What do you think?
Rate this book
When Likes Aren't Enough Lib/E: A Crash Course in the Science of Happiness
Are you as truly happy as your social media profiles?When a group of researchers asked young adults around the globe what their number one priority was in life, the top answer was "happiness." Not success, fame, money, looks, or love ... but happiness. For a rising generation of young adults raised as digital natives in a fast-paced, ultra-connected world, authentic happiness still seems just out of reach. While social media often shows well-lit selfies and flawless digital personas, today's sixteen- to twenty-five-year-olds are struggling to find real meaning, connection, and satisfaction right alongside their overburdened parents. When Likes Aren't Enough tackles the ever-popular subject of happiness and well-being, but reframes it for a younger reader struggling with Instagram envy and high-stakes testing, college rejections, and helicopter parents. Professor of positive psychology Dr. Tim Bono distills his most popular college course on the science of happiness into creative, often counterintuitive, strategies for young adults to lead happier, more fulfilling lives. Filled with exciting research, practical exercises, honest advice, and quotes and stories from young adults themselves, When Likes Aren't Enough is a master class for a generation looking for science-based, real world ways to feel just a little bit happier every day.
Audio CD
Published March 13, 2018
58 people are currently reading
759 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
September 17, 2018
1) "When my students ask me what they need to be happy, I tell them the first thing they need is a different way of asking the question. At any given point, circumstances or conditions may be beyond our control. By asking what we can do to become happier, we place our attention on those aspects of life that are in our control, which ultimately can move us forward on the happiness continuum."
2) "The next time you are feeling bummed out from a low score on an exam, an argument with your significant other, or a dessert you've attempted to make that looks nothing like it did on Pinterest, don't let that misery linger. Find something to loosen its hold. You might make plans to go out with friends, watch your favorite TV show, or watch a funny YouTube video. It won't completely take away the sting (remember, those negative emotions have a purpose), but it will at least redirect your attention. Use a similar technique when you are preparing for anxiety-provoking events. If you are studying for a major exam, practicing for a big presentation, or preparing for an important job interview, take positivity breaks. At least one an hour, get up, move around, and do something that you enjoy. When you return to your work, you'll feel refreshed, your brain will be in a better position to build on the work you've already done, and the challenge awaiting you won't seem so daunting."
3) "The happiest students felt good about their performance regardless of how the accomplice was doing. Whether she was working faster or slower, the participant's overall mood was virtually unaffected. For those on the other end of the emotion continuum, it was a different story. The unhappiest participants felt good so long as their performance was relatively better than that of the other person in the room. If they were being outperformed, however, their mood took a significant drop. In other words, whether they felt good or bad depended almost entirely on how the accomplice was performing.
One of the differences between happy and unhappy people seems to be the standards they use to judge their abilities and feelings of self-worth. Happy people are guided by internal values and standards, and are largely unaffected by others who may be outperforming them. For unhappy people the opposite is true. They are highly sensitive to how others are doing and will feel good about themselves so long as they are doing at least a little better relative to those around them."
4) "Accomplishing something in one area of our life increases our confidence that we can do other things. Feeling accomplished also offers a boost to our sense of self and overall well-being. Often, the hardest part of completing a big task is just getting started. If we can muster the strength to carry out the first step, the sense of accomplishment from that single step raises our self-efficacy. We then feel motivated to take the second step, then the third, and so on. For my student, small daily exercises may not have looked like much from the outside, but they served as stepping stones to lead him out of depression and up to a path of accomplishment."
5) "Practicing mindfulness at the kitchen sink, therefore, is not about giving undue attention to stubborn lasagna stuck to the bottom of a casserole dish, but instead about practicing mind control. The same attentional muscles that redirect attention to the suds along our skin are also capable of wreaking havoc in our minds. Remember that negative thinking patterns, which are among the hallmarks of depression and anxiety, can intrude without warning and take on a life of their own, spiraling downward in a vicious cycle. When they start going, we need the capacity for mind control to slow them down. Focusing on the here and now during a simple household chore, and preventing our minds from going anywhere else, is developing a skill that can put the brakes on a negative thinking cycle in the future. As with any other skill, the more we practice it, the more easily we can implement it."
6) "Recall that the self-esteem movement was about making us feel good, making life easy, and making success preordained. But a true test of someone's self-esteem actually comes when they fail at something. In other words, self-esteem---authentic self-esteem---is not merely a matter of feeling good all the time. It's not just about having your needle pointing to 'Full.' Merely telling a kid that she is great, irrespective of her actual abilities, leads to artificial self-esteem, the kind that many educators, politicians, and parents have been propagating unknowingly for years."
7) "One of the barriers to our well-being is that we are often unmotivated to adopt behaviors and mindsets that will reduce stress and increase happiness. We know exercise is good, but lying on the couch all night is more comfortable. We know more sleep will make us feel better, but staying up scrolling through social media is more entertaining. We know that spending more time working on a report will help advance our careers, but binge-watching Netflix is more fun.
To overcome these temptations, use what we have learned from the science of willpower to your advantage: Clear out other tasks that might be vying for your willpower capacity. When you aren't pressed to use willpower, find opportunities to exercise it to keep it strong for the long term. When it's in short supply, remind yourself why you chose to do this task and how it's helping you achieve bigger goals. For your biggest projects, break them into small steps and take them one at a time. Let the sense of accomplishment you get from completing the first step snowball your motivation toward completing the others. Develop a specific plan for not only what you're going to do, but also when and where you're going to carry it out. Identify on the front end the barriers that could distract you and have implementation intentions in place to counteract them."
8) "Breaks are important. Diversions keep us motivated. But be mindful of where you place them. If you are growing restless, do what you can to keep working until you reach the end of a section or another clear stopping point before you get up and walk around or scroll through social media. Otherwise, when you come back you'll have to pay a switch cost, squandering time as you figure out where you were so you can keep going."
9) "If we had to predict a person's happiness from only one piece of data, we would use the strength of their social relationships. Connecting with others gives you experiences to look forward to, memories to look back on, and a support system that provides benefits for your physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being. As you make decisions about how you spend your time and money, create opportunities to cultivate relationships with others. Even if you're not able to buy someone tickets to see their favorite sports team or visit their favorite vacation destination, performing a meaningful act of kindness for another person and sharing that experience with them can create just as much happiness. The social connection it brings will be the greatest gift of all, both for them and for you, and is arguably the most effective way to make each of you happier."
2) "The next time you are feeling bummed out from a low score on an exam, an argument with your significant other, or a dessert you've attempted to make that looks nothing like it did on Pinterest, don't let that misery linger. Find something to loosen its hold. You might make plans to go out with friends, watch your favorite TV show, or watch a funny YouTube video. It won't completely take away the sting (remember, those negative emotions have a purpose), but it will at least redirect your attention. Use a similar technique when you are preparing for anxiety-provoking events. If you are studying for a major exam, practicing for a big presentation, or preparing for an important job interview, take positivity breaks. At least one an hour, get up, move around, and do something that you enjoy. When you return to your work, you'll feel refreshed, your brain will be in a better position to build on the work you've already done, and the challenge awaiting you won't seem so daunting."
3) "The happiest students felt good about their performance regardless of how the accomplice was doing. Whether she was working faster or slower, the participant's overall mood was virtually unaffected. For those on the other end of the emotion continuum, it was a different story. The unhappiest participants felt good so long as their performance was relatively better than that of the other person in the room. If they were being outperformed, however, their mood took a significant drop. In other words, whether they felt good or bad depended almost entirely on how the accomplice was performing.
One of the differences between happy and unhappy people seems to be the standards they use to judge their abilities and feelings of self-worth. Happy people are guided by internal values and standards, and are largely unaffected by others who may be outperforming them. For unhappy people the opposite is true. They are highly sensitive to how others are doing and will feel good about themselves so long as they are doing at least a little better relative to those around them."
