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The Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life
Discover a menu of ten behaviors you can add to your way of living and thinking to enhance every day's journey through the unpredictable terrain of your existence.
Add these behaviors gradually and watch your life become steadily more vivid and satisfying. Or you can go on a "crash Joy Diet" to help you navigate life's emergencies. The ten menu items are:
- Nothing: Do nothing for fifteen minutes a day. Stop mindlessly chasing goals and figure out which goals are worth going after.
- Truth: Create a moment of truth to help you unmask what you're hiding--from others and from yourself.
- Desire: Identify, articulate, and explore at least one of your heart's desires--and learn how to let yourself want what you want.
- Creativity: Learn six new ways to develop at least one new idea to help you obtain your heart's desire.
- Risk: Take one baby step toward reaching your goal. The only rule is it has to scare the pants off you.
- Treats: Give yourself a treat for every risk you take and two treats just because you're you. No exceptions. No excuses.
- Play: Take a moment to remember your real life's work and differentiate it from the games you play to achieve it. Then play wholeheartedly.
- Laughter: Laugh at least thirty times a day. Props encouraged.
- Connection: Use your Joy Diet skills to interact with someone who matters to you.
- Feasting: Enjoy at least three square feasts a day, with or without food.
No matter what your long-term goals are, The Joy Diet, written with Martha Beck's inimitable blend of wisdom, practical guidance, and humor, will help you achieve the immediate gift of joyful living in the here and now. Begin your journey today.
Add these behaviors gradually and watch your life become steadily more vivid and satisfying. Or you can go on a "crash Joy Diet" to help you navigate life's emergencies. The ten menu items are:
- Nothing: Do nothing for fifteen minutes a day. Stop mindlessly chasing goals and figure out which goals are worth going after.
- Truth: Create a moment of truth to help you unmask what you're hiding--from others and from yourself.
- Desire: Identify, articulate, and explore at least one of your heart's desires--and learn how to let yourself want what you want.
- Creativity: Learn six new ways to develop at least one new idea to help you obtain your heart's desire.
- Risk: Take one baby step toward reaching your goal. The only rule is it has to scare the pants off you.
- Treats: Give yourself a treat for every risk you take and two treats just because you're you. No exceptions. No excuses.
- Play: Take a moment to remember your real life's work and differentiate it from the games you play to achieve it. Then play wholeheartedly.
- Laughter: Laugh at least thirty times a day. Props encouraged.
- Connection: Use your Joy Diet skills to interact with someone who matters to you.
- Feasting: Enjoy at least three square feasts a day, with or without food.
No matter what your long-term goals are, The Joy Diet, written with Martha Beck's inimitable blend of wisdom, practical guidance, and humor, will help you achieve the immediate gift of joyful living in the here and now. Begin your journey today.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
276 people are currently reading
2580 people want to read
About the author
Martha N. Beck
22 books1,307 followersDr. Martha Beck, PhD, is a New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker. She holds three Harvard degrees in social science, and Oprah Winfrey has called her “one of the smartest women I know.” Martha is a passionate and engaging teacher, known for her unique combination of science, humor, and spirituality.
Her recent book, The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self, was an instant New York Times Best Seller and an Oprah’s Book Club selection. Her latest book, Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose is out now.
Her recent book, The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self, was an instant New York Times Best Seller and an Oprah’s Book Club selection. Her latest book, Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose is out now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
April 18, 2009
I went to Martha Beck's Joy Diet workshop. As a result, I dared to take a heart-pounding risk and asked a wonderful man named Terence for a date. We fell in love, he then was diagnosed with cancer, and I had the blessing of being with him every moment until his death. This was this most valuable and sweet two years of my life - and it was thanks to Martha and her encouragement. (By the way - I also lost 100 pounds, and worked my way to the perfect job. ALSO encourage by Martha.) Read this book - attend her workshops - be ready for your life to CHANGE!
December 16, 2007
This book offers a great perspective on happiness (and peace), which starts from self-awareness in stillness and compassion, proceeds on to the creative taking of risks towards the heart's true desires, and finally ending up in play, permission to self-indulgence, laughter, connection with others, and inspiring and moving experiences of the sublime in the many otherwise ordinary events in life.
This book is absolutely recommended by me for everyone.
