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The Happiness Animal
Five stories of happiness...Five exercises...Five ways to find the elusive 'happy'...
Will Jelbert had what many people would consider the ideal life: a well paying job, a beautiful wife and a great apartment, but he still wasn't happy. One day the life he knew came to an abrupt end when he was thrown from his bike, face first into the sidewalk of a Sydney street. After a year in recovery and a divorce, Jelbert decided to dedicate the next three years to a happiness psychology research. The result: The Happiness Animal. The world's first dedicated exercise guide to happiness condenses the latest applied positive psychology research into a guide to five muscles. For each muscle, Jelbert first narrates his own personal struggle, and then provides five simple exercises that he uses to find the elusive 'happy' in his everyday life.
* * * * * "Jelbert has an incredible ability to say things that are logical and obvious, although without somebody pointing them out in the clear way he has done, most of us don't ever think them. He identifies the power of awareness, but before I read his book I was not even aware of many of my own thoughts''
- Danny Lawrence, BBC
* * * * * "Jelbert has captured an immense understanding of the inner workings of society's struggle to find happiness with a whole hearted and honest truth. The exercises explained are an excellent route back to the inner being of happiness. A must read for everyone!"
- Sadie Oliver, LIFE magazine
* * * * * "Jelbert writes with honesty, authenticity and animation that allows the words on each page to come alive and live within the reader"
- Lucy Proud, The Art of Being
Will Jelbert had what many people would consider the ideal life: a well paying job, a beautiful wife and a great apartment, but he still wasn't happy. One day the life he knew came to an abrupt end when he was thrown from his bike, face first into the sidewalk of a Sydney street. After a year in recovery and a divorce, Jelbert decided to dedicate the next three years to a happiness psychology research. The result: The Happiness Animal. The world's first dedicated exercise guide to happiness condenses the latest applied positive psychology research into a guide to five muscles. For each muscle, Jelbert first narrates his own personal struggle, and then provides five simple exercises that he uses to find the elusive 'happy' in his everyday life.
* * * * * "Jelbert has an incredible ability to say things that are logical and obvious, although without somebody pointing them out in the clear way he has done, most of us don't ever think them. He identifies the power of awareness, but before I read his book I was not even aware of many of my own thoughts''
- Danny Lawrence, BBC
* * * * * "Jelbert has captured an immense understanding of the inner workings of society's struggle to find happiness with a whole hearted and honest truth. The exercises explained are an excellent route back to the inner being of happiness. A must read for everyone!"
- Sadie Oliver, LIFE magazine
* * * * * "Jelbert writes with honesty, authenticity and animation that allows the words on each page to come alive and live within the reader"
- Lucy Proud, The Art of Being
314 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 2014
2966 people are currently reading
2101 people want to read
About the author
Will Jelbert
13 books26 followersWill Jelbert is the best-selling author of The Happiness Animal
and a series of children’s books. His books have been translated
into multiple languages worldwide. He is also a journalist
and a public speaker on connection and happiness. He grew
up on a fourth-generation family farm near Penzance in Cornwall,
England—yes, the Penzance that made the pirates famous. He has
lived and worked in England, India, France, Germany, and Australia,
and is now based in New York.
and a series of children’s books. His books have been translated
into multiple languages worldwide. He is also a journalist
and a public speaker on connection and happiness. He grew
up on a fourth-generation family farm near Penzance in Cornwall,
England—yes, the Penzance that made the pirates famous. He has
lived and worked in England, India, France, Germany, and Australia,
and is now based in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 27, 2014
In The Happiness Animal author Will Jelbert displays a remarkable facility with the English language while drawing on his own compelling life story and an obvious depth of reading on the subject. The book approaches one of the most significant subjects in the human experience - happiness. Everyone has asked the question - "How can I be happy?" And the more thoughtful among us, have asked, "What is happiness?" You can't pursue it if if you don't know what it is.
Jelbert's approach is interesting. He approaches the development of happiness as exercise or, more appropriately, an exercise. And in this I think he is correct. Happiness is as much an action, a way of life, as it is a state of being. This fundamental truth is the great strength in Jelbert's book and makes for an interesting and at times compelling read.