4) "Accomplishing something in one area of our life increases our confidence that we can do other things. Feeling accomplished also offers a boost to our sense of self and overall well-being. Often, the hardest part of completing a big task is just getting started. If we can muster the strength to carry out the first step, the sense of accomplishment from that single step raises our self-efficacy. We then feel motivated to take the second step, then the third, and so on. For my student, small daily exercises may not have looked like much from the outside, but they served as stepping stones to lead him out of depression and up to a path of accomplishment."
5) "Practicing mindfulness at the kitchen sink, therefore, is not about giving undue attention to stubborn lasagna stuck to the bottom of a casserole dish, but instead about practicing mind control. The same attentional muscles that redirect attention to the suds along our skin are also capable of wreaking havoc in our minds. Remember that negative thinking patterns, which are among the hallmarks of depression and anxiety, can intrude without warning and take on a life of their own, spiraling downward in a vicious cycle. When they start going, we need the capacity for mind control to slow them down. Focusing on the here and now during a simple household chore, and preventing our minds from going anywhere else, is developing a skill that can put the brakes on a negative thinking cycle in the future. As with any other skill, the more we practice it, the more easily we can implement it."
6) "Recall that the self-esteem movement was about making us feel good, making life easy, and making success preordained. But a true test of someone's self-esteem actually comes when they fail at something. In other words, self-esteem---authentic self-esteem---is not merely a matter of feeling good all the time. It's not just about having your needle pointing to 'Full.' Merely telling a kid that she is great, irrespective of her actual abilities, leads to artificial self-esteem, the kind that many educators, politicians, and parents have been propagating unknowingly for years."
7) "One of the barriers to our well-being is that we are often unmotivated to adopt behaviors and mindsets that will reduce stress and increase happiness. We know exercise is good, but lying on the couch all night is more comfortable. We know more sleep will make us feel better, but staying up scrolling through social media is more entertaining. We know that spending more time working on a report will help advance our careers, but binge-watching Netflix is more fun.
To overcome these temptations, use what we have learned from the science of willpower to your advantage: Clear out other tasks that might be vying for your willpower capacity. When you aren't pressed to use willpower, find opportunities to exercise it to keep it strong for the long term. When it's in short supply, remind yourself why you chose to do this task and how it's helping you achieve bigger goals. For your biggest projects, break them into small steps and take them one at a time. Let the sense of accomplishment you get from completing the first step snowball your motivation toward completing the others. Develop a specific plan for not only what you're going to do, but also when and where you're going to carry it out. Identify on the front end the barriers that could distract you and have implementation intentions in place to counteract them."
8) "Breaks are important. Diversions keep us motivated. But be mindful of where you place them. If you are growing restless, do what you can to keep working until you reach the end of a section or another clear stopping point before you get up and walk around or scroll through social media. Otherwise, when you come back you'll have to pay a switch cost, squandering time as you figure out where you were so you can keep going."
9) "If we had to predict a person's happiness from only one piece of data, we would use the strength of their social relationships. Connecting with others gives you experiences to look forward to, memories to look back on, and a support system that provides benefits for your physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being. As you make decisions about how you spend your time and money, create opportunities to cultivate relationships with others. Even if you're not able to buy someone tickets to see their favorite sports team or visit their favorite vacation destination, performing a meaningful act of kindness for another person and sharing that experience with them can create just as much happiness. The social connection it brings will be the greatest gift of all, both for them and for you, and is arguably the most effective way to make each of you happier."
July 9, 2018
Easy to read self help book that dives into time management and productivity. The author also touches on modern concepts like social media and cellphones which have become a huge time pit for people. The author deconstructs habits and happiness with many examples. The examples go over and beyond by citing studies by psychologists and sociologists. Impressed by this book and Tim Bono's writing style. I look forward to more works by Mr. Bono.
Favorite quotes in the book:
"Many studies have found a relationship between social media use and unhappiness: the more time people spend on it, the less happy they tend to be"
"if you must nap during the day, doing so in the slot between three and five in the afternoon will capitalize on the body’s natural rhythm of tiredness and alertness."
"Within about one hour you are in your deepest stage of sleep. This is why a one-hour nap is one of the worst things you can do for yourself."
Other observations are noted in the spoiler
Favorite quotes in the book:
"Many studies have found a relationship between social media use and unhappiness: the more time people spend on it, the less happy they tend to be"
"if you must nap during the day, doing so in the slot between three and five in the afternoon will capitalize on the body’s natural rhythm of tiredness and alertness."
"Within about one hour you are in your deepest stage of sleep. This is why a one-hour nap is one of the worst things you can do for yourself."
Other observations are noted in the spoiler
November 18, 2024
Great book with really good strategies for implementing happiness in your life. Good thought provoking questions and suggestions.
March 7, 2020
So many great takeaways from this book, some I have heard of before but with information from actual studies and interventions to guide you through the reasoning. Reading this book was a huge mood booster in itself - I would recommend this to anyone!
"If you really want to be kind to yourself, the best way is to be kind to someone else."
"If you really want to be kind to yourself, the best way is to be kind to someone else."
November 19, 2023
didn’t meet my expectations and too repetitive sometimes
October 10, 2022
There are lots of good concepts, research and information in this book but there was also so many long quotes that just reinforced what the author had just said. All the quotes were very unnecessary and took up so much of the book. Additionally, the whole book is written by a college professor, and most of the stories revolve around college students which seems odd since it wasn't a book marketed at college students. Ultimately, I didn't hate it but it had a lot of wasted potential.
June 3, 2018
Using the author's recommendation to 'use my words,' I am offering four stars with this review. I could have ignored summary chapter and clicked for two stars citing an excess of anecdotes and words quoted from student subjects of studies. Instead, I see the book for what it is: An attempt to make the reader happIER which can only be accomplished by offering all types of readers their own separate chances to understand the material.
That said, there are three lists of different lengths:
1. Eight key ideas on the back cover (attention training; sleep; willpower; exercise; gratitude; failing better; resilience; and social connections)
2. Ten numbered chapters (adding to the back cover: 1. The Holy Grail of Young Adulthood; 2. The Common Denominator of Happiness; while renaming some topics, for example Gratitude is spread among chapters 2 and 8. The Time Paradox)
3. Seven points in the author's summary (here you wait until the fifth section for the formula Happiness = Haves divided Wants)
My greatest take-away is an explanation I had not yet picked up on. When using your words, emotional reaction is reduced. Most emotional reaction is negative. (Bono writes that we have more words attributed to negative emotional states than positive emotional states.) The best part is we can shift to that calm, intellectual mode by naming the emotion, or focusing attention on a matter for which we are grateful, or by journaling (bonus: best done by writing any realizations written down, too). In this manner, I wonder whether writing one's self a letter, talk therapy, and conversations with friends are all beneficial in precisely the same way!
That said, there are three lists of different lengths:
1. Eight key ideas on the back cover (attention training; sleep; willpower; exercise; gratitude; failing better; resilience; and social connections)
2. Ten numbered chapters (adding to the back cover: 1. The Holy Grail of Young Adulthood; 2. The Common Denominator of Happiness; while renaming some topics, for example Gratitude is spread among chapters 2 and 8. The Time Paradox)
3. Seven points in the author's summary (here you wait until the fifth section for the formula Happiness = Haves divided Wants)
My greatest take-away is an explanation I had not yet picked up on. When using your words, emotional reaction is reduced. Most emotional reaction is negative. (Bono writes that we have more words attributed to negative emotional states than positive emotional states.) The best part is we can shift to that calm, intellectual mode by naming the emotion, or focusing attention on a matter for which we are grateful, or by journaling (bonus: best done by writing any realizations written down, too). In this manner, I wonder whether writing one's self a letter, talk therapy, and conversations with friends are all beneficial in precisely the same way!
April 7, 2018
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
I am so glad I received this book. The author's ability to articulate research findings all while presenting tips to make oneself happier in a way that flowed so well caught my attention from the first couple of pages.
Being a psychology major, I really enjoyed this mix of research to back up statements and tips that you could use to become happier in everyday life.
I was a bit skeptical at first but am so glad I read through the entire book because I have already started to implement some of Tim Bono's tips into my everyday routines!
Would definitely recommend everyone read this, especially if you're looking to cheer yourself up or to be even happier than you already might be !
I am so glad I received this book. The author's ability to articulate research findings all while presenting tips to make oneself happier in a way that flowed so well caught my attention from the first couple of pages.
Being a psychology major, I really enjoyed this mix of research to back up statements and tips that you could use to become happier in everyday life.
I was a bit skeptical at first but am so glad I read through the entire book because I have already started to implement some of Tim Bono's tips into my everyday routines!
Would definitely recommend everyone read this, especially if you're looking to cheer yourself up or to be even happier than you already might be !
May 29, 2018
An in-depth and relatable look at the factors that equate to our general happiness and well-being. From the quantity and quality of our sleep to the minutes or hours per week we spend on social media (where there is an inverse relationship between time browsing our feeds to our level of contentedness) to the way we set goals: Bono deconstructs human habits to reveal where we may be the most dissatisfied and how to tweak them to improve our outlook. Chock full of university studies by psychologists and sociologists from all over the world, this piece of nonfiction is an easy read that translates empirical data into simple actions we can apply in our daily routines to ensure optimal positive growth and a cheery disposition.
November 11, 2019
Good book. Terrible title. One of the best books in its class. Easy read. Possibly too many anecdotes.
"No one is happy all the time - it is simply not possible." The field of positive psychology wasn't widely known when I was in graduate school. Whereas we mostly focused on abnormal or dysfunctional behavior, positive psychology is about more about optimal functioning. The first half of the book focuses on this mission exceptionally well. The second half of the book, however, is more about stress reduction. Certainly, a reduction in stress can make you feel better. But I would argue that this is a different mission albeit with the objective of ending up at the same point - being happier.
Good primer for someone interested in the study of psychology and how to optimize happiness.
"No one is happy all the time - it is simply not possible." The field of positive psychology wasn't widely known when I was in graduate school. Whereas we mostly focused on abnormal or dysfunctional behavior, positive psychology is about more about optimal functioning. The first half of the book focuses on this mission exceptionally well. The second half of the book, however, is more about stress reduction. Certainly, a reduction in stress can make you feel better. But I would argue that this is a different mission albeit with the objective of ending up at the same point - being happier.
Good primer for someone interested in the study of psychology and how to optimize happiness.
April 24, 2019
I wanted to read this book because I know better and thought it would confirm what I already thought about social media. Besides goodreads and LinkedIn, which might be considered social media to a degree, I don't use any of the popular social media platforms. On the other hand, my two teenagers are on their phones way too much and they are checking those "likes" that the author refers to in his title. This book was great. It was easy to read and has a lot of good information and helpful tips for living a more productive and happy life in this age of social media and new technology. I will be buying a copy for all to read and learn.
April 28, 2021
Good book about the science of happiness.
The title’s a little click-bait-y because likes on social media only comprised of the first couple of chapters in the book.
Bono studies and lectures on the science of happiness and positive psychology, and he helps to illuminate other important things that truly bring us happiness, like sleep and exercise and relationships with others.
He cited many research articles and presented a lot of information that we already know, but I find books written by university professors appealing to the science-y evidence-based side of me. Plenty of good observations, now the call to action is in our hands.
The title’s a little click-bait-y because likes on social media only comprised of the first couple of chapters in the book.
Bono studies and lectures on the science of happiness and positive psychology, and he helps to illuminate other important things that truly bring us happiness, like sleep and exercise and relationships with others.
He cited many research articles and presented a lot of information that we already know, but I find books written by university professors appealing to the science-y evidence-based side of me. Plenty of good observations, now the call to action is in our hands.
September 6, 2023
A must read for anyone struggling to get back to the top. This book is the perfect guide for getting your life back together. This book doesn’t just preach ideas of how to find self worth but describes how intentional behaviors can have a big impact on mental health. The number 1 thing I loved was how the book gave real life tactics that have been shown to make people happier and a better student. A lot of this book is about students and managing the stresses of a student life and overcome hardship, I would recommend to anyone. 150000009/10
May 30, 2018
A science of happiness? Something so undefinable, vague and subjective? The author shows is not only possible, but it’s here and it is actually not new. The novelty is to subject known principles, ideas and practices to systematic and statistical studies to confirm many of them, generate new insights and debunk others. What is happiness? Well it is probably easier to know if you can be happi-er. If only by degrees, that can be a huge gain. More happiness is not trivial business, but can actually save lives. Or at least allow to live longer. So read on!
August 17, 2018
I wish I'd known about this book sooner. I would have given it as graduation gifts for kids going off to college. It's an excellent book written by a professor of Positive Psychology that gives easily implementable strategies for increasing your happiness based on hundreds of research studies, written in a fun, highly understandable, entertaining way. I highly recommend it, and not just for college students, but for anyone who wants to improve their life satisfaction.
January 28, 2019
Of all the self-help I’ve read over the years, this one had the most tangible strategies to increase wellbeing with evidence-based research to back it up. The title is misleading; I think this should be required reading for everyone, not just young adults in the thick of social comparison. Assigning this as required reading for all of my college students this spring!
November 1, 2019
I enjoyed the book much more after I gave myself permission to skip every quote from college students. I guess I hear those sorts of anecdotes plenty.
Each chapter will be useful fodder for dinner table discussions and filling my children in on the current state of understanding how to be happier and more purposeful.
Each chapter will be useful fodder for dinner table discussions and filling my children in on the current state of understanding how to be happier and more purposeful.
May 19, 2018
A very informative book. I enjoyed reading this book and obtained some useful tips and information from reading it. I would recommend this book to others. I won a free ARC of this book from the Goodreads First Reads program. Thanks so much!
July 6, 2018
Picked this book at the new nonfiction area at the library. Had many take aways for me. A great deal of research is cited throughout the book and anyone would benefit from reading it. The author teaches a course at Wash U on the Science of Happiness.
September 1, 2018
Really enjoyed this - it’s written with college students in mind, and I’d love to work this in as a common read for the students I work with. Good perspective and I think would help students (or anyone) focus on their own happiness and focusing more internally instead of comparing with others!
June 11, 2019
(The English review is placed beneath Russian one)
Название и обложка книги как бы говорят о наличии темы или тем связанных с социальными медиа и как они отражаются на нашей психологии, на нашей уверенности и нашем ощущении счастья. Это правда, лишь в незначительной степени. Да, автор упоминает социальные сети, интернет и гаджеты, но не делает это главной темой книги. Главной темы, по сути, и нет. Хотя, конечно, можно сказать, что основной темой всё же является ощущение счастья, хорошее психологическое самочувствие и пр. Это одновременно и так и не совсем так. Дело в том, что книга является неким сборником – пусть и хорошим – различных, предыдущих экспериментов и тем, что были написаны ещё в XX веке. Ну, к примеру, мы найдём такие темы как осознанность (медитация) и то, что она крайне важна для нашего психического здоровья, что она положительно влияет на нашу способность к концентрации на чём-то одном. Или тема физических упражнений и наличия постоянного, нормального, продолжительного сна, ибо оба предмета в высшей степени влияют на наше и физическое и ментальное самочувствие. Ново? Нет, конечно! Сила воли, что подобна топливу, легко тратится (множество экспериментов, которые кочуют из одной книгу в другую) и которая нуждается в ежедневном восстановлении. Сложные задачи, которые для большой вероятности успеха, следует дробить на небольшие части. В общем, все эти темы, безусловно, важные и значимые и также, безусловно, все они влияют на наше ощущение счастья и уверенности в собственных силах, но всё же, это уже было.
Хотя я обычно и не ставлю положительные оценки книгам, которые являются чуть ли не копией предыдущих, тут я сделал исключение, т.к. книга, во-первых, хорошо написана, а во-вторых, мне понравилась, как она структурирована, т.е. тут всё чётко. И плюс, нет воды (хотя темы довольно сильно разжёвываются). Для тех, кто редко читает подобные книги или кто вообще никогда не читал ничего из того, что я упомянул, книга определённо станет довольно сильным открытием.
Хочу также отметить, что, так как книга издана в 2018 году, она содержит самые последние данные. Плюс, несколько тем были для меня новыми.
Так же я бы всё же отметил, что в самом начале книги автор как раз пишет о нынешнем тренде, постоянно делится событиями своей жизни с окружающими посредством социальных сетей. Автор объясняет это тем, что людям важно не то, что они имеют, а что они имеют в соотношении с другими людьми. Мы постоянно сравниваем себя с другими и то, чем эти другие владеют. Второй важный момент, это что абсолютного и постоянного счастья не существует и не должно существовать. Жизнь должна играть всеми цветами радуги, а не только одним единственным.
The title and cover of the book seem to indicate the presence of a topic or topics related to social media and how it affects our psyche, our confidence and our sense of happiness. This is true, only to a small extent. Yes, the author mentions social media, the Internet and gadgets, but does not make it the main topic of the book. The main topic is not here. Although, of course, we can say that the main topic is the feeling of happiness, good psychological well-being, etc. This is both a yes and no. The fact is that the book is a collection of various previous experiments that were written in the XX century. Well, for example, we will find topics such as awareness (meditation) and that it is extremely important for our mental health and that it has a positive impact on our ability to concentrate on one thing. Or the topic of exercise and having a normal long-lasting sleep, because both subjects have a profound impact on our physical and mental wellbeing. Is it new? No, of course not! Willpower, which is like fuel, is easily spent and needs to be restored every day (a lot of experiments that flow from one book to another). Complex tasks, which for a high probability of success, should be divided into small parts. In general, all of these topics are certainly important and significant, and all of them certainly influence our sense of happiness and self-confidence, but it has already been in other books.
Although I usually don't rate books positively, which are almost a copy of the previous ones, I made an exception here, because the book is well written, and secondly, I liked the way it is structured, i.e. everything is clear here. And plus, there is no water (although the topics are quite simplified). For those who rarely read such books or who have never read anything I have mentioned at all, the book will definitely become a pretty powerful discovery.
I would also like to note that since the book was published in 2018, it contains the latest data. Plus, a few topics were new to me.
I would also note that at the very beginning of the book the author is writing about the current trend, constantly sharing his life's events with others through social media. The author explains this by the fact that people do not care what they have, but what they have in relation to other people. We constantly compare ourselves with others and what these others have in common. The second important point is that absolute and constant happiness does not exist and should not exist. Life should play with all the colors of the rainbow, not just one.
Название и обложка книги как бы говорят о наличии темы или тем связанных с социальными медиа и как они отражаются на нашей психологии, на нашей уверенности и нашем ощущении счастья. Это правда, лишь в незначительной степени. Да, автор упоминает социальные сети, интернет и гаджеты, но не делает это главной темой книги. Главной темы, по сути, и нет. Хотя, конечно, можно сказать, что основной темой всё же является ощущение счастья, хорошее психологическое самочувствие и пр. Это одновременно и так и не совсем так. Дело в том, что книга является неким сборником – пусть и хорошим – различных, предыдущих экспериментов и тем, что были написаны ещё в XX веке. Ну, к примеру, мы найдём такие темы как осознанность (медитация) и то, что она крайне важна для нашего психического здоровья, что она положительно влияет на нашу способность к концентрации на чём-то одном. Или тема физических упражнений и наличия постоянного, нормального, продолжительного сна, ибо оба предмета в высшей степени влияют на наше и физическое и ментальное самочувствие. Ново? Нет, конечно! Сила воли, что подобна топливу, легко тратится (множество экспериментов, которые кочуют из одной книгу в другую) и которая нуждается в ежедневном восстановлении. Сложные задачи, которые для большой вероятности успеха, следует дробить на небольшие части. В общем, все эти темы, безусловно, важные и значимые и также, безусловно, все они влияют на наше ощущение счастья и уверенности в собственных силах, но всё же, это уже было.
Хотя я обычно и не ставлю положительные оценки книгам, которые являются чуть ли не копией предыдущих, тут я сделал исключение, т.к. книга, во-первых, хорошо написана, а во-вторых, мне понравилась, как она структурирована, т.е. тут всё чётко. И плюс, нет воды (хотя темы довольно сильно разжёвываются). Для тех, кто редко читает подобные книги или кто вообще никогда не читал ничего из того, что я упомянул, книга определённо станет довольно сильным открытием.
Хочу также отметить, что, так как книга издана в 2018 году, она содержит самые последние данные. Плюс, несколько тем были для меня новыми.
Так же я бы всё же отметил, что в самом начале книги автор как раз пишет о нынешнем тренде, постоянно делится событиями своей жизни с окружающими посредством социальных сетей. Автор объясняет это тем, что людям важно не то, что они имеют, а что они имеют в соотношении с другими людьми. Мы постоянно сравниваем себя с другими и то, чем эти другие владеют. Второй важный момент, это что абсолютного и постоянного счастья не существует и не должно существовать. Жизнь должна играть всеми цветами радуги, а не только одним единственным.
The title and cover of the book seem to indicate the presence of a topic or topics related to social media and how it affects our psyche, our confidence and our sense of happiness. This is true, only to a small extent. Yes, the author mentions social media, the Internet and gadgets, but does not make it the main topic of the book. The main topic is not here. Although, of course, we can say that the main topic is the feeling of happiness, good psychological well-being, etc. This is both a yes and no. The fact is that the book is a collection of various previous experiments that were written in the XX century. Well, for example, we will find topics such as awareness (meditation) and that it is extremely important for our mental health and that it has a positive impact on our ability to concentrate on one thing. Or the topic of exercise and having a normal long-lasting sleep, because both subjects have a profound impact on our physical and mental wellbeing. Is it new? No, of course not! Willpower, which is like fuel, is easily spent and needs to be restored every day (a lot of experiments that flow from one book to another). Complex tasks, which for a high probability of success, should be divided into small parts. In general, all of these topics are certainly important and significant, and all of them certainly influence our sense of happiness and self-confidence, but it has already been in other books.
Although I usually don't rate books positively, which are almost a copy of the previous ones, I made an exception here, because the book is well written, and secondly, I liked the way it is structured, i.e. everything is clear here. And plus, there is no water (although the topics are quite simplified). For those who rarely read such books or who have never read anything I have mentioned at all, the book will definitely become a pretty powerful discovery.
I would also like to note that since the book was published in 2018, it contains the latest data. Plus, a few topics were new to me.
I would also note that at the very beginning of the book the author is writing about the current trend, constantly sharing his life's events with others through social media. The author explains this by the fact that people do not care what they have, but what they have in relation to other people. We constantly compare ourselves with others and what these others have in common. The second important point is that absolute and constant happiness does not exist and should not exist. Life should play with all the colors of the rainbow, not just one.
July 10, 2020
Every parent should have their teenager or college student read this book. If you find yourself on social media too much, if you are struggling to find happiness, or just help with mindfulness, you much check this book out!
May 4, 2018
Loved this book! Wish it had been around back in my college days.
August 18, 2018
Doesn't have a ton to do with the title but is a great read for college students!
November 1, 2018
A must read
June 23, 2019
Awesome book! Very readable, and full of so many good tips!
June 29, 2019
i suppose it’s helpful. i’ll try applying some stuff in it or something
kind of repetitive
kind of repetitive
July 26, 2019
Summer Read
November 16, 2019
Easy read with great practical tips to living your best life!
March 13, 2020
Excellent. Brilliant findings and told in a common sense way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews