Happiness Hacks: 100% Scientific! Curiously Effective!

by Alex Palmer

Highly Effective Hacks From Totally True Facts!

Could you be happier at work . . . in love . . . in life? You may not need a total overhaul—just a few good Happiness Hacks! Here are hundreds of shortcuts to brighten your day and boost your mood—and the science behind how they work. Discover why . . . Whether you’re seeking better health, stronger friendships, or that elusive “happy place,” these stunningly simple tips are proven to help. You can hack your way to happiness!

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Health, Psychology, Audiobook

176 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2018

About the author

Alex Palmer is the author of five nonfiction books including New York Times bestseller The Santa Claus Man and the forthcoming Happiness Hacks. A journalist and excavator of fascinating facts, he is also the author of Weird-o-pedia, Alternative Facts, and Literary Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Literature.

His writing has also appeared in Esquire, Best Life, Slate, Mental Floss, Smithsonian, Vulture, and The Rumpus, among others.

See more at www.alexpalmerwrites.com.

Reviews

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happiness Hacks is a collection of research-based information on human happiness. Alex Palmer sorts the information into categories of happiness at work, happiness at play, happiness in love, and others. In the back of the book is a list of research references the author used to compile his facts.

Here are my notes from the book.

Focus on the 40 percent: Forty percent of one's happiness can be changed.

Scientists examined thirteen ways to spend one's leisure time. Only six were significantly associated with happiness: shopping, reading books, attending cultural events, getting together with relatives, listening to music, attending sporting events. Six others had no significant impact on happiness: watching tv, going to the movies, getting together with friends, playing cards, going to the gym, and doing handicrafts. One negatively impacted happiness: spending time on the internet.

Get outside: One of the best happiness-enhancing activities is to get into nature. Or sit by a window: Just looking at nature can improve your mood.

Vacation: Researchers found that feelings of well-being increased right away, peaking on the eighth day where they remained until the eleventh day, after which enjoyment levels dipped. Happiness increases when time is spent planning a vacation.

Add humor.

Do something for someone else.

Natural light.

Keep soft objects on hand and use tactile comfort.

Having a happy friend can boost your own happiness by 15.3 percent.

150 friends. That's about how many friends most people can have.

How much exercise is enough to feel better? Ten minutes. Exercise in short, ten-minute bursts several times a day.

As individuals age, they generally grow happier.

Those who drank four cups of coffee a day, when examined after ten years, had a 64 percent lower risk of dying than those who never or almost never consumed coffee.

Researchers found a positive correlation between eating fruits and vegetables and increased happiness.

Seven hours---target amount of sleep.

Positive emotions can fight colds.

People living in small towns and rural areas generally report being happier than those who live in cities.

[Ashley Lhérisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and easy read. Lots of easy to implement tips for increasing happiness at work, play, love, home, friendship, and health. Would recommend.

[yamiyoghurt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author started the book by setting the reader’s expectations of this book amidst the plethora of books on happiness books out there, but it turned out to be a an enjoyable and refreshing read. The book is very well organised and laid out, giving you actionable and tips, followed by a summary of the supporting research. Many of the tips seem like common sense - good advice should resonate. It is good to be reminded of the important things in life from time to time, in an enjoyable manner.

[Kent Winward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hovered on two stars, but the value in this book is showing how the "scientific" studies on happiness that are all summarized briefly in this book are all self-contradicting for the most part. The attempts to determine what make people 'happy' might be wise to try and add the complexity of literature into their studies, because different characters react differently. We humans are hard to categorize.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It’s well organized, easy to read, and chock full of tips for bringing more happiness your way. (It’s also a nice small size that easily fits into a bigger purse or minipack). The chapters flow into one another, but it’s also possible to just skip to the book sections that one finds most interesting - home, work, play, health... And while it’s not a picture book, it does try to be visually appealing with eye catching orange headings to sub-chapters and text boxes. The information offered is based on scientific research which is listed at the back of the book - if one want to investigate further. The most helpful parts of the book are the hacks which are given throughout the book after most sub-sections in every chapter.

[Veronica Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this. I thought it was a quick and easy read. It was a lot of statistics and tidbits to help you live a happier life. I liked how real it was.

[Mrs C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has plenty of info that I didn’t know about. I was particularly curious about the renters vs homeowners as well as the effect of adversity to life happiness. I was also curious about the last chapter on having too much of a good thing (even happiness) has its pitfalls. I appreciated the extensive list of resources at the end of the book.

[Debabrata Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Happiness Hacks" offers a compendium of strategies and insights aimed at enhancing one's overall sense of well-being. The author's assertion that there are no shortcuts to happiness is challenged head-on as the book presents an array of actionable tips and scientifically-backed techniques designed to expedite the journey to contentment.

The book begins by establishing happiness as a mindset, emphasizing the importance of cultivating a positive outlook on life. Through a combination of anecdotal evidence and psychological research, the author underscores the power of perception in shaping one's emotional experience. By reframing challenges as opportunities for growth and adopting an attitude of gratitude, readers are encouraged to harness the transformative potential of their thoughts.

Central to the book's thesis is the exploration of the science behind generating happy thoughts. Drawing upon findings from neuroscience and positive psychology, the author elucidates the mechanisms by which individuals can actively influence their mood states. From the role of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine to the impact of cognitive biases on subjective well-being, each concept is unpacked with clarity and relevance.

Moreover, it offers a plethora of practical suggestions for fostering happiness in everyday life. Whether it's the placement of a plant on one's desk to boost productivity or the mindfulness practice of savoring small moments of joy, the book advocates for incremental changes that yield significant dividends. By breaking down happiness into manageable increments, readers are empowered to take ownership of their emotional fulfillment.What sets this book apart is its comprehensive approach to happiness, encompassing various domains of life including work, relationships, & personal fulfillment.

In conclusion, it serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to cultivate greater happiness and fulfillment in their lives. By marrying practical advice with scientific insights, the book offers a roadmap to lasting well-being. Whether you're embarking on a journey of self-discovery or simply seeking to brighten your day, this book is a must read.

[Raj Bairwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

समीक्षा: हैप्पीनेस हैक्स (non fiction/ self help)
लेखक: ऐलेक्स पामर
प्रकाशक: सृष्टि पब्लिकेशन
कुल पृष्ठ: 168

खुशी हर इंसान की जिंदगी में एक अहम भूमिका निभाती है। यह हमारी रोजमर्रा की जिंदगी को आसान और आनंदमय बना देती है। खुशी का प्रभाव हमारी सोच, निर्णय, और जीवन की रफ्तार पर अनजाने में पड़ता है। इसी विषय को विज्ञान और तथ्यात्मक जानकारियों के साथ जोड़कर प्रस्तुत करने की कोशिश इस पुस्तक में की गई है।
हैप्पीनेस हैक्स ऐलेक्स पामर की 2018 में प्रकाशित किताब का हिंदी अनुवाद है, जिसे राजश्री बोस ने किया है। यह किताब खुशी से जुड़े विभिन्न पहलुओं का अध्ययन प्रस्तुत करती है। सृष्टि पब्लिकेशन द्वारा प्रकाशित इस पुस्तक की भाषा सरल और शैली सहज है, जो इसे पाठकों के लिए बेहद रोचक बनाती है।
खुशी के बारे में पढ़ना हमेशा प्रेरणादायक और सुकूनभरा होता है। यह किताब खुश रहने के लिए छोटे-छोटे उपाय और विचार प्रस्तुत करती है, जो वैज्ञानिक तथ्यों पर आधारित हैं। यह जटिल विषयों को सरलता से प्रस्तुत करती है, जिससे इसे पढ़ना बेहद आसान और आनंददायक हो जाता है। अन्य किताबों की तुलना में इसकी गति तेज है और यह पाठकों को बोर नहीं करती।
इसके अलावा, पुस्तक का वैज्ञानिक दृष्टिकोण इसे खास बनाता है। जहां कई अन्य किताबें खुशी को आध्यात्मिक नजरिए से देखती हैं, वहीं यह पुस्तक तथ्यों और शोधों पर आधारित है। खुशी को व्यवस्थित तरीके से समझाने के लिए इसमें व्यावहारिक सुझाव और आसान हैक्स दिए गए हैं।
भारत का हैप्पीनेस इंडेक्स रैंक :
पुस्तक के विषय से जुड़ा एक दिलचस्प तथ्य यह है कि 2024 की वर्ल्ड हैप्पीनेस रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, भारत की हैप्पीनेस इंडेक्स रैंक 126 है कुल 143 देशों में। यह रैंकिंग यह दिखाती है कि खुशी को लेकर हमारा देश कहां खड़ा है और इसे बेहतर बनाने के लिए व्यक्तिगत व सामाजिक स्तर पर क्या कदम उठाए जा सकते हैं।
हालांकि किताब में लिखी गई बहुत सी बाते है जिनसे में व्यक्तिगत रूप से सहमत न होता जैसे शहरों में बस जाने वाली बात हो या फेसबुक के उपयोग को लेकर बात हो।
कुल मिलाकर, यह पुस्तक न केवल प्रेरणादायक है, बल्कि जीवन को खुशहाल बनाने के लिए उपयोगी टिप्स भी देती है। यह पढ़ने लायक एक अद्भुत किताब है। इसे हर उस व्यक्ति को पढ़ना चाहिए, जो अपने जीवन में अधिक खुशी और संतुष्टि लाना चाहता है।

- साहित्ययात्री
(१६/०१/२०२५)

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite it's subtitle, I'm not entirely sure that Happiness Hacks is really "100% Scientific!" But it did 100% make me smile to read, so it gets a great rating.