Jelbert's approach is interesting. He approaches the development of happiness as exercise or, more appropriately, an exercise. And in this I think he is correct. Happiness is as much an action, a way of life, as it is a state of being. This fundamental truth is the great strength in Jelbert's book and makes for an interesting and at times compelling read.
September 26, 2014
I've just finished reading "The Happiness Animal" by Will Jelbert and found it to be an excellent read. I've always been interested in applied psychology and found this book to be full of great principles and useful exercises about being true to yourself, finding piece within yourself and discovering true happiness in life. Happiness is probably one of my biggest values in life and reading this book really made me see and think about life in a different light. I particularly like the way it was written too as Jelbert referred to his own previous life experiences and you could really feel his emotions coming through in his writing. I highly recommend this and am looking forward to seeing more from this author.
December 20, 2016
Good ideas overall, but the writing style lacks conciseness with lots of repetitions, spelling out the obvious and giving oversimplified examples. The exercises the author offers didn't seem particularly helpful or practical to me.
July 3, 2017
I didn't finish this book because it was poorly written, based on other authors, and insensitive to those who have had true hardships in their lives (not that I am necessarily one of them).
January 29, 2023
I enjoyed the book at first as it started off as a personal journey from the authors perspective but then I was put off by the introduction of a trademarked happiness system. Not to say there isn't any value for others as the system is logical and easy to follow and raises some good points about the personal qualities needed to be 'exercised' in order to be a complete happy person.
January 8, 2017
While I loved the concept of the book and the authors perspective... the voice felt rather jumpy at times. Some of his applied ideas to examples listed fell short. The best writings were the quotes. You might be better off reading the published works that he references through out the book.
January 7, 2018
Somehow it feels horrible to give a less than optimal review about a book about happiness and how to achieve a mindset to reach it, but to me it felt clunky, simplistic, and not fully formed. I will admit that I did not finish it, I got about half way through.
December 24, 2019
Couldn't finish. At the beginning of the book, the author encourages against blaming anybody for one's mistakes, but then accuses his ex for his problems in the middle of the book. I stopped reading after that.
April 24, 2016
There are some very interesting ideas in this book, but they are hard to find. As a book, this is a horrible read.
July 14, 2017
I didn't finish this book, just couldn't identify with nor get into it. I don't like a lot of self help books and this was another one that was a little too off the wall for me.
August 22, 2017
As the title says, we each have a happiness animal within us that we must nurture. Understanding that the way we live our lives cannot determine how we can be happy but by changing the way we think and do, in order to be happy. Change is good and it is necessary to get more improved results. In “The Happiness Animal,” author Will Jelbert, states that we must exercise our minds and bodies to maintain our strength in health and happiness. By reading this book, you’ll learn that there’s a whole new way of achieving what you once assume as the impossible.
As you read every chapter, it breaks down all factors, dos and don’ts, and everything in between. Interesting quotes and research are also provided within from experts who’ve been studying the rules to access happiness. Author Will Jelbert acknowledges that he developed his happiness and has since used his methods to teach others. He’s read, researched, and implemented all that he has learned and made a book after demonstrating his success into other’s lives. Once he understood and ruled out that his personal problem wasn’t due to a mental illness, he pointed out it was due to “a feeling of being stuck and languishing in life”, which he shared in common with his family and friends. While reading this book, I’ve noticed the tone seemed more encouraging than judgmental, as if he only wants us all to achieve a better outlook on life. After reading this book, I’m going to be implementing the advice provided into my daily life, as I aim for positive results for myself as well as others around me.
The author Will Jelbert provides scenarios and helps his readers analyze every situation, pointing out things that many would consider a source of happiness. All of the scenarios have proven this is the same thinking process instilled in everyone and we must break free from it. I enjoyed reading this book, it was very well written, with scenarios for elaboration, advice to think of things from a different perspective and all around a wonderful read. I recommend everyone isn’t afraid to take charge, conquer the happiness they deserve and to share this book with their family and friends.
