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The Happiness Makeover: Overcome Stress and Negativity to Become a Hopeful, Happy Person (Positive Psychology; Positivity Book)

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“A wonderful blend of motivation, inspiration, and explanation, The Happiness Makeover is a recipe for enjoying today and all your tomorrows.”— David Niven , PhD, author of T he 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People From M.J. Ryan, one of the creators of the New York Times bestselling Random Acts of Kindness series, The Happiness Makeover teaches you how to be a happy person and enjoy the experience of life again. Train your brain to be optimistic, even in the darkest situations. From stress management tips to positive and motivational quotes, M.J. Ryan’s positivity book shows you how to transform your mindset so that you can face any difficult challenge thrown your way. We all want the things that we are sure will make us a happy person —money, success, independence, and love. But when we finally get them, we can find to our surprise that we are the same miserable, moody, or unhappy person we always were. Do things have to be that way? Absolutely not! Cultivating the ability to feel contentment is the key. There are people whose lives are full of serious challenges who nevertheless feel peace and joy—and there are those who have few difficulties in life and yet feel hopeless negativity. You can teach yourself to be a happy person and enjoy your days. M.J. Ryan, the bestselling author of The Power of Patience and Attitudes of Gratitude , shows you how in this positive thinking guide.  The Happiness Makeover gives you a plan that can help If you enjoyed optimism books and positivity books like A Year of Positive Thinking , The Happiness Trap , or Habits of a Happy Brain , then you’ll love The Happiness Makeover .

204 pages, Paperback

Published April 12, 2022

15 people are currently reading
94 people want to read

About the author

M.J. Ryan

49 books110 followers
MJ Ryan is one of the creators of the New York Times bestselling Random Acts of Kindness series and the author of The Happiness Makeover (nominated for the 2005 Books for Better Living award in the Motivational category), Attitudes of Gratitude, The Power of Patience, Trusting Yourself, The Giving Heart, and 365 Health and Happiness Boosters, among other titles. Altogether, there are 1.75 million copies of her titles in print.

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5 stars
39 (19%)
4 stars
66 (32%)
3 stars
80 (39%)
2 stars
15 (7%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Kelly Jarvis.
27 reviews1 follower
January 25, 2025
This book came off as a book written by a woman who has been told to be quiet and not take up space. To not ask for what they want. To tell yourself that you're happy when you're not. I found many of the aspects of this book to be borderline harmful. I also got wrapped up in a comment she made that research shows people are happier when they're married. That's not true. Men are happier married statistically, women are shown to be happier when single and childless. Probably because they aren't compromising their happiness the way this book seems to encourage. I would not recommend this book to any woman I loved and wanted to be happy. Ask for what you want, find happiness in things that bring you joy, don't care what others think of you, you don't need to be good at something to enjoy it, and it's okay to say that something someone does upsets you and set boundaries.
Profile Image for Nana Kesewaa.
Author 1 book13 followers
November 21, 2023
I like how this book lightened up my spirit with many wonderful tips on happiness!
Profile Image for Monta | IG montareads.
136 reviews5 followers
October 29, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3,4)
Atsauksme par M.J. Ryan grāmatu "The Happiness Makeover: Overcome Stress and Negativity to Become a Hopeful, Happy Person"

Šo grāmatu izbaudīju kā audiogrāmatu un pabeidzu vienā piegājienā, veicot mājas darbus. Tā ir viegli uztverama, bet vienlaikus pilna ar vērtīgām atziņām par to, kā radīt priecīgāku un vieglāku dzīvi.

Pozitīvie aspekti:
+ Ja tev patīk pašattīstības grāmatas un esi ieinteresēts tēmā par dzīvesprieku, šī būs patiešām Tava lasīšanas laika vērta.
+ Grāmata ātri "lasās" un ir ierunāta patīkamā balsī, kas padarīja klausīšanās pieredzi vēl baudāmāku.
+ Ja šo būtu lasījusi drukātā veidā, noteikti būtu pilna ar atzīmēm – tik daudz mazu, vērtīgu ieskatu.
+ Idejas izklāstītas vienkārši un saprotami, bez lieka sarežģījuma.
+ Atstāja patīkamu, vieglu pēcgaršu.

Mazliet negatīvās puses:
- Kaut arī neko pavisam jaunu neuzzināju, grāmata bija lielisks atgādinājums par tām svarīgajām lietām, kas palīdz dzīvi uztvert vieglāk.

Ja meklē pašattīstības grāmatu, kas paceļ garastāvokli un atgādina par prieka nozīmi, The Happiness Makeover ir lieliska izvēle!
Profile Image for Maha Al Zahrani.
58 reviews
July 17, 2025
Really enjoyed The Happiness Makeover! I had read the author’s previous book and liked her style, so I was curious about this one and it didn’t disappoint. It’s not super groundbreaking, but it’s full of simple, uplifting reminders about how much our thoughts and beliefs impact our happiness.