Happiness Hacks is a pretty quick read, but it's not too sparse. It's just right. A Goldilocks book. A lot of the "hacks" feel like common sense, but you might not necessarily have thought of them off the top of your head. It never hurts to have a reminder of little things you can do to have a happier life, though, is it? I liked this book and these "hacks" well enough to recommend to my staff at work.

(Every month I make them listen to me give a 2-minute pitch of a book or article. Don't worry: it's fair. If they recommend one to me, I immediately read it or put it on hold, and I don't make them read the full book if that's what I'm pitching.)

Like I said, many of the "hacks" felt like common sense. For example: most people know that getting up from your desk and walking around a little bit helps to keep you focused and happy and not sore. And the "scientific" claim may be a tad overreaching. I think I would have used the word "correlation" rather than "causation" to describe the effects of the hacks. But it's not terribly far off.

With the short length of the book and the intended positive outcome, it really wouldn't hurt you to check it out for yourself. In fact, I'd recommend it!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review for Happiness Hacks: 100% Scientific! Curiously Effective! by Alex Palmer. There's another book out there with the same title and no author listed that's pretty generic and looks like it was put together by a book packager--so don't get it mixed up with this one. This is written by a New York Times bestselling author who also writes trivia books. This is a review of an advanced copy I received.

This books is broken up into chapters like Happiness in Love, Happiness in Friendship, Happiness at Work. Then there's a simple factoid like how putting a plant on your desk or drinking your coffee slowly makes you happier. Followed by the scientific study to back up the fact. It's packed with research but easy to read. The layout is nice, it's fun and easy to digest, and I think it makes a great gift book.

[Charlotte Dungan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book because it had a cute cover and was on display at the library near a book I enjoy, The Little Book of Hygge. Unfortunately the cover was the best thing about this, as the writing style was not meant to make the reader happy, but rather lull them off to sleep. The Happiness Hacks are really just summaries of what we have learned from scientific studies about what makes people happy. The list, surprisingly, did not include reading summaries of academic literature. My advice is to skim the text and read the little happiness blurbs, which should take five minutes and save you the hassle of checking out and returning the whole book. Try one or two of the blurbs just for fun. Then check out another book and relax, knowing that reading increases your empathy and acts as a better de-stressor than television!

[Hill Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paradox of choice: too many makes you unhappy.
2. Forbes 400 only slightly more happy than Masai warriors living in huts w/o electricity.
3. Positive music and right thoughts combinations
4. Work: 40 hours yes. 80 hours no.
5. Volunteering.
6. Love life.
7. Natural light in daylight. Melatonin production.
8. Higher ceilings better memory too.
9. Getting flowers 🌸 makes you happy!
10. Pet.
11. Soft things in hand.
12. Recycling
13. Renting over owning a home. Simplify.
14. Having a happy friend!
15. 150 is the maximum number of meaningful relationships.
16. Active listening
17. More is not merrier! Quality of friendships.
18. GIVING TO CHARITY.
19. Complain if you can do something about it.
20. Exercise—walk not jogging!
21. Aging will increase happiness. Older Focus on positive emotions.

[Tara Blais Davison · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 This would have been better comprised into a study or in an article for Readers’ Digest. Personally, reading or listening to hours of statistics and, in some instances, contradictory information is tedious. Some “hacks” were just common sense. Suggesting that living in cities with minimal perceived social injustice and negligible criminal activity seems fairly obvious, the author then offers up debate as to whether people in towns are happier than cities. On from there, the author lists the ten happiest cities in the world while interesting from an anecdotal point of view, it’s not practical for readers to imagine their lives would automatically be happier living in those 10 cities; predominantly in Europe and the South Pacific with the only North American location found to be Vancouver, Canada.

[Artemisia Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those books that I read in small segments throughout the year, a little pickup read when I had a few extra minutes or I wasn’t quite ready to go to sleep. I thought it would be a light, humorous read that wouldn’t take a lot of thought; however the book’s silly cover presentation belies the actual seriousness of its content. Instead, I found it quite interesting as it also presents the research to back up the assertions it makes about the things that do or do not make us the happiest. In fact, so much research that there are 17 pages of citations in the back of the book of all the research studies mentioned in the book. So besides some of the interesting things I learned about happiness, I also learned that you can’t judge a book by its cover.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in a tough spot mentally and spiritually. I stumbled upon it on Barnes and Noble's website and when I tell you this book really changed things for me, it DID. I would read a few pages everyday and it would be something I looked forward to so much. I'd implement the positive tips from the book into my own life, which made me feel like I was taking steps in the right direction. Overall, a special book for me and something I'd recommend to anyone who needs a little pick-me-up.

[Beverly Temporal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind snacks. I’ve been on this journey to give my mind positive things to snack on, usually daily. It started with another book about someone who was basically happy, but was interested in what makes people happy or not, and how people can be resilient and happy. And, mind snacks was one of those things. So, I have a collection of books I use as mind snacks to give me happy boosts and this one will be added to the collection.

[Kritika Sen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his book "Happiness Hacks," Alex Palmer offers a wide range of strategies and techniques to cultivate happiness in everyday life. From the very beginning, Palmer emphasizes that happiness is not something that solely depends on external factors or material possessions. Instead, he suggests that true and lasting happiness comes from within and can be nurtured through intentional practices and mindset shifts.

[Tanya Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Happiness Hacks" by Alex Palmer, "Happiness Hacks: 100% Scientific! Curiously Effective!" is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their overall well-being and happiness.
The book provides evidence-based strategies that can be easily implemented, making it accessible to a wide range of readers. With a strong emphasis on self-care, Palmer's book guides readers through the joys and hazards of personal growth, helping them navigate the road to resilience.

[Piyush Sinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like a bubble of laughter that will add more smiles to your day and make life worth living and remembering.

I think the author would have been a keen observer if he was able to pen shortcuts that would give them more happiness than they'd have ever expected to obtain.

Written delightfully, the book is an easygoing read that would make one think about the charm of every action and its equivalent reaction.

[Kasshi Yadav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happiness Hacks is a read that suffices the purpose for which it is written. The author, with his vivid delivery, was able to enlighten the reader with the quantity of change in their conduct that would be useful enough to implement.

The writing style of the book is genuine and pure enough for one to get the gist behind the read and get the best out of the same. A simple one to adapt and implement.

[Al1992 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read it fast and liked most of it. I haven't tried anything (other of the things I already did).

The advice about sex bothered me. I understand that this advice is relevant for a lot of people, but it assumes that everybody wants to have sex, and forgets that some people don't like sex, or don't need it much.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version in the car. Meh. Lots of "facts" and "statistics." The author has a weird jones for sports, claiming that team activities reduces stress (just the opposite for me!) and that your country winning a lot of medals in the Olympics makes the populace happier (Could. NOT. Care. LESS!). I really didn't get anything out of this book.

[Gagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Happiness Hacks: 100% Scientific!Curiously Effective!" is a book that seamlessly blends scientific research with practical advice, creating a comprehensive guide to enhancing one's happiness. Both students and practitioners in the fields of psychology and personal development will find this book to be an essential resource. Recommended one.

[Aditi Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happiness Hacks by Alex Palmer offers practical and accessible strategies to enhance daily joy and overall well-being. The book is divided into short chapters, each filled with inspirational stories and scientific discoveries. These stories and scientific findings serve as a valuable resource for those seeking to improve their happiness levels.

[Yash · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book "Happiness Hacks", Palmer not only emphasizes the importance of self-care but also provides practical methods for maintaining happiness and resilience. With short chapters, inspirational stories, and scientific discoveries, Palmer engages readers and encourages self-reflection. Must read for all.

[Yasklok · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Happiness Hacks," Alex Palmer, a New York Times bestselling author, offers his insights and expertise on the pursuit of happiness.Using a wealth of scientific research and real-life examples, Palmer presents actionable strategies that anyone can incorporate into their daily routine. I endorse this one.

[Pihu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout the book "happiness hacks", Palmer provides practical and actionable tips that anyone can incorporate into their daily routine. One of the key concepts Palmer introduces is the idea of setting challenges for ourselves.He explains that these challenges should be neither too difficult nor too easy, but rather perfectly aligned with our abilities.
A very motivating one for me.

[Alizeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted when this slim, handbag-sized, lightweight paperback reference book, with easy reading font, arrived on my desk with a request for review. "Wow, what a handy and accessible guide this book turned out to be!This book is designed to serve as a reference work, providing readers with 100% scientifically-backed hacks to enhance their happiness.

[Shalini Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, Alex Palmer, takes a practical approach in presenting the happiness hacks, making it easy for readers to implement them in their daily lives. This book describes techniques for overcoming these difficulties.Palmer dives deep into the various aspects of happiness, covering topics such as gratitude, positive thinking, self-care, and social connections. Loved the book.