As you read every chapter, it breaks down all factors, dos and don’ts, and everything in between. Interesting quotes and research are also provided within from experts who’ve been studying the rules to access happiness. Author Will Jelbert acknowledges that he developed his happiness and has since used his methods to teach others. He’s read, researched, and implemented all that he has learned and made a book after demonstrating his success into other’s lives. Once he understood and ruled out that his personal problem wasn’t due to a mental illness, he pointed out it was due to “a feeling of being stuck and languishing in life”, which he shared in common with his family and friends. While reading this book, I’ve noticed the tone seemed more encouraging than judgmental, as if he only wants us all to achieve a better outlook on life. After reading this book, I’m going to be implementing the advice provided into my daily life, as I aim for positive results for myself as well as others around me.
The author Will Jelbert provides scenarios and helps his readers analyze every situation, pointing out things that many would consider a source of happiness. All of the scenarios have proven this is the same thinking process instilled in everyone and we must break free from it. I enjoyed reading this book, it was very well written, with scenarios for elaboration, advice to think of things from a different perspective and all around a wonderful read. I recommend everyone isn’t afraid to take charge, conquer the happiness they deserve and to share this book with their family and friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2018
After myth-busting about what makes us happy, Will Jelbert reveals short exercises for the five happiness muscles. Build you're happy, muscle by muscles a little at a time with as little effort as offering a stranger a tissue, to radically honest resenting and appreciating, to creating a short statement to your life purpose. Backed by research from the world's leading psychologist, this is a candid roadmap to a better life now. The five muscles that make your happiness is honesty, kindness, tolerance, awareness, and courage. Mr. Jelbert breaks down the myths is that we believe makes us happy such as possessions, money, time or a change of location to name a few and shows you a new way to think. He points out the things you think will make you happy change all the time, but that you will discover that what does make you happy is universally consistent. Will Jelbert has this wonderful quote "The Shift is about to fit the Fan." He points out there are limits to things you can do but not limits on how much you can be you. He points out that happiness is all about you and not anything external. How the biggest things that keep us from being happy is our own minds and ego. That we have to be our authentic self. He points out that all reasonable demands are that we live according to our own nature.
I found The Happiness Animals by Will Jelbert to be a very enlightening book. His thorough research and practices allow anyone to grow their own happiness muscle. The graphics and layout allow it to be used for personal use and you can also add this to your own small group. The little tidbits of animal advice are simple but insightful mini thoughts that tie in the advice and practices from the parts of the happiness muscles. I think my favorite is "Breathing brings you back. Breath is a pain reliever." The research that Will Jelbert put into the book did not take away from it but instead gave it creditability to his ideas and shows how much the topic means to him personally.
I found The Happiness Animals by Will Jelbert to be a very enlightening book. His thorough research and practices allow anyone to grow their own happiness muscle. The graphics and layout allow it to be used for personal use and you can also add this to your own small group. The little tidbits of animal advice are simple but insightful mini thoughts that tie in the advice and practices from the parts of the happiness muscles. I think my favorite is "Breathing brings you back. Breath is a pain reliever." The research that Will Jelbert put into the book did not take away from it but instead gave it creditability to his ideas and shows how much the topic means to him personally.
October 18, 2017
The Happiness Animal Was The Pick Me Up i Needed
The Happiness Animal by Will Jelbert was just the boost I've been looking for!
Like many people in today's fast-paced, perfection-obsessed culture, I haven't felt truly happy in a long time and I'm constantly looking for the next thing to try and remedy that. I've read quite a few self-help books in my day and The Happiness Animal has to be one of the more relatable and "user-friendly" of them.
Jelbert discusses finding and nurturing your personal "Happiness Animal" (or "HA") to greatly increase your quality of life. From time to time, I had difficulty following the HA concept, but the majority of the book was quite easy to follow. He opens each new section with at least one quote and refers to the philosopher Seneca frequently- I don't know very much about philosophy or Seneca's teachings, but that didn't negatively impact my reading. In fact, it was quite the opposite. These quotes positively set the tone for each section and carry common threads throughout the text. They also act as a more authoritative note that is mingled in with Jelbert's familiar and conversational tone, which I liked. It reminded me that the author has spent a lot of time researching the topic and gave me confidence even when he used terms like "stop shoulding yourself." (Which I enjoyed, too, if I'm being completely honest)
Overall, I recommend this book and have actually written down the name and author for several people to pick up (including my therapist!) because it really hit home. I'm looking forward to putting his real world exercises into practice and hope I'm on the path to reuniting with my own Happiness Animal!
November 9, 2017
What makes you happy? Not content, but truly happy? It isn't money as much as people want to think it is. That will make you content, it may even make you feel some joy, but it does not truly make you happy. Author Will Jelbert set out to figure out what truly makes someone happy and to impart that to the reader.
While it may not be the same thing for everyone, happiness is not as easy nor as hard as people want to make it seem like. Some people really don't think they can be happy and are doomed to live a life of pain and sadness. That isn't true, and it isn't what life should be about. Life should be about living life the best, being happy with who you are and what you do. Happiness isn't given to you, but something that you work towards, that you strive in your daily life to be.
You can pretend to be happy, and sometimes you may even believe it, but when you really think about it, are you? Well that is what Will wants to find out. If you aren't happy why? Let Will and his book The Happiness Animal help you discover the truly happy you can be. Why is it called "The Happiness Animal"? Because happiness is like an animal, you need to feed it, take care of it, and show it attention or it can wither up. No one likes a sad panda, so why cause your own happiness animal to be sad?
Even though this book looks like it could be slow, or boring, it really isn't. It is really entertaining to read and really makes me think. I like books that make me think, especially ones that I can implement immediately into my own life.
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While it may not be the same thing for everyone, happiness is not as easy nor as hard as people want to make it seem like. Some people really don't think they can be happy and are doomed to live a life of pain and sadness. That isn't true, and it isn't what life should be about. Life should be about living life the best, being happy with who you are and what you do. Happiness isn't given to you, but something that you work towards, that you strive in your daily life to be.
You can pretend to be happy, and sometimes you may even believe it, but when you really think about it, are you? Well that is what Will wants to find out. If you aren't happy why? Let Will and his book The Happiness Animal help you discover the truly happy you can be. Why is it called "The Happiness Animal"? Because happiness is like an animal, you need to feed it, take care of it, and show it attention or it can wither up. No one likes a sad panda, so why cause your own happiness animal to be sad?
Even though this book looks like it could be slow, or boring, it really isn't. It is really entertaining to read and really makes me think. I like books that make me think, especially ones that I can implement immediately into my own life.
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Delete
August 10, 2018
It took a major car crash for Will Jelbert to ultimately reassess his life. He required full-facial reconstruction surgery in the wake of the crash and although the operation was successful Jelbert had a difficult time recognizing himself … mostly on the inside.
He suffered from PTSD and other anxiety disorders as he was living it up with fancy apartments, women and booze. The need to change his mindset was inspired by several authors, most especially, the writings of Seneca, the advisor to Nero. Jelbert leads each chapter of his book with a quote from Seneca, and, boy, do they resonate … no matter what century it is.
Jelbert’s book does a wonderful job to help the reader locate and unearth your own Happiness Animal (HA) by offering tools … real-world questions, examples, and worksheets to get you started on the road to fulfillment. We hear this a lot, that it is not money, prestige or beauty that makes one happy and keeps one happy because it is true.
Jelbert writes that there are five “muscles” that strengthen a person’s connection to happiness. The first is honesty. The second is kindness. The third is curiosity, followed by awareness and finally, courage. Living beneath a façade can be soul-zapping and severely isolating.
This book is highly recommended for everybody on the happiness, unhappiness scale, as it reinforces truths, calls out lies, and gives us pause to take note of our actions and feelings on our personal path to true inner joy.
He suffered from PTSD and other anxiety disorders as he was living it up with fancy apartments, women and booze. The need to change his mindset was inspired by several authors, most especially, the writings of Seneca, the advisor to Nero. Jelbert leads each chapter of his book with a quote from Seneca, and, boy, do they resonate … no matter what century it is.
Jelbert’s book does a wonderful job to help the reader locate and unearth your own Happiness Animal (HA) by offering tools … real-world questions, examples, and worksheets to get you started on the road to fulfillment. We hear this a lot, that it is not money, prestige or beauty that makes one happy and keeps one happy because it is true.
