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Happy
Happiness. Everyone wants more of it. But can you actually get happier? Inspirational Australian Turia Pitt dives into this idea, interviewing high-profile athletes, comedians, scientists and world experts to explore how everything from money to our relationships has an impact on how happy we can be.
Thousands of people have told me the one thing they’re searching for in life is happiness. So, I set out on a dragon-free quest to prove if ‘happy’ is, actually, an attainable goal, and not just a ridiculous aspiration.
In this book, with her characteristic humour and gutsy intelligence,* Turia Pitt goes on a quest to answer the question, Is it possible to be happier?
What does she discover on her journey? Well, look, that’s why we want you to buy the bloody book, but we can tell you that it entails, among other things, practising gratitude, working on kindness, self-love, strengthening your relationships and accepting the hard times and bad days.
Turia unpacks all of the above with easy-to-implement tips and strategies, hilarious insights into her own life and relationships, and introduces us to some of the world’s most fabulous people along the way, including Leigh Sales, Scott Pape, Zoë Foster Blake, Maria Forleo and Mick Fanning.
*She made us say that.
Thousands of people have told me the one thing they’re searching for in life is happiness. So, I set out on a dragon-free quest to prove if ‘happy’ is, actually, an attainable goal, and not just a ridiculous aspiration.
In this book, with her characteristic humour and gutsy intelligence,* Turia Pitt goes on a quest to answer the question, Is it possible to be happier?
What does she discover on her journey? Well, look, that’s why we want you to buy the bloody book, but we can tell you that it entails, among other things, practising gratitude, working on kindness, self-love, strengthening your relationships and accepting the hard times and bad days.
Turia unpacks all of the above with easy-to-implement tips and strategies, hilarious insights into her own life and relationships, and introduces us to some of the world’s most fabulous people along the way, including Leigh Sales, Scott Pape, Zoë Foster Blake, Maria Forleo and Mick Fanning.
*She made us say that.
304 pages, Trade Paperback
First published September 15, 2020
70 people are currently reading
642 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
January 2, 2021
A good, light read for the start of a new year. Lots of practical tips and food for thought.
February 5, 2024
Ich kann dieses Buch absolut empfehlen. Ich werde es sicherlich regelmäßig alle paar Jahre wieder lesen. Ich habe vieles davon für mich mitnehmen können. Es ist einfach zu lesen, Turia schreibt immer mit viel Humor und sehr anschaulich und ist dabei sehr offen, ehrlich und einfach authentisch.
September 24, 2020
This book has the inviting feel of a gregarious friend having a casual chat over a hot cup of cocoa. Having read Pitt's two memoirs, her personal growth is immense. She is a lot more open and honest than she was in her first memoir. It's clear from her thoughts and tone, that she has reached a place of peace and contentment in life. She provides practical down to earth advice, from a place of empathy and friendliness. Her sunny exuberant personality shines through, and her prose is warm, easygoing and humorous. She draws her advice from reputable psychologists; gently nudging readers towards self-acceptance, optimism, gratitude, kindness, relationship-building and goal-setting; all in pursuit of an active wholesome engaging life. Interspersed throughout, are vignettes and lessons from her own life (personal moments of pain and humiliation), shared in an arrestingly blunt, self-deprecating way. Her overarching message is to be gentle with yourself, be grateful for your lot, and to live your truth.
December 31, 2020
This book filled my heart- I totally adored it. Turia tackles all the major pillars of what one requires for a fulfilling and rewarding life. While Turia shares her own experiences and offers words of wisdom, I loved that she was humble to also seek the thoughts of ‘experts’ - for example Dr Libby for health and Scott Pape for finances. These contributions added further weight to the words of encouragement and guidance. This book is a must for someone wanting to be reminded of the important things in life and offers strategies and a kick up the bum to start working at living your best life. Turia is a bloody legend!
February 24, 2025
This is hands down the sassiest, most Australian mum flavoured self-help book of all time.
I loved the humour, accessibility and inclusiveness of Turia's writing. I love that she is derisive, self-aware, and humble.
I hope that this book gains more traction because it really is lovely, gutsy, and real. I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator got Turia's spirit really well. I did not like the interview portions they weren't edited well for audiobooks, and I couldn't tell who was talking because the narrator didn't change her voice at all.
Highly recommend.
I loved the humour, accessibility and inclusiveness of Turia's writing. I love that she is derisive, self-aware, and humble.
I hope that this book gains more traction because it really is lovely, gutsy, and real. I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator got Turia's spirit really well. I did not like the interview portions they weren't edited well for audiobooks, and I couldn't tell who was talking because the narrator didn't change her voice at all.
Highly recommend.
August 31, 2025
I’ve never been into self help books, in fact, for some reason they usually make me feel uncomfortable , I don’t know why?
