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248th out of 552 books
—
126 voters
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 important scho...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
I don't know why I read these types of books, because they usually just leave me feeling annoyed rather than enlightened.
This book is full of simple, common sense suggestions. It includes groundbreaking advice such as get more sleep, eat more fruit, exercise, don't surround yourself with bad smells and be open to new ideas. Who would have thought incredibly obvious things would make me feel happier?
Actually, I want to rant about something small that was mentioned in this because this always rub...more
This book is full of simple, common sense suggestions. It includes groundbreaking advice such as get more sleep, eat more fruit, exercise, don't surround yourself with bad smells and be open to new ideas. Who would have thought incredibly obvious things would make me feel happier?
Actually, I want to rant about something small that was mentioned in this because this always rub...more
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
1 like · like · see review
Concise and to the point, this book lists 100 simple ways to improve your life by increasing your level of happiness. Following each 'secret' you'll find the scientific research to back it up. But don't misread me here; the steps are really simple and easy to apply. Yet these are definitely not your run-of-the-mill, one person's opinion, made-up factoids. And that makes it a great read.
Some of my favorites include reading books and using aromatherapy. Obviously since I was reading that book, I...more
Some of my favorites include reading books and using aromatherapy. Obviously since I was reading that book, I...more
1 like · like · see review
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.
1 like · like · see review
*Simple, yet profound*
With his meta-analysis of happiness research, author David Niven distills the science of happiness into 100 happily bite-sized gems. Each chapter can be read in less than three minutes and contains a human-speak summary of the particular research finding, as well as advice and an example to make the finding more accessible and applicable. Even just a look at the chapter titles (including ones like: "It's Not What Happened, It's How You Think About What Happened," "Do Thing...more
With his meta-analysis of happiness research, author David Niven distills the science of happiness into 100 happily bite-sized gems. Each chapter can be read in less than three minutes and contains a human-speak summary of the particular research finding, as well as advice and an example to make the finding more accessible and applicable. Even just a look at the chapter titles (including ones like: "It's Not What Happened, It's How You Think About What Happened," "Do Thing...more
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 computer. It is actually a muc...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 computer. It is actually a muc...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.
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http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4...
This is a self help book disguised as scientific research for the everyman. Not that the writer isn't a (social) scientist and not that he doesn't quote, reference and distill the work of many years of research into human behaviour but the book is aimed low and achieves it's target.
Each to the 100 "secrets" is certainly simple. I have no problem with that - simple is good. Some of them are profound and some are trite. Each suggestion is followed by an example which are often set firmly in Dr Da...more
Each to the 100 "secrets" is certainly simple. I have no problem with that - simple is good. Some of them are profound and some are trite. Each suggestion is followed by an example which are often set firmly in Dr Da...more
I really enjoyed this little book! Each happiness secret starts with a basis statement, with a short explanation below. Then follows a real-life story as an example. Finally a short paragraph explains the research, includes statistics and references. This is a very simple book, very hands-on, which serves as a great reminder of how happy life can be if you make simple changes that affect your perspective, thoughts and actions. I'm now reading The Happiness Project and The 100 Simple Secrets of H...more
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.
Jul 25, 2010
Shawn Sorensen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
self-improvement
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
One of the great sources o...more
One of the great sources o...more
It's hard to overstate my "meh" feelings about this book. Maybe if you're living in a cave, these things are secrets, but come on--it's stuff like cultivate friendships, laugh, exercise, set realistic goals... Nothing surprising there.
Additionally, each of these subjects gets a page or two addressing the research behind it, but there's no depth to any of it. This would've been better suited to life as a page-a-day calendar than it was an actual book.
Additionally, each of these subjects gets a page or two addressing the research behind it, but there's no depth to any of it. This would've been better suited to life as a page-a-day calendar than it was an actual book.
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" this book gives you specific t...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" this book gives you specific t...more
A set of brief instructions to drive home the facts relating to happiness in life. I give those that impressed me for the benefit of my readers.
1. You life has a purpose and meaning.
2. Cultivate friendships.
3. Turn off the TV.
4. Have realistic expectations.
5. Be open to new ideas.
6. Believe in yourself.
7. Exercise
8. Laugh
9. Smile
10. Eat some fruit every day.
11. Get a good night's sleep.
12. Be flexible.
13. Be positive.
14. Be agreeable.
15. Be conscientious
16. Keep reading.
1. You life has a purpose and meaning.
2. Cultivate friendships.
3. Turn off the TV.
4. Have realistic expectations.
5. Be open to new ideas.
6. Believe in yourself.
7. Exercise
8. Laugh
9. Smile
10. Eat some fruit every day.
11. Get a good night's sleep.
12. Be flexible.
13. Be positive.
14. Be agreeable.
15. Be conscientious
16. Keep reading.
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 family member...more
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 ..
Each of the hundred sections is a quick read, usually with an anecdote and some scientific evidence to back it up. Many are obvious, but it's nice to have reminders. Like any "100 Ways to..." book, some of the topics are a bit redundant in order to reach the magic number.
I really liked the lessons in this book. It reminds me of how I am trying to live my life, too. A very quick read, and the secrets also come with examples and facts to back them up. I recommend this to anyone who has a few minutes and wants to be happy!
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.
Kindle library loan. I'm torn between rating this a 2 or a 3. Most of the items are sound, decent, well-known reminders on pursuing happiness. There were about 4 or 5 stinker chapters out of the 100 that undermined the rest of the book, though.
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.
Fun, easy reading with lots of great tips on how to live a happier life. All the tips are pretty straightforward and fairly easy to implement. For example, studies show that those who read more are generally happier!
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!
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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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