Jelbert writes that there are five “muscles” that strengthen a person’s connection to happiness. The first is honesty. The second is kindness. The third is curiosity, followed by awareness and finally, courage. Living beneath a façade can be soul-zapping and severely isolating.
This book is highly recommended for everybody on the happiness, unhappiness scale, as it reinforces truths, calls out lies, and gives us pause to take note of our actions and feelings on our personal path to true inner joy.
September 18, 2018
Beautiful!!! Must seek my happiness
I thought football made me happy and I just realized it doesn’t. I never get the Kiki when in the field, but am trying to understand now that human happiness is lodged in the soul, not flesh…it is funny on how people have different tests of happiness, I thought of football, others think of money, power, luxurious life and comfort, women and men, sex, relationships, everything in the world have a twist, we really are free spirits, not knowing what we want and when we want it. I wanted to play football always, become a big player, a celebrity, name it, I wanted a name of my own and that is what I just realized when I asked myself the questions the author recommended.
I concur that we are born for happiness not with happiness. We have to find our own happiness, we have to stop comparing ourselves with others, for as I earlier said, everyone has a twisted sense of happiness. Some exercises that I have to keep on myself must include honesty, sincerity, harmony in my soul and mind, I should keep my self-esteem and exclude it from my pride. Many more exercises are very well portrayed in the book. The author is very specific and extremely sincere. I know he passed through here and thus has all the reasons to keep others away as possible from sadness we have to trust yourself to be capable of doing much more to our happiness , as we all know happiness is an animal, we just have to train our animal and be happy.
I thought football made me happy and I just realized it doesn’t. I never get the Kiki when in the field, but am trying to understand now that human happiness is lodged in the soul, not flesh…it is funny on how people have different tests of happiness, I thought of football, others think of money, power, luxurious life and comfort, women and men, sex, relationships, everything in the world have a twist, we really are free spirits, not knowing what we want and when we want it. I wanted to play football always, become a big player, a celebrity, name it, I wanted a name of my own and that is what I just realized when I asked myself the questions the author recommended.
I concur that we are born for happiness not with happiness. We have to find our own happiness, we have to stop comparing ourselves with others, for as I earlier said, everyone has a twisted sense of happiness. Some exercises that I have to keep on myself must include honesty, sincerity, harmony in my soul and mind, I should keep my self-esteem and exclude it from my pride. Many more exercises are very well portrayed in the book. The author is very specific and extremely sincere. I know he passed through here and thus has all the reasons to keep others away as possible from sadness we have to trust yourself to be capable of doing much more to our happiness , as we all know happiness is an animal, we just have to train our animal and be happy.
Read
July 7, 2019 I found it strange that I would read this book right after finishing Edgy Conversations because the authors have opposite opinions about how we should live. Of course the other book is about achieving success, and this book is about finding happiness. Both times because of the book titles and the book covers I expected the books to contain lots of humor, and both times I was disappointed.
There was quite a bit of repetition in this book, and much of the book was devoted to quotations from others. The book contained several suggested exercises which I chose not to do since I do not feel a need to "find" happiness. I was just looking for humor.
I chose to read my Kindle version of this book in a landscape format, and for some reason many times 3 or 4 words from the bottom of one page were repeated at the top of the next page. At first I thought this was an editing problem, but I found that the excess words disappeared when I turned my Kindle to the landscape position. Still there were several mistakes an editor should have corrected.
I was glad the author didn't drop the F-bomb throughout the book; however, he did compare "should" with defecation way too often for my liking.
There was quite a bit of repetition in this book, and much of the book was devoted to quotations from others. The book contained several suggested exercises which I chose not to do since I do not feel a need to "find" happiness. I was just looking for humor.
I chose to read my Kindle version of this book in a landscape format, and for some reason many times 3 or 4 words from the bottom of one page were repeated at the top of the next page. At first I thought this was an editing problem, but I found that the excess words disappeared when I turned my Kindle to the landscape position. Still there were several mistakes an editor should have corrected.
I was glad the author didn't drop the F-bomb throughout the book; however, he did compare "should" with defecation way too often for my liking.
December 12, 2025
This book shows that happiness is not something that happens by luck, it is something you build slowly with daily actions. The idea feels clear and honest, and it makes you see happiness as a real skill.
The author explains five happiness muscles which are connection, courage, curiosity, gratitude, and movement. He keeps the ideas simple so anyone can start using them in real life.
The book gives small exercises that make you look at your habits and try new things. These actions are easy and help you understand yourself better.
Some parts of the book feel a bit unorganized, and not every example hits strongly. But the main message still comes through in a simple and useful way.
Readers who enjoy practical steps will find value here because the book focuses more on doing rather than just thinking. It teaches happiness like a practice, not a theory.
Overall the book is warm, simple, and helpful, and it encourages you to take control of your happiness with small daily changes. It leaves you feeling hopeful and ready to try.
The author explains five happiness muscles which are connection, courage, curiosity, gratitude, and movement. He keeps the ideas simple so anyone can start using them in real life.
The book gives small exercises that make you look at your habits and try new things. These actions are easy and help you understand yourself better.
Some parts of the book feel a bit unorganized, and not every example hits strongly. But the main message still comes through in a simple and useful way.
Readers who enjoy practical steps will find value here because the book focuses more on doing rather than just thinking. It teaches happiness like a practice, not a theory.
Overall the book is warm, simple, and helpful, and it encourages you to take control of your happiness with small daily changes. It leaves you feeling hopeful and ready to try.
March 2, 2018
I am reviewing this book because I have read a lot of psychology books, and it keeps showing up on my Kindle recommendation screen. It seems like the core of the book is on explaining the title metaphor, not hard science. There's not actually a "happiness animal" in your brain. Maybe the visualization is helpful to some people, but it can also be totally confusing to others.
Happiness is not necessarily being super cheery and peppy all the time, so I don't really like the cute cover design in this context. I think my "happiness animal" is more of an old, snarly tabby cat who scratches strangers and likes sardines.
I think author credentials are super important in this genre. The author claims to have "spent the last five years researching the psychology of happiness," but he does not seem to be a professor who conducts experiments. Anecdotes are cool, and scientific psychology experiments are cool, but I don't think the two should be confused.
Happiness is not necessarily being super cheery and peppy all the time, so I don't really like the cute cover design in this context. I think my "happiness animal" is more of an old, snarly tabby cat who scratches strangers and likes sardines.
I think author credentials are super important in this genre. The author claims to have "spent the last five years researching the psychology of happiness," but he does not seem to be a professor who conducts experiments. Anecdotes are cool, and scientific psychology experiments are cool, but I don't think the two should be confused.
March 10, 2018
Most of this book, I hate-read, which I didn't even know was a thing before. I was so frustrated with the author's fixation on certain human shortcomings that I could not relate to at all and felt to me like more of an exposé about his own life and failings than a self-help book. There were also a ton of spelling and grammar mistakes throughout the book (including "where" instead of "wear"...) There were instances of the same quotation being repeated as if the author weren't keeping track of what he'd already said (not helpful/reminding type of repetition, it seemed an honest not realizing he'd already said it). It was a book full of unrealized potential. That said, there are some great underlying ideas and helpful exercises to engage in that I think actually are beneficial to improving your happiness...which earns the 2 star rating. So if you can get past all the annoying mistakes and weird stories, you can benefit from gleaning the helpful information in between.
March 30, 2018
Easy and straightforward read with anecdotal advice offered from a variety of social, philosophical, and religious stances. I was really struggling to find Jelbert's definition of the human person. He writes a psychology without an anthropology. It left me searching for much more. At times he gave a nod to Aristotelianism, showing that the human person is a social animal, so that the happy human is the human person in relationship with others. At other points he seems to define happiness as a pure mental state, unconditioned by circumstance, and hence not needing relationship at all.
Good exercises, anecdotes and stories; poor consistency in offering a compelling picture of what it means to be a happy human being.
Good exercises, anecdotes and stories; poor consistency in offering a compelling picture of what it means to be a happy human being.
March 9, 2019
I think this book was okay. I wasn't loving it, but I don't think it is a bad book. There was some good advice in there, and I think I will try some of the exercises it had. This book is a book which summarizes some known-facts about happiness in an easy-to-understand kind of way, and it is filled with exercises, some I have never heard of, that you could do to help improve your happiness. I personally wish that there was a place to go where I could just see all the exercises listed out. Instead, they are all lost to the confusion of my kindle. I think the exercises were the most interesting part of the book.
September 3, 2017
The advice in this book is too generic to apply to a topic as broad as happiness. It felt more like a guide on how to change your life without offering any real concrete plans or steps. There were a lot of references to the author's own terms such as "exercising your happiness animal" that I never truly grasped even as I finished the book. The anecdotes have glaring problems from a mile away but also the benefit of hindsight. Overall, I would read maybe the last page of the book and skip the rest.
December 2, 2025
The Happiness Animal is a refreshing little book that breaks down what we think will make us happy and what actually does. Will Jelbert uses research, personal stories, and simple “happiness myths” to show how often we chase the wrong things: more money, more stuff, a better location, fame, or even the perfect job.
What I loved most is how easy this book is to read. Each myth is short, relatable, and backed by psychology studies that make you rethink your habits. The author’s honesty about leaving his job and still not becoming happier makes the message even stronger.
What I loved most is how easy this book is to read. Each myth is short, relatable, and backed by psychology studies that make you rethink your habits. The author’s honesty about leaving his job and still not becoming happier makes the message even stronger.
July 8, 2017
While not my usual mystery and thriller type books I read, there were some profound words in this book about respect, happiness and kindness. Wish the whole world would read it and be able to draw something from it.
Profound words "You become happy by existing well. You are well when you are kind, kid when you are honest, honest when you are courageous, courageous when you are aware, aware when you are tolerant".
Profound words "You become happy by existing well. You are well when you are kind, kid when you are honest, honest when you are courageous, courageous when you are aware, aware when you are tolerant".
February 17, 2018
I started off really excited for this one. I connected with his story about ow he chose to pursue his happiness; his accident really reflects my father's journey.
As the book progressed, I felt it was just repetitive and not so focused on you finding your animal, but about the authors. I really had to fight to finish this off, but I'm trying my hardest not to DNF this year. Trying really...really...really hard.
But, hey, the cover is cute?
As the book progressed, I felt it was just repetitive and not so focused on you finding your animal, but about the authors. I really had to fight to finish this off, but I'm trying my hardest not to DNF this year. Trying really...really...really hard.
But, hey, the cover is cute?
November 7, 2019
DNF. This book has too many inappropriate stories, as well as lots of guessing to figure out what the author is getting at, to make it worth finishing. I could not identify with the Author at all, or his stories and their characters/choices. I just don't function that freely; I have more restraint than them, and I employ more thinking before I act. There are plenty of other more worthwhile books on happiness out there that incorporate standards of a G-rating that I would prefer to spend my time on instead.
March 5, 2018
Iffy
I feel like the actual information in the book was helpful and pointed out a lot of things that people can work on, but the way it was written really made me drag my feet on finishing it. It didn’t have that anxious urge to read all the time like I do with a great book. I don’t regret buying it, but I wouldn’t read it again.
I feel like the actual information in the book was helpful and pointed out a lot of things that people can work on, but the way it was written really made me drag my feet on finishing it. It didn’t have that anxious urge to read all the time like I do with a great book. I don’t regret buying it, but I wouldn’t read it again.
June 2, 2018
This book was not what I thought. I must have read a review that made me think it would be something different than it was. I would classify it as a mild self-help book. I went through most of it not too interested, but was committed to finishing it. I did find some interesting words of wisdom throughout the second half, that helped redeem it. Partially.
August 2, 2018
Ugh. I rarely never finish a book. But I made an exception in this case because when you’re forcing yourself to read a book and you’re only 7% into it, it’s time to move on. Life is too short to read crappy books. Clearly, some people enjoyed this book. I am not one of them. Author presented some very weird concepts (IMO) that did not resonate with me.
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