My only problem with the book is the numerous daily steps, including writing!, which I know I will NOT implement, thank you very much, BUT EVEN THEN, even without doing any of the writing exercises, this book's words of wisdom will open your eyes and your heart, and will probably make you live a little bit differently, and perhaps more happily.
This book is absolutely recommended by me for everyone.
My only problem with the book is the numerous daily steps, including writing!, which I know I will NOT implement, thank you very much, BUT EVEN THEN, even without doing any of the writing exercises, this book's words of wisdom will open your eyes and your heart, and will probably make you live a little bit differently, and perhaps more happily.
August 26, 2007
No, this isn't about food. Nor fat. Nor starving yourself, in any sense of the word. This is a diet in the original sense, from the 1600s. This book advocates a lifestyle.
The author offers ten ways to find happiness and childlike joy in your life. Her sparkling, quirky sense of humor infuses the work with levity, although her subject is probably the most important any of us will ever face.
I enjoyed this book because it provides practical, day-to-day methods for incorporating ideas from yoga and Buddhism. The first step of the Joy Diet, for instance, is finding fifteen minutes per day for doing NOTHING. Laughing, being totally present in relationships, honestly facing fears, and taking risks are other steps. I listened to this book on tape, but I plan to get a hard copy soon, so that I can copy down the main instructions and actually try living the Joy Diet myself.
The author offers ten ways to find happiness and childlike joy in your life. Her sparkling, quirky sense of humor infuses the work with levity, although her subject is probably the most important any of us will ever face.
I enjoyed this book because it provides practical, day-to-day methods for incorporating ideas from yoga and Buddhism. The first step of the Joy Diet, for instance, is finding fifteen minutes per day for doing NOTHING. Laughing, being totally present in relationships, honestly facing fears, and taking risks are other steps. I listened to this book on tape, but I plan to get a hard copy soon, so that I can copy down the main instructions and actually try living the Joy Diet myself.
December 27, 2016
So thankful I accidentally picked this up at the library.
Three things:
1. Take a risk everyday. (A "risk" is defined by each individual specifically).
2. Do nothing every day. For at least 15 minutes.
3. The questions she lays out regarding the stories we tell ourselves.
Three things:
1. Take a risk everyday. (A "risk" is defined by each individual specifically).
2. Do nothing every day. For at least 15 minutes.
3. The questions she lays out regarding the stories we tell ourselves.
January 6, 2025
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Fully occupied by the process of achieving innumerable goals, we lose the ability to determine which goals really matter, and why.
2. Our societal belief is that we can solve the problem of overcommitment by using more gadgets to do more things more quickly and efficiently.
- Many of us are reaching the point of attention burnout.
3. Schedule at least 15 minutes every day for nothing-doing.
- You accomplish more with stillness than you could with frenzied action.
- Watching and listening to the patterned disorder of the universe is one of the deep soul’s favorite pastimes.
4. The stories we tell about ourselves are often based on an idealized image of perfect behavior that actually contradicts our real nature.
5. This astonishing ability to keep from seeing the obvious is necessary for us to preserve our image of ourselves.
- Denial only becomes stronger when other people are involved.
6. Believing lies cause us to suffer immeasurably, motivating us to question our beliefs until we can clear up our misperceptions.
7. I am in the habit of taking risks on behalf of my heart's desire.
8. The most effective commitment structure is peer pressure.
- Committing to a group is probably the most powerful way to facilitate taking a risk.
9. Fear is as unpleasant as hell, but not nearly as unpleasant as the escalating feedback loop of resistance.
10. Pushing away our innate desires lacerates the heart so badly that it may not be able to recover, consciously risking heartbreak en route to the fulfillment of those desires actually makes us stronger.
1. Fully occupied by the process of achieving innumerable goals, we lose the ability to determine which goals really matter, and why.
2. Our societal belief is that we can solve the problem of overcommitment by using more gadgets to do more things more quickly and efficiently.
- Many of us are reaching the point of attention burnout.
3. Schedule at least 15 minutes every day for nothing-doing.
- You accomplish more with stillness than you could with frenzied action.
- Watching and listening to the patterned disorder of the universe is one of the deep soul’s favorite pastimes.
4. The stories we tell about ourselves are often based on an idealized image of perfect behavior that actually contradicts our real nature.
5. This astonishing ability to keep from seeing the obvious is necessary for us to preserve our image of ourselves.
- Denial only becomes stronger when other people are involved.
6. Believing lies cause us to suffer immeasurably, motivating us to question our beliefs until we can clear up our misperceptions.
7. I am in the habit of taking risks on behalf of my heart's desire.
8. The most effective commitment structure is peer pressure.
- Committing to a group is probably the most powerful way to facilitate taking a risk.
9. Fear is as unpleasant as hell, but not nearly as unpleasant as the escalating feedback loop of resistance.
10. Pushing away our innate desires lacerates the heart so badly that it may not be able to recover, consciously risking heartbreak en route to the fulfillment of those desires actually makes us stronger.
January 8, 2015
I liked the beginning of the book with it's energy for looking for joy in your life. There are 10 practices that she discusses that will bring more joy into your life. I got stuck at the first one; spend 15 minutes a day doing nothing.
I did listen to the rest of the book. I liked the practices but by the 6th one or so I thought, no one can do all these practices each day multiple times, as she suggests, and do anything else. Actually I'm not sure you could get all of the practices done daily. And by the 8th one I was losing interest.
I'll keep working on the first practice.
I did listen to the rest of the book. I liked the practices but by the 6th one or so I thought, no one can do all these practices each day multiple times, as she suggests, and do anything else. Actually I'm not sure you could get all of the practices done daily. And by the 8th one I was losing interest.
I'll keep working on the first practice.
January 15, 2015
I felt compelled to read this (*cough* listen to the book-on-tape version of this) because I enjoy Martha's monthly articles in Own Magazine. The 10 practices she recommends are simple in theory but difficult in practice. New habits must accrue over time, so I can't really say if the tools are effective just yet.
If nothing else, take the audiobook along with you for a morning jog. It'll give you the illusion that you're running in the right direction. You know what they say: perception is everything.
If nothing else, take the audiobook along with you for a morning jog. It'll give you the illusion that you're running in the right direction. You know what they say: perception is everything.
September 8, 2010
I really like Martha Beck. I read The Joy Diet a couple of times and feel like I could go back to it again and again. She has a very nice positive perspective infused with kindness and practicality. The Joy Diet was structured by chapters that each had an easy-to-take lesson and exercises that were fun to do. The only one I can remember right now is finding abundance in one's world, simply by looking for little treasures everywhere. (The Joy Diet is about creating a more joyful life.)
April 15, 2014
I enjoy reading about happiness and joy- not so much because I'm looking how to improve my life, but because I find the topic fascinating. This book combines some of the best ideas that I've read about in other books and a few new ones that I am going to try, just because they are fun. Beck's humor keeps things light, so that we don't take ourselves too seriously. A joy to read!
February 7, 2009
The perfect traveling companion for how to make sure you have a daily dose of joy when you're doing the hard work of remaking your life.
November 4, 2009
Smart, perceptive, and genuinely useful.
Read
July 24, 2011I did this as a challenge for my blog. Didn't love it all. Some of it was fun, but the style of writing didn't really capture the "joy" I was looking for.
November 28, 2014
I love Martha Beck... that is all
April 17, 2017
Meh.
I feel a little duped. From the title, I expected more focus on gratitude meditations and insights to help one break out of "Puritan" mindsets. Instead, I feel like this book is mostly about knowing your truth and "finding your passion," not so much about developing your capacity for experiencing pure joy.
-_-
Knowing your truth, finding your passion and making it your "career" can be a source of great joy, yes, but I feel it's very important to be able to feel joy when things are hard and when you're struggling with achieving everything you desire. We can all have joy Right Now, and I'm super into discovering every possible way I can do that (hence picking this up in the first place)... You don't have do 10 specific mental/emotional exercises every day to achieve it, ya dig? That's awkward. True joy is messy and spontaneous and awesome.
So if you need some help "finding your passion," here's one book (of soooo many) to assist you with that. It's not what I wanted, but I kept reading anyway because there were a few thoughts every 10-20 pages or so that made me go, "Huh. All right, that's a new way of thinking about that." Additionally, I found the tone of the author to be somewhat abrasive and wordy, with a lot of forced humor. But that isn't so uncommon among the Life Coach set.
I feel a little duped. From the title, I expected more focus on gratitude meditations and insights to help one break out of "Puritan" mindsets. Instead, I feel like this book is mostly about knowing your truth and "finding your passion," not so much about developing your capacity for experiencing pure joy.
-_-
Knowing your truth, finding your passion and making it your "career" can be a source of great joy, yes, but I feel it's very important to be able to feel joy when things are hard and when you're struggling with achieving everything you desire. We can all have joy Right Now, and I'm super into discovering every possible way I can do that (hence picking this up in the first place)... You don't have do 10 specific mental/emotional exercises every day to achieve it, ya dig? That's awkward. True joy is messy and spontaneous and awesome.
So if you need some help "finding your passion," here's one book (of soooo many) to assist you with that. It's not what I wanted, but I kept reading anyway because there were a few thoughts every 10-20 pages or so that made me go, "Huh. All right, that's a new way of thinking about that." Additionally, I found the tone of the author to be somewhat abrasive and wordy, with a lot of forced humor. But that isn't so uncommon among the Life Coach set.
March 29, 2021
Martha Beck has some good ideas in this book. There isn't anything here I haven't heard before, but it's good to be reminded of a few ways to actively make life more joyful. In particular, I appreciate her words on the importance laughter.
Days later: There is something that keeps coming to mind from this book. I flipped back through it to see where she says it, but I can't seem to find it. The basic idea is that if you do the opposite of what you think will help you do something (rather than immersing yourself in that thing) it can be better and can actually loosen up your ability to do the thing you want to do. She probably says it really differently. Maybe that's why I can't find it. The idea is counterintuitive. I wish I could find it in the book.
Days later: There is something that keeps coming to mind from this book. I flipped back through it to see where she says it, but I can't seem to find it. The basic idea is that if you do the opposite of what you think will help you do something (rather than immersing yourself in that thing) it can be better and can actually loosen up your ability to do the thing you want to do. She probably says it really differently. Maybe that's why I can't find it. The idea is counterintuitive. I wish I could find it in the book.
May 18, 2017
I probably should have read and applied this over time rather than reading it all in one day...
May 23, 2022
Basically, Martha Beck got me through the last two years. A lot of this book is about gratitude, and I’m truly grateful I found her books and podcasts.
February 27, 2024
After loving some of Martha's titles, I feel somewhat duped with this one. I couldn't connect with her writing here and most of the advice seemed taken from a blog
September 1, 2014
Dr. Martha Beck’s The Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life is my new favorite non-fiction book. I love the humor she incorporates into her writing. In so many way, she writes in a manner similar to my writing style which means not only do I GET what she’s saying, I feel it on a deeper, emotional level than your average book. It’s not every day we read books that are written in such a manner and I relish—I FEAST—on that wonder!!
If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you might have noticed that I’ve read quite a few books within the past year that have the word JOY in the title in some way, shape, form, or fashion. You might be wondering if that has been done on purpose on my part. The answer is, “Duh! Yeahabstolutely!!!”
For years now, I have struggled with depression. It has taken me down and I have had a very difficult time coming out of it. As someone who prefers to look at the glass as half full, seeing it as half empty instead has created great disharmony deep within my soul and has left me greatly wanting. I don’t remember exactly which year it was, but about five years ago, I bought a planner that was beautifully decorated with the word “joy” on it and a scripture verse on joy. That was the catalyst that began my Joy Journey. It has taken me years—and will probably take me even more years—to come to a place of Joy in my life.
I can’t get enough of JOY. I want to read about it all the time. I want to see the word in print. I want to see it plastered everywhere. I want to say it as often as I possibly can. I want to feel it to the deepest marrow of my bones down in the deepest part of my soul. I want to be a Woman of Joy.
I hate the depression. It is a true joy-killer, but even more than that, it is a self-killer. I have hated myself. I have hated my life. And, tragically, I have hated even some of my loved ones. With depression comes: sadness, hate, enslavement, anger, low self-esteem, wickedness, doubt, self-hatred, ugliness, destruction, regret, lies, deception, danger, and the horrific list goes on and on.
With Joy, though, there is: Life! Happiness! Wonderment! Songs! Freedom! Peace! Love! Assurance! Truth! Beauty!!! Safety! Compassion! Love of self! Laughter! Deep, belly-shaking, wonderful, loud Guffaws!!! And the wonderful list goes on and on and never ends!!!
I, personally, would much rather live a life of JOY than a life filled with depression. I have experienced both and, trust me, Joy is the much better of the two!
Thank you, Dr. Beck, for writing your wonderful book. Your words have inspired me. I have even had a breakthrough with my own Memoir that I’ve been struggling with for close to a year! I, for one, plan to work every single day at living a life of Joy using THE JOY DIET as a foundation for moving forward.
If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you might have noticed that I’ve read quite a few books within the past year that have the word JOY in the title in some way, shape, form, or fashion. You might be wondering if that has been done on purpose on my part. The answer is, “Duh! Yeahabstolutely!!!”
For years now, I have struggled with depression. It has taken me down and I have had a very difficult time coming out of it. As someone who prefers to look at the glass as half full, seeing it as half empty instead has created great disharmony deep within my soul and has left me greatly wanting. I don’t remember exactly which year it was, but about five years ago, I bought a planner that was beautifully decorated with the word “joy” on it and a scripture verse on joy. That was the catalyst that began my Joy Journey. It has taken me years—and will probably take me even more years—to come to a place of Joy in my life.
I can’t get enough of JOY. I want to read about it all the time. I want to see the word in print. I want to see it plastered everywhere. I want to say it as often as I possibly can. I want to feel it to the deepest marrow of my bones down in the deepest part of my soul. I want to be a Woman of Joy.
I hate the depression. It is a true joy-killer, but even more than that, it is a self-killer. I have hated myself. I have hated my life. And, tragically, I have hated even some of my loved ones. With depression comes: sadness, hate, enslavement, anger, low self-esteem, wickedness, doubt, self-hatred, ugliness, destruction, regret, lies, deception, danger, and the horrific list goes on and on.
With Joy, though, there is: Life! Happiness! Wonderment! Songs! Freedom! Peace! Love! Assurance! Truth! Beauty!!! Safety! Compassion! Love of self! Laughter! Deep, belly-shaking, wonderful, loud Guffaws!!! And the wonderful list goes on and on and never ends!!!
I, personally, would much rather live a life of JOY than a life filled with depression. I have experienced both and, trust me, Joy is the much better of the two!
Thank you, Dr. Beck, for writing your wonderful book. Your words have inspired me. I have even had a breakthrough with my own Memoir that I’ve been struggling with for close to a year! I, for one, plan to work every single day at living a life of Joy using THE JOY DIET as a foundation for moving forward.
May 14, 2011
On Nothing (15 minutes of meditation a day)[return][return]Almost all of us have been assaulted by hurricane winds, rapacious fires, and shattering earthquakes or some sort: we live on that kind of planet. Do you remember the last time your preconceptions were blown to smithereens, your heart burnt to a cinder, your confidence shattered? Look back on it now (or if you re in the middle of it, look around), and see if in the midst of that devastation right in the center of it-you half-sense something still and small. Listen for it. Beneath, around, even within the cacophonous chaos of your life disintegrating, something infinitely powerful and surpassingly sweet is whispering to you. It is when all of our something are collapsing that we may finally turn to nothing, and find there everything we need.[return][return]& If you are currently in any kind of pain, you may find something oddly compelling about the words of the great nothing-doers. Though they make no logical sense, they have an irrational resonance that sticks to the suffering soul even after the mind has forgotten them, the way nectar remains on your fingertips after you ve held a flower.[return][return]***[return][return]On Desire[return][return]Did you ever notice how many award-winning children s books and films focus on someone who adopts a wild animal, then has to chase it away so that it can live normally with its own kind?...I think this is such a popular theme in juvenile literature because it is an archetype of the way growing humans learn to force away their desires.[return]& [return][return]It s as though that wild animal you loved, but dutifully chased away, keeps finding its way home and crawling though every door and window of your life. You can spend the rest of your days forcing it to leave again and again and again, or you can give in to what your heart has been telling you all along: that true love any true love, no matter how impractical, improbable, or inconvenient is not just one of the things around which to build your right lift. It s the only thing.[return][return]***[return]I ve never had a client who was truly enraptured by the thought of just sitting in the sand for the rest of eternity& they also know they are meant to do something to engage their energy and intelligence, to connect with others, to somehow make the world a better place. [return][return]***[return]Michelangelo once said, If people know how hard I work, they wouldn t find my achievements so remarkable. [return][return]***[return][return]Feasting[return][return]You were born to be open and honest and brave and playful, to laugh often, to love much, to be loved much in return. You were born for joy&
February 28, 2014
I read a steady diet of success, inspiration and motivational books. I will admit that this is not normally the type of book I would read but left me realizing that I am not has "joyful" and I might have thought. As an "eternal optimist" I am always finding a way to be content, and in most cases happy, but joyful is another level.
While the concepts and outlines are common sense and things we as humans know we should do, there is a propensity to be so driven, we don't find time for daily joy. As a highly motivated person, even pursing a fulfilling life's calling, there are moments of overwhelm that flood in. No one is immune.
Her first chapter is Nothing - 15 minutes a day where you do just that...nothing. Not even a form of meditation but decompression from all thoughts. As a person who meditates often, this reminder was refreshing with a couple of new ideas added.
Subsequent chapter include Desire, Creativity, Treats, Laughter, and Feasting. Each chapter is chock full of ideas and guidelines of how to take time out for "self".
Through other works, I have recently been exposed to Eudemonic (joy emanating from the inside) versus Hedonistic (pleasure from the outside) and her concepts lead to a higher state of inner contentment - Eudemonic. Not burying your head in the sand affirming "everything will be alright" but more the principles that will help you deal with "the hell" we all face from time to time.
As an author of books on sales and life mastery I know that the diversity of voices helps create a kaleidoscope from which to get views that may differ from yours but add to the richness of your life.
The Joy Diet for me was such a book and I recommend it!
While the concepts and outlines are common sense and things we as humans know we should do, there is a propensity to be so driven, we don't find time for daily joy. As a highly motivated person, even pursing a fulfilling life's calling, there are moments of overwhelm that flood in. No one is immune.
Her first chapter is Nothing - 15 minutes a day where you do just that...nothing. Not even a form of meditation but decompression from all thoughts. As a person who meditates often, this reminder was refreshing with a couple of new ideas added.
Subsequent chapter include Desire, Creativity, Treats, Laughter, and Feasting. Each chapter is chock full of ideas and guidelines of how to take time out for "self".
Through other works, I have recently been exposed to Eudemonic (joy emanating from the inside) versus Hedonistic (pleasure from the outside) and her concepts lead to a higher state of inner contentment - Eudemonic. Not burying your head in the sand affirming "everything will be alright" but more the principles that will help you deal with "the hell" we all face from time to time.
As an author of books on sales and life mastery I know that the diversity of voices helps create a kaleidoscope from which to get views that may differ from yours but add to the richness of your life.
The Joy Diet for me was such a book and I recommend it!
Read
January 24, 2011Yes, it's "self help" and I thought it was excellent. Basically, it is about mindfulness meditation. The format is very commercial (10 weeks! exercises! diet book!) but also seems like a practical way to gradually integrate waking up to the moment into one's daily life... not that I personally am going to follow the format, though I'd probably be better off if I did. Beck is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me: she's a chirpy, perky Mormon who wrote a column for Oprah's magazine. She only recently came out but is keeping that fact in the background to aim her books at a general audience, which is probably a savvy move, if a bit disappointing, as she is otherwise confessional and forthcoming. I can't help, however, reading a repressed gay Mormon subtext into everything she has written: i.e., "if you sit quietly and listen to your inner voice.... eventually it just might tell you that you had better mention sometime to your husband that you like girls!" But this all also makes her endearingly vulnerable: her authorial voice is pure labrador retriever. "Love me! love me!" Who could turn away a lab?
April 14, 2009
There were a few chapters I enjoyed in this book and then there were others that didn't really interest me. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I was in the mood to read a self help book; these days I'm more interested in comedy, essays, etc...lighthearted stuff because i'm planning a wedding and having a lighthearted funny thoughtful book around is much more therapeutic than a self help book, for me anyway. Sometimes I get discouraged with self help books because they want you to "do" things...like assignments...and with graduating college less than a year ago i just feel like doing my own thing. This is not a bad book, just maybe bad timing. Check it out if you feel like doing some self exploration. Martha Beck is very funny and I LOVED her book Expecting Adam!
May 24, 2013
I loved this book! It was like how I felt about the beginning of Beck's "North Star" book- only this time she stuck to the topic and managed her thoughts in a much more organized fashion.
This book was contains ten ways for living a happier, more joyful, life. Yes, Beck does get into extreme detail about each one of the ten things, but in most cases it was completely warranted and very helpful.
I definitely liked all her suggestions, such as making sure you laugh a certain amount of times per day at minimum, or paying close attention to treats that make you smile on the inside, or really considering your thoughts to find the root of what may be causing you pain. Good stuff! This one might even be worth owning, to glance back at whenever I'm feeling down.
This book was contains ten ways for living a happier, more joyful, life. Yes, Beck does get into extreme detail about each one of the ten things, but in most cases it was completely warranted and very helpful.
I definitely liked all her suggestions, such as making sure you laugh a certain amount of times per day at minimum, or paying close attention to treats that make you smile on the inside, or really considering your thoughts to find the root of what may be causing you pain. Good stuff! This one might even be worth owning, to glance back at whenever I'm feeling down.
March 4, 2009
books on tape 5 1.5 hr cassettes
narrated by Kathe Mazur
I have listened to this many times in the last months. The reader is so animated that she is a great match for the text. My first thought was that this was the author reading it herself.
I plan to do the exercises and I am getting the book to have printed copies of the instructions.
These instructions are very much like how I used to live my life before I got married and tried to adapt to being in a couple. It is time I got back to being myself.
Obviously I liked this book very much but until I do all the exercises I can't give it all the stars.
I copied the 5 tapes.
narrated by Kathe Mazur
I have listened to this many times in the last months. The reader is so animated that she is a great match for the text. My first thought was that this was the author reading it herself.
I plan to do the exercises and I am getting the book to have printed copies of the instructions.
These instructions are very much like how I used to live my life before I got married and tried to adapt to being in a couple. It is time I got back to being myself.
Obviously I liked this book very much but until I do all the exercises I can't give it all the stars.
I copied the 5 tapes.
January 7, 2011
Although this book focuses a lot on common sense, it's still nice to be reminded of the little things we can do in life to be happier. The author also has a really conversational and funny tone that actually makes reading a self-help book palatable - and made me laugh out loud a couple times. One of my favorite tips in the book was for us to look at the people in our lives who drive us crazy, who we absolutely can't stand - and then see if there's anything about them we should adopt into our own lives. Often it's what we're lacking in ourselves that annoy us with other people. I think that advice is spot on, as is the rest of the book.
September 7, 2011
A group of friends (four of us) worked through this joyful book, chapter by chapter, doing most of the exercises in between meetings and then coming together to share our experiences and read aloud favorite lines from the book. I can't say that any of us made marked, life altering changes to our lives, but it certainly helped us work through issues - with laughter and yes, joy.
Come to think of it, it did give me strategies and ways of viewing the world that continue to guide me.
I recommend using the book the way we did, in a supportive, open-hearted group of friends.
Come to think of it, it did give me strategies and ways of viewing the world that continue to guide me.
I recommend using the book the way we did, in a supportive, open-hearted group of friends.
July 21, 2014
I really love Martha Beck and her articles. I enjoyed this book, and took away some solid ideas from it. I agree with embracing a joy diet for life. 1. Do nothing for 15 minutes a day. Meditate. Be comfortable with silence 2. Truth. What am I feeling? Is this working? Is there another story that works? is this the truth or is this colored by my perspective/experiences/emotions? 3. Desires. Think about what you want and think once you get it then what? Let desire become intention. Be open to new ways to achieve desires. Think what and why you want this. Believe 4. Creativity
November 1, 2010
Sociologist and life coach Martha Beck's The Joy Diet is a practical list of life improvement techniques. Ranging from meditating daily to making sure you laugh at least 30 times, Beck provides a list of 10 different ways to make life more joyful.
I enjoyed reading this brief book, which not only provided practical advice but also a large helping of Beck's amusing personal anecdotes. Those who are working toward coaching themselves into a better life will find this book very useful.
I enjoyed reading this brief book, which not only provided practical advice but also a large helping of Beck's amusing personal anecdotes. Those who are working toward coaching themselves into a better life will find this book very useful.
August 11, 2013
I'm a huge Martha Beck fan & highly recommend her books & articles. I took my time with this one, keeping it with my yoga mat & reading tiny bits while in gomukhasana (cow face pose) at the end of my daily practice. Great life "diet" tips, meant to be savored, pondered, practiced. Was glad to own the book, as I was compelled to star, underline and circle many phrases & sections. Ends with discussion on gratitude, which is very fitting; I'm very grateful for Martha & this book!
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