The Happiness Paradox The Happiness Paradigm: The Very Things We Thought Would Bring Us Joy Actually Steal It Away

by Richard Eyre

New York Times #1 bestselling author Richard Eyre contends that the three things today's society desires most control, ownership, and independence are, paradoxically, what bring the most discouragement and unhappiness in our lives. Providing a mind-changing exploration of the inherent problems with our fixation on material possessions, control over our lives, and independence from others, Eyre responds with a unique and engaging counterpoint on how to switch to the joy-giving alternatives of serendipity, stewardship and interdependence and thus live a more verdant and abundant life. Packaged in a unique "flip-over" format, the first half of The Happiness Paradox explores today's challenges to happiness. The second half of the book, when flipped over, explores The Happiness Paradigm: How A New View Can Turn Your Life Right-Side Up. Eyre, author of Teaching Your Children Values, The Entitlement Trap, and The Turning, uses his engaging and highly personal style to walk us through a mental paradigm shift that can change our lives. An impactful and illuminating exploration of how what we seek impacts our well-being, The Happiness Paradox/The Happiness Paradigm is one of the most unique books ever written about our search for lasting joy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Writers, lecturers, and grassroots and media catalysts, Linda and Richard Eyre's mission statement: "Our vision is to FORTIFY FAMILIES by celebrating commitment, popularizing parenting, glorifying grandparenting, bolstering balance, and validating values." Their latest efforts in these directions are their new books (The Happy Family [St. Martins Press], Empty Nest Parenting [Bookcraft], and The Book of Nurturing [McGraw Hill]) and their regular appearances on The CBS Early Show. Richard's new book, The Three Deceivers: How our obsessions with ownership, control and independence are ruining the quality of our lives, will be published next year.

Richard is president of a management consulting company and a ranked senior tennis player. He was a "mission president" for his church in London, and a candidate for Governor of Utah.

Richard and Linda have nine children (one of every kind) and live in Washington, D.C. and Salt Lake City.

Reviews

[Lisa Evans]

Don't make your New Year's Resolutions until you have read The Happiness Paradox. It will change the things you desire most.

[Christine Karren]

I LOVED this book. It seemed to line up many random ideas I've recently had into a neat formula that, as a pragmatic personality, I found very helpful. I believe that The Three Deceivers, or 'thieves' of Joy are largely present in modern society, and I find the simple solutions presented in this book timely. Eyre's fresh style, with personal anecdotes and logical thought progressions persuade the reader to evaluate her own life and perspectives, with an eye toward improvement and greater well-being. I've been implementing some of Eyre's suggestions with satisfying success.

[Angela]

I encourage you to get this book ASAP. It was a little hard to wrap my head around the idea as I first started reading but by the end of the book, you can’t wait to find out how to implement these ideas. Who doesn’t want to feel lighter, more resilient, have more joy? Trust me on this. Get this book and try it for 21 days. You’ll never regret it. 😊

[JTGlow]

I was all in during the paradox part and then I flipped over to the paradigm and the proselytizing began. Count me out.

[Toofan]

The first half of this book, which contains strong religious undertones, clearly demonstrates that the author has mistaken the desire for control, ownership, and independence with being obsessed with them. In the second half the author introduces, with flawed logic which apparently makes sense to him, what he regards as the happiness paradigm . All I can say about this part is"One man's meat is another man's poison".
As far I as am concerned this book was a total waste of my time and money.

[Bailey Young]

The Happiness Paradigm is one of the best books I've read in 2026. Full of practical wisdom, incredible examples, heartwarming stories, and genuine tools and strategies to actually change how you view and approach life, this book was refreshingly different and unlike any other self-development or self-help book I've ever read. This book will change your life and I can't recommend it highly enough!

[Steve Brock]

This book was a Best of the Best for the month of May, 2019, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet. You can find me at http://forums.delphiforums.com/stevo1, on my Stevo's Novel Ideas Amazon Influencer page (https://www.amazon.com/shop/stevo4747) or search for me on Google for many more reviews and recommendations.

[Ietrio]

Short version: your vision of happiness is not good enough, Eyre's vision is better, because somehow one-size-fits-all is better than tailored. And there is no Paradox. And there is no Paradigm. These are just catchy words used as text adornments.

[woody]

Mildly condescending in that whiny narrator way. Not my thing

[Huyen]

This book reminds me how most of the self-help literature is insufferable

[Dan Welsh]

Really nice ideas but poorly presented. Lots of religion, imprecise definitions and arguments without evidence. I wish someone else had written this.

[Parker Nielsen]

This book is all about elevating our minds and hearts to a higher place. I really enjoyed the insightful thoughts and actions that Richard Eyre presents in this book!

[1dalltheway5432]

way too religious and “magical” but the options to improving your happiness are just basic therapeutic measures anyone would adopt anyway. repeats same stuff over and over but never really gets into a deep explanation of any decisions or the history of specific ways of life.

let go of control, ownership and independence.