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197th out of 463 books
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The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People: What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It
by
David Niven
Experts have spent their careers investigating what makes people happy. While their methods are sound and their conclusions valuable, the results often remain hidden in obscure scholarly journals. At last, social scientist and psychologist David Niven, Ph. D., has cut through the scientific gobbledygook. After examining over a thousand of the most recent and importan...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
June 1st 2000
by HarperOne
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If any of you would have seen me a couple of years ago, you would have spotted me on the prowl of the self-help section of any bookstore. Now I won't even give it a second glance and it's because I came to the realization that other people saw it as lame. It's like openly admitting I'm pathetic and need some serious help. Even if that advice, for lack of a better word, is crap, which I must confess sometimes it is. But why should I feel guilty about this? I mean I'm just trying to improve myself...more
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I basically read this entire book during one commute (it was a long commute involving an unauthorized person on the tracks). The author digests a mountain of academic papers about happiness into 1-2 page anecdotes and guidelines about the kinds of activities and habits of mind that make people happy. I suppose I’m an essentially happy person because most of the things he says seem supremely obvious to me, even if I’m only 95% successful at doing them. (But I don’t beat myself up about being only...more
I am intrigued by happiness and the many ways people try and find it, an interest left over from a college course I took called Happiness and the Good Life. This was a small book with a bit of a hokey premise, though it is full of good advice. The chapters were short (about 2 pages each), so they were easy to read but I think I would have preferred a more in-depth look at each of the "secrets" and why they work. Still, I found it interesting.
I really liked this book for a number of reasons.
First, it gives one a good reason to stand back and take a good look at one's self. How many of these things do you do? I was happy to find that I do most of them, and also happy to find out that there are areas in which I can improve.
I liked this book because it was my first EPUB book. My wife recently got a Nook and has been downloading books from our library. This one sounded interesting, so I downloaded it to my compu...more
First, it gives one a good reason to stand back and take a good look at one's self. How many of these things do you do? I was happy to find that I do most of them, and also happy to find out that there are areas in which I can improve.
I liked this book because it was my first EPUB book. My wife recently got a Nook and has been downloading books from our library. This one sounded interesting, so I downloaded it to my compu...more
I personally think that this is a book that everyone should own. Whenever I feel a bit down, I go to this book and do one of the tips and it always makes me feel better. The information in this book is all backed up by research. It's interesting to look at their findings. I take this book with me wherever I go, because you never know when you need a little cheering up!
This book lists 100 different ways that some people have a better life. Since most of the ways listed are the way you think about the good and bad in your life, this list is more a nose-thumbing to those folks that aren't wired that way.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4947...
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4947...
A sweet summer read. The facts and research are interesting but the anecdotal stories to back up the facts are lame.
I like to keep this around and read a few chapters when I'm grumpy.
A collection of direct, concise essays about working on yourself for the better. The main view is that while good and bad things happen to everyone, everyone has the choice as to how to perceive those events. Not shy about what would truly be debilitating to someone, the author also doesn't recommend anyone staying too long within themselves when they could change their thoughts for the better. In secret # 62 ("There Will Be an End, but You Can Be Prepared"), Niven says
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It was one of good self-help books I've ever read. You may apply in your everyday life. The author made good summaries from academic journals. The book is surely readable and interesting though there might be nothing novel. Common sense based. However, the thing is we easily forget such a way to human's well-being. The book may remind me of something important in life. But just a self-help book. Nothing serious but good.
I liked this book more than the Rubin book on happiness. It offered a lot more concrete advice with short anecdotes to illuminate the tips. AND he cited sources rather than just repeating "studies show." I could look up the exact studies if I wish to.
But it was a bit gimmicky, and I got tired of the three part style for each tip. Some I wanted more and others I wanted to skip because they were obvious to me. But if you wanted to set up your own "happiness project" ...more
But it was a bit gimmicky, and I got tired of the three part style for each tip. Some I wanted more and others I wanted to skip because they were obvious to me. But if you wanted to set up your own "happiness project" ...more
This book is great for what it is: 100 simple activities that are known to make people happy. What it shouldn't be taken as is a summary of scientific results - the summaries are too short and disconnected from their claims for that. There are dozens, maybe hundreds of books like this, on a variety of subjects. This one doesn't seem much better than the rest, but its certainly not worse.
It's simple: A list of things (1 through 100) of things people do to lead happy lives. Each item is explained in a few sentences, a related story is told, and it's backed up with a brief summary of a study that supports said item. It's a nice reminder of how simple it is to stay positive, and certainly easy enough to read and apply.
This was a quick read with a self-explanatory title. Most of the "secrets" were what you'd think they would be -- positive thinking, not comparing yourself to others, being open to change -- but some of them were actually surprising to me. For example, rooting for your home sports team increases happiness by allowing you to share a common interest with others in your community. Another one I thought was important was to abandon the idea that every relationship with your friends and fam...more
This would make a great bathroom book, a bit of inspiration on the pot! Seriously, I do think the concise examples illustrating current research on the subject of happiness bear regular study and reflection. I got it through the library & will probably buy a copy ( and keep it in the bathroom).
Every section is inspiring. I just read one a day, they are real short and can benefit anyone looking to improve their mood. The science backing up the author's suggestion usually comes at the end of the section. It is a real short, easy to understand summary of one relevant research result.
الكتاب مواضيع .. كل موضوع يأخذ مساحة صفحة أو صفحتان على الأكثر ، شكّل لي وجبات شهية أثناء بقائي في الجامعة للانتظار ؛
رغم بساطة أسلوبه إلا أنه أحدث في نفسي تغييراً ليس هيناً ..
رغم بساطة أسلوبه إلا أنه أحدث في نفسي تغييراً ليس هيناً ..
Not bad, as far as short self-helpers go. Some were things that made me go "Yea, this doesn't apply to me." Some made me think "I knew this, I really should start doing it." And for some, I took notes. I like the research references at the end of each Point.
I bought this on the 50 cent shelf of a used book store, and I felt ripped off. I didn't like the structure, the examples were contrived and not very compelling, and I don't think any of their "secrets" were non-obvious.
This is a great little book about what scientists have learned about happiness and what makes us happy. It's a quick and easy but enlightening read. I enjoyed it and will read it again and again...highly recommended!
I think it's fascinating that there are psychologists now who are studying happiness. It is neat that they are looking into what healthy people are doing right instead of what unhealthy people are doing wrong.
However -- I thought this book was a bit fluff. It seems like they took a list of the 100 most common traits of happy people, added some statistics and then wrote some little fluffy paragraphs to go with each one.
I liked the list and the statistics, but the little s...more
However -- I thought this book was a bit fluff. It seems like they took a list of the 100 most common traits of happy people, added some statistics and then wrote some little fluffy paragraphs to go with each one.
I liked the list and the statistics, but the little s...more
This title is a self-improvement book that uses science and straightforward examples to illustrate the habits and practices prescribed to bring about happiness. Available in Adobe EPUB format.
It's not a serious book, but it's an interesting one full of statistics. Really something to read just to give you something to think about. Makes a great coffee table book.
Super easy to read and digest in a couple is sittings. A book you'd probably want to refer to from time to time. Common sense but scientifically based advice.
A great resource and easy read for all us highly competitive people. Makes you appreciate your abilities, rather than always reaching for perfection.
Purchased for a Stacy Julian scrapbooking class. Enjoyable and a nice reminder of the easy things we can do to realize happiness.
Excellent book! Full of intersting information and useful tips/techniques to apply in day-to-day life.
One of the books I bought myself for my 26th birthday in Japan. Interesting but a bit repetitive.
Basically good, but stuff I already know but choose to not always remember.
A good reminder....
A good reminder....
Nice little book to remember to look at the simple things in life to make yourself happy.
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David Niven, Ph.D., is the author of the best-selling 100 Simple Secrets book series
More about David Niven...
David Niven, Ph.D., is the author of the best-selling 100 Simple Secrets book series
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