying more than you need to.
Act as if you are the person you want to become. Letting it all hang out ("being authentic") isn't necessarily the path to happiness.
Giving is an act of rebellion toward the idea that your money defines your worth. Taking time off of work also shows the same thing.
Giving is an act of self expression, which boosts your happiness.
Compliments don't have as great of an effect for people with already low self esteem.
Some notes I took:
Ruminating leaves you stuck in the past. Writing about your failures helps you process, learn, and move forward
The true waste of time is to do things that we don't even enjoy. Downtime is necessary - schedule your downtime.
Procrastination isn't just a time management issue, but an emotional management one.
Procrastination isn't always bad. Rushing into tasks can also be a way of trying to avoid stress (pre-crastinate). Waiting to do a task means you are taking time to mull them over.
Worry strategies:
-Write worries down. Naming the worry makes things emotionally manageable.
-Consider outcomes, not problems. What is the best/worst/likely outcomes? What would you do in each case?
-Seize the day. Set intentions.
-Don't beat yourself up for worrying. -Recognize that politics and news profit from your worry and you are being manipulated into worrying more than you need to.
Act as if you are the person you want to become. Letting it all hang out ("being authentic") isn't necessarily the path to happiness.
Giving is an act of rebellion toward the idea that your money defines your worth. Taking time off of work also shows the same thing.
Giving is an act of self expression, which boosts your happiness.
Compliments don't have as great of an effect for people with already low self esteem.
September 7, 2025
This book is a compilation of some of the weekly columns that Arthur C. Brooks writes on happiness in the Atlantic. It is divided into five sections -- On Managing Yourself; On Jobs, Money, and Building Your Career; On Communicating and Connecting with Others; On Balancing Work, Life, and Relationships; and On How You Define Success. Each column is relatively short - 5-7 pages - and contains actionable items for change.
I have been reading his columns for a couple of years, but I gained a lot of ideas when re-reading some of them in this book. Many of the columns are written for those individuals currently in the workplace, but there are still takeaways for retirees such as myself. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in introspection and self-improvement.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harvard Business Review Press for an advanced reader copy of this book.
Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.
I have been reading his columns for a couple of years, but I gained a lot of ideas when re-reading some of them in this book. Many of the columns are written for those individuals currently in the workplace, but there are still takeaways for retirees such as myself. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in introspection and self-improvement.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harvard Business Review Press for an advanced reader copy of this book.
Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.
November 25, 2025
Books like this are like that bowl of hard candy at your grandparents house. Some pieces are incredibly satisfying and delicious, and sometimes you get a Root Beer Barrel, which in theory should be good but leaves you kind of sad.
Not to say that I’m arguing against or disagreeing with the work of a Harvard professor and successful columnist. My biggest challenge was to read each column/essay with the same energy that Brooks brings to his YouTube videos and interviews.
Maybe because I’m not relentlessly pursuing career success, or because I’m comfortable with how I’m approaching life in general, but I didn’t have that moment of epiphany I was hoping for. Maybe I’m not the target demographic?
Am I happy I read the book? Absolutely. In fact I’m thinking of a few people to gift copies to.
Not to say that I’m arguing against or disagreeing with the work of a Harvard professor and successful columnist. My biggest challenge was to read each column/essay with the same energy that Brooks brings to his YouTube videos and interviews.
Maybe because I’m not relentlessly pursuing career success, or because I’m comfortable with how I’m approaching life in general, but I didn’t have that moment of epiphany I was hoping for. Maybe I’m not the target demographic?
Am I happy I read the book? Absolutely. In fact I’m thinking of a few people to gift copies to.
November 25, 2025
Tuve mis dudas cuando me recomendaron este libro, porque la felicidad ha sido un tema difícil para mí, pero de hecho fue muy refrescante poder abordarlo desde una perspectiva más científica y no tan filosófica, como ha sucedido en mi vida por un buen tiempo. La verdad es que quedé con ganas de leer más sobre él y este tipo de temas. También me veo releyéndome este libro en algún momento. Arthur expone ideas, escenarios y consejos que quedan resonando, y que se pueden aplicar de a pocos. Para mí fue curioso también encontrar otra mención aquí al trabajo remoto y los impactos que éste tiene en nuestras vidas; cómo muestra que, en realidad, encontrar el equilibrio se hace difícil, y para muchos no es tan beneficioso como nos gusta creer.
October 23, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed Brooks' essays on different topics relating to maximizing an enriched life. He bridges academic and scientific research with practical and effective recommendations for "happiness practices". One chapter includes a summary of the top 10 practices agreed upon by an international team of scholars. Brooks simplifies the list with a three point happiness strategy. One of his recommendations is to commit to studying happiness and, relatedly, practicing one's faith. Brooks' summary recommendation is to manage your own joy and share it with others.
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