I listened to the audiobook, and honestly, it felt like a cozy, positive podcast. Super easy to listen to, and the tone was warm and encouraging. Perfect for when you need a little boost or just want to reset your mindset.

Overall, a great listen. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something light but meaningful to help you refocus on what really matters.
Profile Image for jmphoff.
112 reviews2 followers
July 2, 2023
Was more of a 3.5 but I bumped it up to a 4 because there were a handful of good nuggets in there. Many of the chapters were based on quotes or excerpts from other books which made it feel not very authentic. Also made it feel a bit dense due to all the quotations. Many useful thoughts for happiness yet its always easier said than done. Would have liked more personal stories/experiences over vague suggestions that had worked.
Profile Image for Whitney.
221 reviews2 followers
January 7, 2025
I appreciated the research Ryan did for this novel, it was interesting to see different studies on correlations to happiness. I did, however, want to punch her when she included a chapter on rest and her idea was how when she gets tired, she takes the day off to sleep. It felt out of touch with most people's reality. Nothing new or ground breaking but an easy read.
Profile Image for areej..
219 reviews17 followers
March 19, 2023
listened to the scribd audiobook !! rlly great reminders on happiness.

stuff like have an attitude for gratitude, focus on what you can control, and overall having a positive mindset that makes you a happier person.
Profile Image for Claudia Muafeca.
190 reviews3 followers
March 14, 2024
Beautiful, I enjoyed the quotes brought from other authors and simple to life the messagea were. For open minded people you see this book as life lessons, especially for our peace of mind and finding our inner happiness 📖🙏🏽. I see myself using some quotes as a guide.
Profile Image for Nathália Gonçalves.
216 reviews3 followers
abandonado
October 23, 2024
DNF 42%
eu achei o livro muito simplista, falou sobre depressão de uma maneira tão rápida, e sinceramente, quando eu vi a cara da autora eu fiquei meio meh, parece uma karen que agora quer fazer livro por fazer
Profile Image for Noelle.
84 reviews
February 7, 2025
Just didn’t love it. Felt like she was just telling random stories that were related to happiness but wasn’t actually employing methods to teach how to find happiness. There are a few pages at the end with ways that you can use, just felt like the rest of the book was pointless to read.
Profile Image for Neelam Babul.
49 reviews
February 1, 2023
A good read mostly containing brief snippets on bringing happiness into our lives. It is mostly based on books the author has read and habits that brought happiness to her life.
Profile Image for Melanie Ruiz.
58 reviews
February 28, 2023
Loved this book. It's a great reminder to stay conscious of our thoughts. It also gives some great exercises to be mindful of what we are thinking, saying, and doing!
Profile Image for Ryan Ness.
16 reviews2 followers
July 29, 2023
2.5 stars. Meh. She uses a lot of others’ quotes and personal stories on happiness to fill the pages.
Profile Image for Mary Kate Healey.
14 reviews1 follower
January 22, 2024
I loved it, read chapters here and there over months, no pressure to go through all of it. Some chapters really resonated with me and overall I thought there were some really good insights.
Profile Image for Zeng Daria.
49 reviews
March 10, 2024
Has citations and references to some other books on happiness that I've been meaning to read. It's a good book with a lot of nice quotes and research backing.
Profile Image for Amy Betters-Midtvedt.
Author 1 book26 followers
March 26, 2024
Great collection of actionable things you can do to improve your life right now. Loved it!
Profile Image for Andrea.
17 reviews
October 2, 2024
Meh. Nothing mind losing if you have ever read Seligman. Not bad. Just ok.
Profile Image for Monta.
298 reviews9 followers
November 22, 2024
Grāmatai nebija ne vaina, bet es neatradu tajā kaut ko unikālu par ko jau nebūtublasījusi citās grāmatās
8 reviews
January 9, 2025
okay… just a stream of advice
doesnt have a theme or narrative to the lessons given
Profile Image for Jessica Van Den Heever.
89 reviews
February 15, 2023
Basically n huge summary van klomp boeke en thoughts oor happiness in een

Eintlik nogal life changing
Ek het my off season approach verander agv die boek
Die boek het my laat agter kom ek maak myself ongelukkig en ek kan dit maklik verander
Notes gemaak in samsung notes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lauryn Clemmer.
178 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2023
I mean, any book about happiness isn’t going to be bad, right? I liked the book, all good messages. Nothing in particular really stuck out to me though. Just made me want to be a more grateful and kind person. So that’s always good!
Profile Image for Austin Mangelson.
64 reviews
October 21, 2024
What an amazing book! This is one I could read over and over, and gain something new every time. I'm already excited to go back and read it again someday. It's full of profound yet simple truths and ways to increase your happiness.
Profile Image for Paige.
372 reviews8 followers
March 20, 2023
Does not liking it make me a curmudgeon? It feels like a regurgitation (verbatim at times) of so many other books on the subject. At least it was an easy read with short chapters. 👂🏻
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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