Turia Pitt’s book Happy, is not like this. It is an easy read and not at all preachy, it’s more like a chat with a friend.
I didn’t read consistently, just picked it up and read a chapter every now and then. The advice is useful, meaningful and shared in a light hearted but caring way.
I will likely keep this book on the shelf and refer to it again whenever I need a lift or some extra self belief.
Turia Pitt’s book Happy, is not like this. It is an easy read and not at all preachy, it’s more like a chat with a friend.
I didn’t read consistently, just picked it up and read a chapter every now and then. The advice is useful, meaningful and shared in a light hearted but caring way.
I will likely keep this book on the shelf and refer to it again whenever I need a lift or some extra self belief.
June 8, 2022
More like a 3.5. It’s a fairly good book and the way she writes is quite frank and funny. But I was already familiar with many of the concepts she covered so it was just a bit redundant to me. Still, I very much enjoy Turia’s work and her writing is inspiring.
October 19, 2020
This was just what I needed!
I already knew Turia Pitt was an incredible human, and that I wanted to hear what she had to say, but reading this book just made such utter sense, and was so easy to read: the perfect balance of clear and helpful advice, backed up by excellent referencing to other educated and inspirational people, combined with a good dose of not taking things too seriously! This was so relatable, and most importantly, the advice offered is so ‘do-able’, that I am already building so much of it into my life. It was a joy to read, and a most helpful tool for anyone who needs a nudge in the direction of improving their ‘happiness’.
I already knew Turia Pitt was an incredible human, and that I wanted to hear what she had to say, but reading this book just made such utter sense, and was so easy to read: the perfect balance of clear and helpful advice, backed up by excellent referencing to other educated and inspirational people, combined with a good dose of not taking things too seriously! This was so relatable, and most importantly, the advice offered is so ‘do-able’, that I am already building so much of it into my life. It was a joy to read, and a most helpful tool for anyone who needs a nudge in the direction of improving their ‘happiness’.
December 29, 2021
I must admit, I had assumed that this book was about Turia Pitt's life and not focussing on happiness so that was my first mistake.
Many of the themes of this book are important, self care, boundaries, goal setting, however as I work in social work and spend a lot of time doing this in my own life, I felt that this wasn't the right book for me.
Skimmed through the last 1/3 as I felt that it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Many of the themes of this book are important, self care, boundaries, goal setting, however as I work in social work and spend a lot of time doing this in my own life, I felt that this wasn't the right book for me.
Skimmed through the last 1/3 as I felt that it just wasn't my cup of tea.
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January 10, 2021I'm reading this book and I feel like I am a friend of Turia! The way she writes it is like a friendly conversation! Thank you so much! I am a Brazilian woman living in Australia, far from my son and family and this book is helping me to stay positive during this pandemic. Turia is fantastic!
January 22, 2025
💬 “No one is happy all the time. But there’s always something we can do to feel happier, no matter what we’re facing.”
I strive to live a happy life and do many things daily to keep those happy vibes vibing and when those tough times hit, it makes it that little bit easier to push through.
In this book Turia shares her own journey into discovering what is happiness, from both her life and the lives of many people around her. There is no one size fits all or magic pill, but there sure are things we can do to bring happiness into our lives on the daily.
I adored Turias energy, humour and light heartedness. Her storytelling was fun, easy to digest and made it easy to relate.
It touches on so many aspects, like gratitude, relationships, self-love, finances and getting through the hard times.
My personal favourite takeaways from this book were that around goal setting, both mini and major goals and that around the benefits of making your bed every morning - this one specifically, I do and have multiple friends who think I’m crazy when I say “If I don’t make my bed in the morning, I have a bad day and bad things happen” 😅
The tips shared throughout are practical and are suitable for everyone, no matter what stage of life your are in. We all deserve happiness in our lives and this is definitely a book that I recommend to the masses.
I strive to live a happy life and do many things daily to keep those happy vibes vibing and when those tough times hit, it makes it that little bit easier to push through.
In this book Turia shares her own journey into discovering what is happiness, from both her life and the lives of many people around her. There is no one size fits all or magic pill, but there sure are things we can do to bring happiness into our lives on the daily.
I adored Turias energy, humour and light heartedness. Her storytelling was fun, easy to digest and made it easy to relate.
It touches on so many aspects, like gratitude, relationships, self-love, finances and getting through the hard times.
My personal favourite takeaways from this book were that around goal setting, both mini and major goals and that around the benefits of making your bed every morning - this one specifically, I do and have multiple friends who think I’m crazy when I say “If I don’t make my bed in the morning, I have a bad day and bad things happen” 😅
The tips shared throughout are practical and are suitable for everyone, no matter what stage of life your are in. We all deserve happiness in our lives and this is definitely a book that I recommend to the masses.
August 20, 2022
I really enjoyed Turia's straight forward way of writing. At times she made me laugh out loud at her wit and also made me question my thought processes about what are my goals and what's stopping me from achieving them.
I sometimes reread some of the chapters twice as they were thought provoking and also awakening.
I love the way in which the chapters written in the order they are written provide you, the reader with a valuable skillset. By the time you reach the end of the book, you are literally thinking, WTF is stopping me from being happy and what is stopping me from achieving what I want in life.
Turia reminds us that you aren't going to be happy every single hour of the day and what makes you happy or fullfilled might not light up other peoples world. Turia makes the most absolute brilliant point at the end, be you, don't compare yourself to others and simply find what lights you up and stop letting your barriers get in the way and live the life you deserve.
I really enjoyed this read and so glad that I am in a personal development book club that suggested this book. I am forever changed in a positive way for having read this book
I sometimes reread some of the chapters twice as they were thought provoking and also awakening.
I love the way in which the chapters written in the order they are written provide you, the reader with a valuable skillset. By the time you reach the end of the book, you are literally thinking, WTF is stopping me from being happy and what is stopping me from achieving what I want in life.
Turia reminds us that you aren't going to be happy every single hour of the day and what makes you happy or fullfilled might not light up other peoples world. Turia makes the most absolute brilliant point at the end, be you, don't compare yourself to others and simply find what lights you up and stop letting your barriers get in the way and live the life you deserve.
I really enjoyed this read and so glad that I am in a personal development book club that suggested this book. I am forever changed in a positive way for having read this book
May 31, 2021
Fans of Turia Pitt will love this book! It's very much written in a conversational tone, so it's as though Turia's right there talking to you - her personality definitely shines through, and it's uplifting! It's one of those books that you may wish to have a pen and paper beside you to take down notes - I certainly did. It's a super easy read - I read it in a couple of days. The language is very colloquial so it won't be for everybody, but I think there are tips that most people can take out of each of the chapters. If you're in a rush, each chapter has dot point summaries at the end. I was impressed by how well researched this book was - Turia has a very extensive reference list. She also interviewed lots of different people for the book, including Eddie Jaku and Zoe Foster Blake! It was nice to read these interviews throughout the book, which I think added a nice variety to it.
December 27, 2022
What makes 'Happy' such a good read is Turia Pitt's frank and funny style of writing. She writes about lived experiences, personal experiences, relatable experiences and she writes about them honestly. If you're familiar with Pitt's casual, come-as-you-are speaking voice, you will appreciate the same approach has been used throughout the pages of 'Happy'. It made me feel like I was having a conversation with a friend, rather than reading something technical and complicated.
'Happy' is light reading; you could knock it over in a day if you chose to. Many of the learnings written about are not new to me. I enjoyed picking it up, flicking through the pages, walking away to soak in a concept or consider a chapter, and then coming back. It seemed to suit where I was at in life at the time, which is possibly why I found it so good.
'Happy' is light reading; you could knock it over in a day if you chose to. Many of the learnings written about are not new to me. I enjoyed picking it up, flicking through the pages, walking away to soak in a concept or consider a chapter, and then coming back. It seemed to suit where I was at in life at the time, which is possibly why I found it so good.
December 31, 2020
Hi Turia,
I wanted to thank you for writing your book Happy.
I've just finished reading it and wanted to express my sincere gratitude and wish you continually all the very best in life 🙂 Keep seeing the positives 👍and pursue living a life of love ❤
You are such an inspirational person and your book Happy is an amazing reflection of this!
I couldn't put the book down as I loved reading it so much. Hope you continue to write. So talented.
You, and I, like so many others, are so very lucky 😉
Happy New year to you and your family.
I was truly grateful with all my heart that you took the time to reply to me.
Take care
Kind regards
Karen xo
I wanted to thank you for writing your book Happy.
I've just finished reading it and wanted to express my sincere gratitude and wish you continually all the very best in life 🙂 Keep seeing the positives 👍and pursue living a life of love ❤
You are such an inspirational person and your book Happy is an amazing reflection of this!
I couldn't put the book down as I loved reading it so much. Hope you continue to write. So talented.
You, and I, like so many others, are so very lucky 😉
Happy New year to you and your family.
I was truly grateful with all my heart that you took the time to reply to me.
Take care
Kind regards
Karen xo
April 22, 2023
This is the kind of self-help book that I can get on board with – The casual style, the TLDR notes at the end, and the anecdotal delivery of information. I listened to the audiobook, which I think was the perfect way to remind myself about choosing joy. That is, I ENJOYED it more than I benefitted from it It’s not going to be the best writing you’ve ever read, but it is told in a simple, clear way. The one thing I DIDN’T get out of this book was any new information, having done a bit of a life reset about 5 years ago. However, it was still a light-hearted nudge about the importance of self-care. I’d recommend this if you want a reminder to choose happiness.
April 6, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. Turia is such an inspiring person. I loved how down to earth, witty and insightful the book was with Turia’s sense of humour. She gives a lot of great tips and tricks on how to be happy. There’s some great interviews in the book in which she asks famous people what makes them happy etc it’s so interesting to see their perspectives on what happiness really means to them. My favourite chapters would have to be the self talk chapter, self love chapter, Love chapter, purpose and goals. I will definitely be reading this book again!.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2022
This book is perfect for someone who is usually put off by the self-help genre and wants accurate information in an easy to digest format. Turia has a really clear voice as an author and you can almost hear her as you read through the text. Turia plays to her strengths with this book and never attempts to present any of the information as being her own. The book was easy to dip in and out of and well referenced for readers who wish to explore the topics more deeply.
For readers who want to read a book that feels like a conversation with a friend.
For readers who want to read a book that feels like a conversation with a friend.
October 8, 2020
A fantastic, enjoyable read, it was pretty much as if Turia was speaking directly to me (in a non-weird way). She has shared so many achievable strategies to help her readers work on their happiness levels, and become happier. Yes, it's a self-help book (and I normally avoid that section of book shops), but Turia is so normal and her advice makes sense (amd you don't have to get crystals or any other new age wankery involved, which is also a bonus). And she is.so.funny. proper LOLs are had!
November 2, 2020
I absolutely loved reading the book ‘Happy’ by Turia Pitt. She made me laugh, love and be grateful for the life that I live and made to realise that it is okay if not every day I am not 100 percent happy. She is down to earth and made me feel a deep appreciation for the small things in life. She is truly inspirational and has a heart of gold. I wish there were more pages so I could have kept on reading!! ❤️
December 9, 2025
I've read many many self help books. I suppose that's why I didn't find any startling revelations in this one. I already do most of the things that are suggested. Actually I didn't finish this one before time was up for book club and I had to return it. Turia seems like an amazing woman. I've never heard of her before now. I was living in UK when she got caught in a bushfire but she assumed I knew all about it. I had to research her.
October 7, 2020
Beautiful, uplifting and hilarious - in true Turia style. I love the way she writes as if you're together having a chat. Happy is full of joy, warmth and positivity and I've highlighted to many wise words to put into action. This book isn't just another one of those self-helpies that sit on your bedside accumulating dust, it's practical, relevant and deeply engaging - I highly recommend!
October 9, 2020
This book was a down to earth, relatable and attainable guide to improving the overall quality of ones life, filled with characteristic Turia humor. I liked the incorporation of research throughout (I am a researcher ;p) and also I cried my eyes out at Michael's beautiful letter to Turia <3. A really great read for anyone :)
November 11, 2020
I loved Turias other two books and this one did not disappoint either.
So many good pointers of how we can improve our happiness but also a reminder to not strive for constant happiness all the time.
I have been implementing morning gratitude and have started to feel better about my mornings.
I really hope Turia brings more books out in the future.
So many good pointers of how we can improve our happiness but also a reminder to not strive for constant happiness all the time.
I have been implementing morning gratitude and have started to feel better about my mornings.
I really hope Turia brings more books out in the future.
January 10, 2021
While yet another book on the merits of being happy. I thoroughly enjoyed Turias quirky writing style and identification with the reader. While using her own anecdotes she also delved into the research out there about happiness and her brief summary of each chapter at the end made for a good way to ensure you didn't miss anything. Was very happy with this book.
October 1, 2020
This is a wonderfully written book that puts so many good things into your head! Just what we all need right now.
Even after the first few chapters I had a few nuggets that I wanted to incorporate into my life.
It’s witty, charming and real!
Even after the first few chapters I had a few nuggets that I wanted to incorporate into my life.
It’s witty, charming and real!
October 3, 2020
Absolutely loved this book as I have loved her others.. Happy was written in a way that it was just like having a cuppa with a girl friend discussing life. So relatable and easy to devour the book in one day. Highly recommend it to everyone !! Cannot wait for your next book Turia !!
October 25, 2020
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!! Morning routine & gratefulness is something I’ve practised every day since reading. Thank you Turia for putting the words together so beautifully xxxxxx Great book & definitely recommend!!
November 29, 2020
Loved every moment of this, so full of humour, humanity, wholehearted, honest sharing and readily applicable practical advice. The perfect blend of contemporary research, expert interviews and personal experience, rich in both head and heart. Turia has my deepest love and respect and I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in living a more fulfilling, joyful and loving life.
November 30, 2020
I bloody LOVED this book, I made sure I read minimum 10 pages every night and always struggled to put it down. I love Turia's humour through out it and all. Of the great insights and things we can all easily implement into our lives for more happiness. Couldn't reccomend this enough!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews