The Little Pocket Book of Happiness : How to Love Life, Laugh More, and Live Longer

by Lois Blyth

Happiness is like the answer to a riddle. The more we want it and the more we seek it, the more elusive it becomes. And yet, when we are least conscious of looking for it, it can envelop us in a warm sense of contentment and belonging, making a single moment precious and valuable beyond measure. A feeling of happiness has the power to light up our whole being. Scientists will tell us that happiness has the power to heal and to extend life. It is the ingredient we all seek to make our lives complete. Like the air we breathe, we are not conscious that we need it, until it disappears. Happiness makes us feel glad to be alive. The Little Pocket Book of Happiness offers you a more joyous approach to living and thinking; a shift in approach that may reframe your view of the world; simple things you can do to reconsider your life - consciously - so that you can decide whether now is the time when you can be happier. It includes strategies to warm the heart and open the mind to the extraordinary power of happiness. It shares the experiences of others and provides the closest we might have to a happiness 'formula'. The good news is, happiness is within everyone's grasp.

Genres: Self Help

176 pages, Paperback

Published July 9, 2015

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Little Pocket Book of Happiness: How to Love Life, Laugh More, and Live Longer (2015) – by Lois Blyth is a short companion book to The Little Pocket Book of Mindfulness (Anna Black) both published and issued together by Cico Books.

Whereas Black’s book focuses on the clinically tried and tested benefits of mindfulness, Blyth has the less enviable and more challenging task of writing about the more elusive, amorphous and all too often ephemeral concept of happiness.

Nevertheless, Blyth does a pretty competent job of providing a general reader on the challenging subject of happiness. There is much here that could be described as merely ‘common sense’ – but there’s also plenty of food for thought about the benefits of being happier and how we can all take steps towards a happier life.

[Aja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of a snooze fest to be honest. You can write about happiness without putting folks to sleep.

[Miguel Vieira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um livro, como se diz do homem (e já agora, porque não de um filme, de uma pintura ou de uma canção), é sempre o próprio e a sua circunstância. Ora, o contexto em que li este pequeno livro, mínimo, repleto de ideias simples, mais ou menos óbvias e universais, desprovido da menor relevância literária, foi... estupidamente balsâmico. Talvez por isso não saiba distinguir hoje entre o conteúdo das suas páginas e o cheiro do ar no dia em que o terminei. Daqui as 5 estrelas (daqui e talvez de uma consentida incapacidade de terminar um livro e dizer: “que horror!”). Seja como for, recomendo-o. Ao leitor menos exigente e ao mais judicioso também. Ao homem moderno, de alvoroço e aflição. Ao indeciso e ao constante. A verdade é esta: todos queremos e lutamos pelo mesmo. Talvez lê-lo na altura certa.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty disappointing tbh. The absolutely beautiful illustrations were let down by the never ending word vomit that had no key or consistent point. The author states that several of the quotations came from goodreads; the whole book could be a copy/paste job from a random assortment of this genre on goodreads. The unclear explosion of rabble actually heightened my anxiety while struggling to get through the pages!! Definitely not what it says on the tin... 1.5/5

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little book with lots of fun ideas to make you happier in your day to day life.

[Nin · Rating 2 out of 5]

My guess is that this is written by someone who has never suffered from anxiety! The book is badly researched, offers God as a solution and lacks science. I am basically giving it two stars for its beautiful illustrations and as some of the reflective exercises were helpful. Generally very boring and nothing more than a collection of common sense items from various sources, non of which are ground breaking.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure self-help books are for me, but mum got me this so I couldn’t not. Useful stuff in there, but I don’t enjoy the tone of being told what to do, I would much prefer to learn from a novel of a character doing something and seeing that story come to life that be told the plot.

I may return to this but I doubt it.

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started off feeling that this book was really uninspired and condescending. As I went on, I actually found some useful activities for reflection. I don't hate it, I don't love it. It was really just okay.

[Irina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book for a relaxed reading, inspiring.

[Noush S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eventhough its a book that honors kindness and empathy, and visualizing happiness practically, and is a beautiful light read, yet it doesnt talk to people who have no faith or dont believe. It can and will trouble people who dont believe in God or have their doubts. It sends a message that if you dont believe you can never be happy.
Yet, i really loved how it focused on details that i relate to sometimes.
Nice read..

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet little book. A bit trite in parts with some contradictions but it's not claiming to be high science!
Nice little drawings accompanying the short, easy to read text that summarises some of the literature in the science of happiness.

A mini self-help book, bit gimmicky.