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Spydar's Web: How to Capture Happiness: A mind model for re-booting your positivity
Building from basic theoretical psychology, Spydar's Web is a visual model through which you can make contextual sense of your life, and appreciate it in different ways. It facilitates improved self-understanding and promotes happiness habits for a balanced and fulfilled life. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again … According to legend, Robert the Bruce, dispirited by a series of failures in battle, found inspiration from a spider toiling to build its web. Bruce persisted, and finally in 1314, defeated the English at Bannockburn. Happiness is also something that requires both inspiration and persistence… and perhaps spiders! Simple, memorable and entertaining - once you have read this book, you will not forget the model. It will become a part of your subconscious and help you towards happier life choices.Happiness is not what anyone else tells you ... yours is unique to and your situation. Happiness involves personal expectation and preference … one person’s joy may be another person’s misery. Happiness is about positivity, reality and balance, and finding a path that works for you.
191 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2019
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Spydar
11 books39 followersBruce Spydar used to wear a suit, work in an office, and get paid to lead teams of staff working for international nature conservation. Today he possesses no suit that fits, has no office nor staff, and he doesn’t get paid … although he still volunteers in support of nature.
For the last few years, Bruce has thrown himself into writing. Perhaps it’s a last-ditch attempt to harness his creativity, before his brain turns to mush. On many an afternoon he can be spotted gazing out of an upstairs window of his house near Cambridge, searching for inspiration.
Bruce describes himself as writing with a kind heart and a naughty mind. Personal experience has taught him that everyday life is rather full of struggles, and that happiness and laughter are too often in short supply. It’s why he now chooses to focus his creativity towards sharing his humour and positivity.
Humorous fiction:
Educating BJ
Educating BJ is a rose-tinted (or tainted) portrait of undergraduate life; a commoner’s experience of fun, friendships, and frustration. Spun from real-life events, and as factual as any government record, Educating BJ is my story … and I hope you enjoy it.
The Shy Backpacker series
Diary of a Shy Backpacker is a naughty travel romcom; a series of the adventures of a young man trying to make some sense of his life during his gap year travels. It is life-based fiction expanding from some of the author’s own adventures decades ago. Part 1: Awakening Down Under is set in Australia, Part 2: Eye on the Prize moves to New Zealand, and in Part 3: No Looking Back, BJ, the main character is crossing Canada.
Refining My Dining is a deliciously s3xy romcom, in which the world is seen through the eyes of Megan Turner. It’s a standalone tale, but if you’ve read Diary of a Shy Backpacker, you’ll have met her before.
Caution: Adults only - contains tasty language and scenes of a sexual nature.
Non-Fiction: Self-help
Unboxing: The ART of Happiness ... is for anyone seeking to re-boot their positivity. Simple, practical, and positive, the book combines life experience, logic, and basic psychology to show how we can feel happier and more resilient in everyday life. The ART of Happiness is the tool of a positive mind, and Unboxing reveals how to use it.
Spydar’s Web: How to Capture Happiness ... is aimed towards encouragement of positive thinking and improvement of our happiness and well-being. The SPIDER model is a simple visual tool that can be an effective prompt for promoting many of the things we know enhance our own happiness, and discouraging us from falling into bad habits.
Bruce continues to write … and you can follow him on Instagram (@brucespydar).
For the last few years, Bruce has thrown himself into writing. Perhaps it’s a last-ditch attempt to harness his creativity, before his brain turns to mush. On many an afternoon he can be spotted gazing out of an upstairs window of his house near Cambridge, searching for inspiration.
Bruce describes himself as writing with a kind heart and a naughty mind. Personal experience has taught him that everyday life is rather full of struggles, and that happiness and laughter are too often in short supply. It’s why he now chooses to focus his creativity towards sharing his humour and positivity.
Humorous fiction:
Educating BJ
Educating BJ is a rose-tinted (or tainted) portrait of undergraduate life; a commoner’s experience of fun, friendships, and frustration. Spun from real-life events, and as factual as any government record, Educating BJ is my story … and I hope you enjoy it.
The Shy Backpacker series
Diary of a Shy Backpacker is a naughty travel romcom; a series of the adventures of a young man trying to make some sense of his life during his gap year travels. It is life-based fiction expanding from some of the author’s own adventures decades ago. Part 1: Awakening Down Under is set in Australia, Part 2: Eye on the Prize moves to New Zealand, and in Part 3: No Looking Back, BJ, the main character is crossing Canada.
Refining My Dining is a deliciously s3xy romcom, in which the world is seen through the eyes of Megan Turner. It’s a standalone tale, but if you’ve read Diary of a Shy Backpacker, you’ll have met her before.
Caution: Adults only - contains tasty language and scenes of a sexual nature.
Non-Fiction: Self-help
Unboxing: The ART of Happiness ... is for anyone seeking to re-boot their positivity. Simple, practical, and positive, the book combines life experience, logic, and basic psychology to show how we can feel happier and more resilient in everyday life. The ART of Happiness is the tool of a positive mind, and Unboxing reveals how to use it.
Spydar’s Web: How to Capture Happiness ... is aimed towards encouragement of positive thinking and improvement of our happiness and well-being. The SPIDER model is a simple visual tool that can be an effective prompt for promoting many of the things we know enhance our own happiness, and discouraging us from falling into bad habits.
Bruce continues to write … and you can follow him on Instagram (@brucespydar).
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 24, 2022
I love Bruce's books because of the fun aspects and this is another one that didn't fail to make me laugh.
A nice self-help book that makes you think about your own happiness - a great little gem of a book.
Well done Bruce - self-published authors rock!
A nice self-help book that makes you think about your own happiness - a great little gem of a book.
Well done Bruce - self-published authors rock!
November 21, 2021
I subscribe to the notion that success is not the key to happiness, but happiness is the key to success. I also believe that personal happiness is not a matter of circumstance but our choice of attitude. Bruce Spydar does a great job of defining the factors and influences of “happiness” but ultimately, explains that we each have it within us to choose happiness for ourselves.
This clever author’s book is as engaging as it is informative, peppered with humour, illustrations and points worth pausing to reflect on. Having taken personality analysis courses such as Myers-Briggs and Enneagram, I could appreciate many of the principles in this book and while it covers a lot of basic psychology, it is easy for most readers to digest. Some really great takeaways here, most memorably the theory that happiness is a matter of S (Self-control), P (Perception), I (Identity), D (Dependency), E (Engagement), R (Resilience). I told you he was clever!
This clever author’s book is as engaging as it is informative, peppered with humour, illustrations and points worth pausing to reflect on. Having taken personality analysis courses such as Myers-Briggs and Enneagram, I could appreciate many of the principles in this book and while it covers a lot of basic psychology, it is easy for most readers to digest. Some really great takeaways here, most memorably the theory that happiness is a matter of S (Self-control), P (Perception), I (Identity), D (Dependency), E (Engagement), R (Resilience). I told you he was clever!
December 10, 2020
What a great book. It is full of insight into how parts of yourself as well as your circumstances can contribute to your happiness or to the opposite, complete with advice on how to change how you look at things and make the best of what you have. No one's life is perfect but there is plenty of good for us to enjoy. There are exercises at the end to make your own models. It's a great book and I highly recommend it because we can all use a little more happiness.
March 24, 2021
I’m not usually one for reading non-fiction, as without a plot to hold my attention I find myself becoming bored. The subject matter needs to be interesting and the writing easily accessible for a non-fiction book to hold my attention for very long.
“Spydar’s Web: How to Capture Happiness” is thankfully light enough and interesting enough to have held my attention for the whole book. I was intrigued by the subject. Am I happy? It’s not something I tend to stop and think about that often, but this quirky little book made me do exactly that. Aided by the fun little spider web diagrams and accessible quotes, it is an easy read, despite being non-fiction, and I read the book in three sessions.
If you’re looking for something that is quite fun and is a bit different, then take a look at this. You never know, it may make you examine your life in a different light.
And the verdict on my life? Contented on the whole, with the occasional burst of happiness.
“Spydar’s Web: How to Capture Happiness” is thankfully light enough and interesting enough to have held my attention for the whole book. I was intrigued by the subject. Am I happy? It’s not something I tend to stop and think about that often, but this quirky little book made me do exactly that. Aided by the fun little spider web diagrams and accessible quotes, it is an easy read, despite being non-fiction, and I read the book in three sessions.
If you’re looking for something that is quite fun and is a bit different, then take a look at this. You never know, it may make you examine your life in a different light.
And the verdict on my life? Contented on the whole, with the occasional burst of happiness.
December 31, 2020
How to capture happiness is something all of us want a solution for, right? This model is well written and the author uses wonderful and easy to understand examples, comparing many of his thoughts to a spider and her web. I love how he also shares quotes from other authors (or anyone who has addressed the topic of happiness before) and I can honestly say, it is a good self-help everyday book to remind us how we can achieve happiness or get back on track when we lost it.
April 25, 2021
As a social worker managing young people experiencing crisis, I was curious to read what Bruce had to offer given that there are a whole myriad of theories and models on happiness out there already.
Honestly? I was super impressed! Bruce has researched and studied his craft and quoted a number of theorists I'm familiar with and whose work I admire. We are all seeking happiness in some way, shape or form and this is a fun and simplistic model of achieving that by focusing on gratitude and the things that really matter in life. This is a well thought out intelligent read that will appeal to all ages and the exercises provided will genuinely assist the reader in making small manageable goals towards a happier life. Well done Bruce!
Honestly? I was super impressed! Bruce has researched and studied his craft and quoted a number of theorists I'm familiar with and whose work I admire. We are all seeking happiness in some way, shape or form and this is a fun and simplistic model of achieving that by focusing on gratitude and the things that really matter in life. This is a well thought out intelligent read that will appeal to all ages and the exercises provided will genuinely assist the reader in making small manageable goals towards a happier life. Well done Bruce!
April 23, 2021
Could you use a better frame of mind?
Before discussing the merits of this book, first I would like to offer an analogy most of us can relate to: A healthy and smart weight loss plan will only work if utilized, and it won’t work long unless made a part of your lifestyle. This concept came to mind while reading Spydar’s Web: How to Capture Happiness. Spydar discusses thoughtful, logical, and persuasive techniques (sharing interesting quotes along the way) which I could see leading to an elevated sense of mental well being if utilized and made a part of one’s lifestyle. I do not view this book as a quick fix or magic bullet, but rather a roadmap for a journey to a better frame of mind. Now that’s a trip I’m ready for! Are you?
Before discussing the merits of this book, first I would like to offer an analogy most of us can relate to: A healthy and smart weight loss plan will only work if utilized, and it won’t work long unless made a part of your lifestyle. This concept came to mind while reading Spydar’s Web: How to Capture Happiness. Spydar discusses thoughtful, logical, and persuasive techniques (sharing interesting quotes along the way) which I could see leading to an elevated sense of mental well being if utilized and made a part of one’s lifestyle. I do not view this book as a quick fix or magic bullet, but rather a roadmap for a journey to a better frame of mind. Now that’s a trip I’m ready for! Are you?
December 29, 2020
Unlike a lot of other self-help books, this one doesn't promise to make you thin/stop smoking/earn more money. What it does do is make you think about your decision making process, so next time you're in a difficult situation you can cope better. Then, armed with the right outlook, you can move on and help yourself.
January 11, 2023
This is a comprehensive yet succinct handbook for those looking to recalibrate their lives – or, like me, to refresh on some of the distilled wisdom of the ages. A further bonus is it’s filled with lively and often humorous quotes from some of the world's greatest thinkers, e.g. “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go” – Oscar Wilde. Every so often Spydar puts one in to keep you on your toes – “Gratitude is a sickness suffered by dogs” – Joseph Stalin.
I’ve read a few self-help books throughout the years, not in an attempt to salvage my life (except possibly once), but mostly to keep a wider perspective and ‘check-in’ on how I’m thinking and feeling. This book has come at a good time for me, when, like the author, I’ve been struggling with a work-related issue that’s been increasing my stress levels. I found the central premise, Happiness = Reality minus Expectations, to be very useful. It helped me to stop fearing things that might happen (or hoping for different things to happen) and concentrate on what I could actually do and control. In some ways, Spydar’s book reminded me of the other book I’ve read like this this year, Happy, by Derren Brown, which also focused on the messages of Stoicism (not directly cited in Spydar’s book, but clearly related). The central message is to focus on what you can control and let go of everything else, including other people’s opinions – “He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts” – Samuel Johnson.
The book uses a spider and web metaphor to provide a framework of resonance for readers that I also liked immensely. Give it a go if you need a little help getting back on track!
I’ve read a few self-help books throughout the years, not in an attempt to salvage my life (except possibly once), but mostly to keep a wider perspective and ‘check-in’ on how I’m thinking and feeling. This book has come at a good time for me, when, like the author, I’ve been struggling with a work-related issue that’s been increasing my stress levels. I found the central premise, Happiness = Reality minus Expectations, to be very useful. It helped me to stop fearing things that might happen (or hoping for different things to happen) and concentrate on what I could actually do and control. In some ways, Spydar’s book reminded me of the other book I’ve read like this this year, Happy, by Derren Brown, which also focused on the messages of Stoicism (not directly cited in Spydar’s book, but clearly related). The central message is to focus on what you can control and let go of everything else, including other people’s opinions – “He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts” – Samuel Johnson.
The book uses a spider and web metaphor to provide a framework of resonance for readers that I also liked immensely. Give it a go if you need a little help getting back on track!
January 14, 2021
Highly Recommend This Book!
Bruce Spydar's Spydar's Web: How to Capture Happiness is fantastic! I started reading it tonight and couldn't put it down! It is true when he says, "Different personality types work in different ways. Understanding the type of personality that you have is extremely important for a happy and successful life." I especially like the exercises at the end of each part. The exercises about the trees will stick with me. Being that I am a Christian and get so much of my joy from the Lord, I do wish he had written more on religion and pets as well... even if he had to research to include the information. Otherwise, it was the best thing I have read yet from this author. I plan to share it with others. Bravo Bruce Spydar!
Bruce Spydar's Spydar's Web: How to Capture Happiness is fantastic! I started reading it tonight and couldn't put it down! It is true when he says, "Different personality types work in different ways. Understanding the type of personality that you have is extremely important for a happy and successful life." I especially like the exercises at the end of each part. The exercises about the trees will stick with me. Being that I am a Christian and get so much of my joy from the Lord, I do wish he had written more on religion and pets as well... even if he had to research to include the information. Otherwise, it was the best thing I have read yet from this author. I plan to share it with others. Bravo Bruce Spydar!
January 10, 2022
A helpful journey that will move you closer to discovering and capturing happiness. From self-acceptance to resilience along with exercises to aid you in your quest.
June 4, 2020
I love this book. Self published, so somewhat buried in the Amazon search engine, this is a really interesting and different take on self-help books. The book discusses happiness and its different components, while providing the visual model of a spider and its web to bring them coherently together. It also provides guidance towards assessing how happy you are, and tips towards creating happiness habits. A great find.
June 8, 2020
I really liked this book, having largely stumbled across it on Amazon. It is a guide to happiness, based around the visual model of a spiders web. The spider model sets a framework for thinking, within which the author then brings different psychology (in easy to understand language) together with some entertaining quotes, and provides a thought provoking and helpful to assist thinking about your life.
July 11, 2020
A good guidebook. The author writes with a light-hearted tone yet is also well-versed in literature and psychology to give readers sustenance, ideas, and exercises to work with.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews