The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun

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The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun

by Gretchen Rubin (Goodreads Author)

3.53 of 5 stars 3.53 · rating details · 43,849 ratings · 5,560 reviews

Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. "The days are long, but the years are short," she realized. "Time is passing, and I'm not focusing enough on the things that really matter." In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.

In this lively and compelling account of that year, Rubin carves out...more

Hardcover, 301 pages

Published December 29th 2009 by Harper

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Sep 02, 2010 Books Ring Mah Bell rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: memo-auto-bio

Author Gretchen Rubin dives into the stunt genre (where the author does something for a year and then writes a clever book about it) with a project on living happy for a year. Sitting on the bus one day, she realizes her life is zipping along and wonders if she can't make her days happier, and write a book about it and make some money. She devises a plan for happiness, reading all sorts of books on happiness, from a wide variety of authors.

I would have liked to have been more enthusiastic about...more

68 likes · like · see review

Dec 31, 2010 Michele Chapman rated it 1 of 5 stars

I couldn't finish it. In fact, I couldn't get past page 49, and that really hurt, because I BOUGHT this book in HARDBACK. Sigh. And I wanted to like it, I swear, but it just wasn't happening for me.

I picked this book up because I have an interest in how others achieve happiness, enjoy getting a glimpse into how others conduct their lives on a daily basis (I even find grocery selections interesting, and what goes into them), and have gotten a kick out of several stunt journalism projects. Rubin's...more

77 likes · like · see review

Jan 22, 2011 Lisa Lewis rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, self-improvement

When I started reading this book, I was really underwhelmed. I thought, "why am I interested in a New York yuppie's pursuit of happiness?" but I kept with it because it was so highly recommended by Jessica. I ended up appreciating Rubin and her happiness quest as I went along. One reason is that Rubin seems endearingly honest - ready to admit her flaws and quirks and even embrace them. She is a former lawyer and current writer who adores research, reading and note-taking, and decided to apply th...more

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May 20, 2011 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who is looking to make personal change

Shelves: memoir, nonfiction

Wow, when did I become so cynical and not even realize it?

Just like Julia from Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen I too am in danger of becoming nothing but a secretary on a road to nowhere, drifting toward frosted hair and menthol addiction.

However, this book helped me get out of my funk and become more creative. I didn't want to review this book until I tried my own "happiness project" because to be honest I was very sceptical about the results.

So, my personal j...more Wow, when did I become so cynical and not even realize it?

Just like Julia from Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen I too am in danger of becoming nothing but a secretary on a road to nowhere, drifting toward frosted hair and menthol addiction.

However, this book helped me get out of my funk and become more creative. I didn't want to review this book until I tried my own "happiness project" because to be honest I was very sceptical about the results.

So, my personal journey to getting back on track to being happier started in the LGA airport in the Hudson News Bookstore. I was traveling back to Chicago after visiting family in Long Island and Conneticut for Easter. My plane was delayed and I had finished my other book I had brought with. So, being bored and knowing I was going to sit there for a while, I purused the books at Hudson News. This is the one that spoke to me and I started reading it in the airport.

Most of the information isn't anything spectcular and it's all stuff that I already knew, but obviously I needed to hear it again for the millionth time, before it finally sunk in. I wasn't happy because I wasn't making time for the one thing that really makes me happy...writing every day.

So, I decided to start my own project. The first thing I did was clear the clutter out of my apartment. Not only did this make packing tons easier for my move to my new home, but it also lifted a mental weight that too much stuff can have over you and you'll not even realize it. This was a good first step for me. The stuff I didn't have use for I gave away or donated in hopes that someone else who does need it can.

The second step was making more room for creativity every single day. I am really good at making time to read (since I have an hour commute via train) but I wasn't showing up at the page everyday to write and that really soured my mood. So, I started a journal where I would write just a sentence every single day, even when I didn't want to, and you know what? Because I showed up and made the time for creativity, I started writing more than a sentence. I was writing paragraphs, and then pages. That made me really happy and for the first time in a long time I realized, I can do this!

The third and final step (and the one that's still a work in progress for me) is spending money on unnecessary things. I became addicted to internet shopping. It's really easy to do. I would just log on to some of my favorite sites: Etsy, Sephora, Groupon, Amazon and could order in an instant anything I wanted via my credit card. Pretty soon, I was in debt, and I had massive amounts of unnused products, books, and other things I didn't need. So, I stopped spending on the internet all together and bought only the things I absolutely needed like food and began to use up the things I had lying around. This made me feel happier, however, it's still hard for me to go into a store and say, "yes, this is a really good deal, but I don't need it." I'm slowly getting better at this and practice does make perfect.

Like Gretchen, I too just wanted to share my thoughts on this subject, and hopefully inspire others, not to do the same things I've done, but to find their own passion that will make them happier every day and grateful for the little things that we tend to overlook.(less)

37 likes · like · see review

Apr 15, 2010 sleeps9hours rated it 2 of 5 stars

This was an inspiring book in some ways, but also annoying. The author admits that she is part of a new trend in books in which the author takes a year for self improvement. I liked that she seems fairly normal and doesn’t escape her regular routine to make some changes. Over time the book dragged though. I was quite impressed with the plethora of quotes throughout (she collects them), and tons of little ideas and research results I found interesting. I had to get past the fact that her personal...more

25 likes · like · see review

Jun 05, 2010 Alea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-for-review, bea10

I have no idea how to properly convey how I feel about this book. I felt so much for it and because of it and it's kind of crazy. I saw so much of myself in the author and some of the examples she explained, half the time I was sitting there dumbstruck. She breaks down her resolutions in such a way it's very easy to follow along and she is so specific in how they work out you really can't ask for much more.

Rubin writes in a way that it was very easy for me to relate to and understand. It's a rea...more

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Dec 08, 2009 Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this advance copy book through the Goodreads Giveaway and could not have been more stoked! I am always creating lists and goals and things to improve my life. I feel like books, songs, movies always have a way of finding me when I need them most. I just quit my job because I was way too miserable and I have been home for the past few weeks feeling extremely unhappy and like my life was just miserable. This book was just the inspiration to want to change my situation and bring about more ha...more I won this advance copy book through the Goodreads Giveaway and could not have been more stoked! I am always creating lists and goals and things to improve my life. I feel like books, songs, movies always have a way of finding me when I need them most. I just quit my job because I was way too miserable and I have been home for the past few weeks feeling extremely unhappy and like my life was just miserable. This book was just the inspiration to want to change my situation and bring about more happiness into my life.

While I am an adventurous soul and loved reading memoirs by people who go do extreme things to find themselves and change their lives (ie Eat, Pray, Love). This is not a luxury I have and I liked Rubin's idea of not wanting to reject her life but wanting to "change her life without changing my life, by finding more happiness in my own kitchen." I want to be happy here and now in my own life. Sure, I would love to go gallivanting off to other parts of the world to find myself and make myself happier but that is just not a reality and I'm just not sure it would teach me how to live my normal life.

I loved the questions that the author asked of happiness and how she approached what happiness is and if she believed it was possible to make herself happier. I liked that she was honest about really being a happy person in general and admitting that her life has been pretty easy..no dramatic stories to tell of some terrible misfortune, etc. She just wanted to see if she could bring more general happiness into her life and, if did disaster did strike, would it be an enduring and embedded type of happiness that would help her through something.

I absolutely loved the setup of each section. It went month by month. She talked about each of the resolutions she made for that month and talked about her struggles and successes. She was often times humorous and also very observant. I loved the research she did pertaining to happiness and how she used these ideas to figure out ways to her own happiness. I like how she emphasizes that everybody's happiness project would look very unique. Different things make different people happy. I didn't always agree with some of her conclusions with her own resolutions but I appreciated the research she did and that it was HER happiness project with HER own results.

I'm always skeptical of "self help" type things or 25 ways to happiness deals. I don't think there is a formula to happiness or peace or success. That is what I liked about Gretchen's book. She wasn't trying to say.."HERE! Here is the exact method by which you will be happy!" Rather, she was showing you her journey and the project that she thought would best elevate her OWN happiness. I was certainly inspired by her happiness project and I am planning on starting my own in January 2010.

The author has a blog too that is chocked full of great advice and if you go back far enough it shows her journey throughout the happiness project. The blog really shows her actually going through with it. The book is the outcome and the reflection. I actually emailed her to get her resolution chart to see if it's something that might work for me or if I should create my own. She is extremely gracious and incredibly enthusiastic about inspiring and motivating other people to their own elevated happiness.

I'd definitely recommend this book if you are finding yourself increasingly unhappy..or if you are a happy person wondering if you can be happier.(less)

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Oct 12, 2012 Jeana rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Susannah

Shelves: book-club-books, non-fiction-memiors

I loved some of Rubin's ideas--I was exhilarated during the beginning chapters and it was great because I started reading this book while my husband and girls were out of town for the weekend. I started de-cluttering my house, getting all my exercise and rest. I liked these simplistic ways you can make a difference and be happy within your means and circumstances. I feel Americans "unhappiness" with our surplus of luxuries is a problem. What is it that makes us so unhappy?

I don't know that I'll...more

9 likes · like · see review

May 24, 2013 C-shaw rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to C-shaw by: Marcy Tuggle

Loaned to me by Marcy. I checked Rubin's website regularly, but have not read any of her books. I am taking copious notes.
* * * * *
I'm on page 79 of 301 of The Happiness Project: Ha ha! As I was reading and taking my copious notes, one I copied was: "I've always spent most of my free time reading. I take voluminous notes for no apparent reason."
* * * * *
I really do like this book! The section for the month of May resonated with me, since I share Gretchen's love of children's literature and keepi...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 05, 2011 Laura rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: self-help

I don’t know which is stranger – that people like this book, or that it was written in the first place. It came into being because Gretchen Rubin, a woman with a bizarrely charmed life, decided to spend a year devoting each month to a “theme” designed to make herself happier and then write a book about it. The whole thing smacks not only of a calculated stunt, but also of the sort of “list” approach she used for her breathtakingly trite book on Churchill. Regardless, any reasonable person would...more I don’t know which is stranger – that people like this book, or that it was written in the first place. It came into being because Gretchen Rubin, a woman with a bizarrely charmed life, decided to spend a year devoting each month to a “theme” designed to make herself happier and then write a book about it. The whole thing smacks not only of a calculated stunt, but also of the sort of “list” approach she used for her breathtakingly trite book on Churchill. Regardless, any reasonable person would wonder why this woman was worrying about how to be “happier” than she already was with her “soul mate” husband, two healthy children, a family she likes, in-laws* she likes, plenty of free time, and money coming out the wazoo. The obvious question is: “If she wants to be happier, why doesn’t she do more service?” The question you’ll also probably ask, repeatedly, is “What could a smug perfectionist with an easy life possibly teach me?” Honestly, I have no idea, unless it hasn’t already occurred to you to.....are you sitting down?.....stash your crap in file boxes instead of leaving it strewn all over, and stop nagging your husband. Other previously unmined gems of insight: “You can’t change others,” “Exercise makes you feel better,” “Be friendly,” “Do things you like to do,” “Be grateful,” and, my personal favorite, “Money can buy happiness.”

Even better, every ten sentences or so she inserts – not to be confused with “works in” – a quotation that sounds like the first entry in its category from The Big Book of Quotations. Based on the self-congratulatory tone she doesn’t quite have the skill to avoid, I’d guess she’s deeply invested in showing she is Educated, and has Done Research. I think you’re also supposed to surmise she’s really smart, based on the number of references to editing the Yale Law Review or clerking for a Supreme Court Justice. What she never mentions, yet you can also surmise, is the fact that money is no object. Neither is time.

While being rich and leisured doesn’t disqualify her from having wisdom, it does place her situation in context. She’s not struggling to find happiness amidst real trials – illness, poverty, loneliness, relatives who drive you bonkers – she just wants to be “happier.” What’s amazing is that with all her research, she doesn’t come up with anything profound. At best, her paper-thin “insights” are merely summaries of other people’s research. And yet, inexplicably, a couple of women in my book group actually liked it! These women don’t sit around wondering if they’re happy enough – they probably wonder if they’re faithful enough and doing enough good in the world. So what did they find valuable?? A couple of them said that the organization chapter prompted them to clean out closets, which is always good, but there are at least a hundred books on de-cluttering that were written by people who were already aware of file boxes. (I know this because my sister has bought all those books and occasionally gives them away as presents, unless you’re really lucky and she just throws your stuff out without being asked.) So the organization chapter struck me as a bit silly. But not as silly as turning to Nietzsche for tips on happiness. And I think that indicates the biggest flaw – her approach is entirely secular. Joy and fulfillment (a bit deeper and more lasting than “happiness”) come through doing good and, eventually, becoming good. Every now and then she stumbles as if by accident upon versions of the Golden Rule Lite, but, naturally, in her eyes the point of being nice to others is to make herself happier.

*Father-in-law is Robert Rubin, Clinton’s Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. He later served on Citigroup’s board as Senior Counselor. During his eight years at Citigroup, shareholders suffered losses of more than 70%; Rubin earned over $126 million.
(less)

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Jun 21, 2012 Hannah rated it 3 of 5 stars

A good friend of mine referenced this book often in our day to day conversations. The gems of ideas she took from reading The Happiness Project sounded logical, helpful and inspiring. Her copy of the book has made the rounds and now I have finished it.

It is very pedestrian, initially. Each month during one year, Gretchen focuses on an aspect of her life that she thinks can improve on her happiness. The first month is about Vitality. For the writer this means getting enough sleep and getting nag...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 03, 2010 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, how-to

Inspiring! Loved it! Totally want to start my Happiness Project. Gretchen Rubin, happily married mother of 2, had a realization while sitting on a bus that she was letting her life pass her by without fully appreciating it. Being a writer, she decided to research the origins, psychology and elements of happiness and develop her own Happiness Project, a 12-month experiment (each month around a theme like "love", "work" "energy", etc) with carefully measured goals and resolutions to see if she cou...more Inspiring! Loved it! Totally want to start my Happiness Project. Gretchen Rubin, happily married mother of 2, had a realization while sitting on a bus that she was letting her life pass her by without fully appreciating it. Being a writer, she decided to research the origins, psychology and elements of happiness and develop her own Happiness Project, a 12-month experiment (each month around a theme like "love", "work" "energy", etc) with carefully measured goals and resolutions to see if she could be a happier person, better wife, better mother, better woman. I enjoy self-help stuff when it doesn't sound too preachy, and Rubin finds a really nice tone to her book that made it compelling, human, not preachy, and honestly kind of charming. She is pretty honest and open about when things worked and when things didn't quite, the fact that she can be kind of a pill (I can relate!) when things don't go her way, and how one month built on the previous. I think most people can relate to wanting to do new year's resolutions, but never holding on to them, and she counters that by using her resolution chart and holding herself accountable. I think what I liked most about it was that she had to learn to "Stay Gretchen" (some things work for others and not for you, and that's ok), and that she wanted to change her life without changing her life (she couldn't move to Africa, for example, but wanted to make small, manageable changes she could keep the rest of her life.) That spoke to me--I don't know that I'll stay where I am forever, but I think I'll be where I am at least for another year, and want to know that I've really started to pay attention to where I am right now and made a few positive changes. Grow a little!

She is quite honest about how this could sound self-absorbed or self-indulgent, but she disagrees in general and believes (backing that up with research) that happier people are more productive, more generous, more thoughtful, etc. I'm definitely intrigued and inspired to plan my own Happiness Project.

More info on her blog here: http://www.happiness-project.com/(less)

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Mar 24, 2013 Sylvia Ta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Let me start this off by saying that The Happiness Project has changed my life completely. In the time that it took me to read the book, my life has gone full circle and I have never been happier.

This book follows Gretchen Rubin's journey to a better, happier life. She documents her triumphs and failures and catagorizes them into months. For an entire year the author takes on small tasks each month to ultimately improve hers and her familie's lives. I took this book to heart and followed along...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Laura added it

I picked this up after reading a glowing review on my current favorite book blog and dove right in. I loved the first half and enjoyed the second half, though that part seemed like it was more theory than her experiment.

The author sets out on a year-long project to become more happy. One of the things that she addresses is whether it is shallow or, uh, less-than-intellectual to have such a mission. She decides that it is not - happy people tend to share the love and make things a little easier...more

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Jan 17, 2013 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've been meaning to read this book for awhile, but this January was the perfect time to tackle it. Not that it needed *tackling* per se; once I began, I found it highly readable and extremely engaging, one of those books I'd find myself thinking about it even when I wasn't reading it. I really, really enjoyed it! There is so much food for thought here.

The premise of the book: Gretchen Rubin (the author) decides to make about fifty resolutions to try throughout the year that will bring her to he...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 19, 2012 Audrey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: self-help, present-day, nonfiction, memoir

I've been reading Gretchen Rubin's blog for a couple years now, and have learned so much from it. Until now, though, I had never read the book on which the blog is based. Even though non-fiction usually isn't my thing, I really liked this one. On the outside, I could not be more different than the author: I am probably the opposite of her politically, religiously, and economically. I live in a roomy house in the country; she lives in an urban apartment in NYC. Her father-in-law was part of the C...more I've been reading Gretchen Rubin's blog for a couple years now, and have learned so much from it. Until now, though, I had never read the book on which the blog is based. Even though non-fiction usually isn't my thing, I really liked this one. On the outside, I could not be more different than the author: I am probably the opposite of her politically, religiously, and economically. I live in a roomy house in the country; she lives in an urban apartment in NYC. Her father-in-law was part of the Clinton administration and she was formerly a clerk for Sandra Day O'Connor; I am a strong (I like to think) Catholic and what could probably be described as "conservative" (even though I usually shy away from the label). You get the idea. However, despite these drastic differences, I found a lot of things in this book that I could relate to and that deeply resonated with me. Rubin is incredibly smart and she includes her research and facts in an interesting, applicable way. I also liked the intellectual yet down-to-earth tone of her writing, which doesn't come across as preachy or condescending. She's also extremely well-read, and makes me feel like a pitiful underachiever when it comes to loving books.

There is a refreshingly lack of sensationalist claims in this, instead she tries out a lot of helpful tips and ideas inspired by scientific research and centuries of great thinkers. She encourages readers to adapt these to fit their own needs and situation, which I did. I have no intention of starting a collection or trying hypnotism, and I'm not sure that I agree with her views on how money can affect happiness (I guess I get it a little, but it still just doesn't sound quite right to me). However, I found the vast majority of the information presented was really interesting and enlightening. I made copious notes while reading and transcribed a lot of passages that I liked. I love quotes, so I also appreciated that she included lots of great ones. I kind of wish that I owned a copy of this myself so I could've highlighted and scribbled notes in it!

I was afraid the marriage and parenting sections would have little relevance for me, as I am neither. However, they revealed some good tips about dealing with the everyday people in my life—acquaintances, parents, siblings, etc.

Although it is written from a secular perspective, as a Christian I still found that this book contained a lot of humanist wisdom that I could apply to my life. It helps, too, that she never comes across as condescending to Christians or those of other beliefs. In fact, I got the sense that she was quite open to—and often inspired by—the works of many people of faith. Although I still do not agree with her on everything, I was never offended by her tone.

While reading the book I came across some negative reviews of it online and I began to wonder if I was just overlooking this books flaws. But as I continued to read, I started to form my own opinion more—I liked this book and what the author had to say. Yes, perhaps she had a privileged and prestigious life, or maybe this is too precise a treatise of an elusive, yet basically simple concept. I suppose I could find lots of things wrong with it if I tried. But, for me, the simple truth was that I think that Rubin is a good thinker and writer and I like a lot of what she has to say. The things I didn't agree with, I had no problem glazing over and moving on. In my own life, I have found a lot of the tips and topics she writes about to be extremely helpful. There are many great aphorisms, simple truths, and catchy lists (I love lists!) that I have learned through The Happiness Project and I often find them running through my head. I can think of many examples of how the stuff she has shared—both in her blog and in this book—has helped me. I almost think that it has been a greater aid than all of the counselors I've seen over the years (for an eating disorder, depression, and anxiety . . . in case you're curious!). I'm usually not one to buy into the self-help genre, but this is one book that I really recommend.

Content: Nothing in this book majorly offended me, that I recall, but there were some things that I could've done without. For example, there were a few swear words, some potty talk (I hate that) in reference to a conversation she had with her young daughter, and a few mentions of sex (nothing explicit). I think that was all. (less)

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Aug 09, 2012 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Anna by: Alexis Amsterdam

This book is written by a happy person who wanted to maximize her happiness. I loved reading Rubin's research (which spans centuries of literature) on what makes us happy. It was helpful and fun to read how she applied the research to her life. Making small changes each day made life happier for her and her family. It's not one of those, take-time-for-yourself/get-a-massage/indulge-yourself books. Nope. It's about working hard to live what you believe.

Rubin focused on figuring out what really ma...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Roxanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: self-help, spirituality, nonfiction, happiness

My company's women's network sponsored an event where we got to hear Gretchen Rubin speak and I was able to get a free signed copy of this book! And I really loved it. Rubin spends a year exhaustively researching happiness--what famous people have written about it, what conventional wisdom says will make us happy, what studies show is important, and more--and works to distill "happiness" down to what it means for her specifically to be happy. Every month she focuses on a different aspect of happ...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Rachel Rustin rated it 3 of 5 stars

I can't remember how I stumbled across The Happiness Project, but I'm glad I did. I'm guessing somewhere in the hype of all these one-year personal goal memoirs. Gretchen Rubin's is a little more self-help than the others in this genre I've read recently, but I found it a pleasant read. Rubin spends the year working to become a happier person by making twelve broad goals and specific resolutions to go along with each one. Her montly items of focus include things like "Boost Energy" and "Buy Some...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Lori rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, read-in-2010, read-in-2011, read-in-2012

I really liked this book because there were a lot of traits I ascribe to myself that I saw in Gretchen and her writing. I was especially able to relate to her love of reading and how that affects the rest of her life. This book provided me with the inspiration and the determination to plan out a happiness project of my own, a lot of which focuses on better living habits, not necessarily happiness. However, I'm going to make myself sleep on it before I dive into planning. I think it takes quite a...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: challenge, happiness

What better book for me to read today, the first day of a new year, a new decade?

I’ve been waiting and waiting for this book to be published. I first heard about it when I kept getting snippets in the wonderful Google e-mail I receive every day about items of interest about happiness. I love happiness. I’m fascinated with happiness. I suppose you could say that just thinking about happiness makes me happy. So I couldn’t wait to read this book.

It was not a disappointment. I’ve been reading the au...more

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Aug 08, 2012 MC rated it 2 of 5 stars

At the start, I was very enthusiastic to read this book but by the time I got halfway through, I was still waiting for the "Eureka!" moment where it all seemed worthwhile. It was mostly skippable and some parts were just frustrating (starting a collection for the sake of starting a collection? Plugging in birthdays of friends? A bit hollow...).

I suppose I was expecting a more memoir approach and it seemed more self-help manual than anything else. Dull.

6 likes · like · see review

Jan 23, 2013 Jill Melnicki rated it 2 of 5 stars

Logical, behavior-based approach to finding - well, making - happiness for yourself. Rubin has a background in law so it's unsurprising that she tackles the subject in this way. She chronicles a year spent actively engaging in healthier ways with her marriage, friendships, work, parenting, etc in order to stimulate a happier environment. We're talking checklist after checklist. I believe she sees an improvement in her happiness level by the end of the year. Makes sense, I suppose. It reminds me...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 29, 2011 Elyse rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm only reading this because our book club picked it for our 'non-fiction' month ---I'm bored stiff--but I'll finish it. (we read non-fiction every other month) Most of the time we choose better books to read.

I have now finished this book....and I was wrong! I laughed --smiled ---and have respect for the author for the difference she is making with "The Happiness Project".

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May 09, 2012 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought it would be lame or dorky, and it started out that way. But since I am trying to prepare for a happy retirement it turned out to be helpful ad insightful. It was fun to take a different and broader perspective.

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 21, 2012 Janssen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, best-sellers, memoirs, non-fiction, reread

I loved this book. I couldn't stop talking about it and I feel like it has greatly influenced me. This is one I'm actually purchasing my own copy of because I plan to reread it often. Really, one of the best books I've read in a very long while. Full review here: http://everydayreading.blogspot.com/2...

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 29, 2011 Tasha rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: didn-t-finish, a-year-of

All the navel-gazing of "Eat, Pray, Love" with none of the interesting commentary provided by other characters. Gretchen is the only actual being in her world; everyone else, including her husband and children, is merely a mirror reflecting who she thinks she should appear to be. I'm convinced that the author wants to be happy only because someone else told her she should.

I'm all for fluff reading, but this took it to a new level. The chapter on cleaning her closets (yes, an entire chapter abou...more

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May 23, 2013 Eustacia Tan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Some time back, I read Happiness at Home (link to review). And since I do read things in topsy-turvey (Sometimes), I decided to read The Happiness Project.

The Happiness Project follows Gretchen Rubin as she devotes a whole year (a month per topic) to making herself happier. No, she's not depressed, she just wants to be happier. The result is a personal look at what makes one woman happier - and as she says (I think she said it somewhere in the book), what makes her happy may not make you happy.

A...more

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May 20, 2013 Katie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Let me preface this review by saying, I really tried to like this book. I found it at Sam's Club for $7 when I was on my monthly TP run. The cover looked fun. The concept up lifting. I went into reading it with high hopes. I didn't look at any previous review (I should have). So, here goes... This book should be re-titled "The Year I Spent Trying To Be Less of an Entitled B*tch (And Failed!)".

The author is a rich white lady living in the upper east side of manhattan with her two healthy little...more Let me preface this review by saying, I really tried to like this book. I found it at Sam's Club for $7 when I was on my monthly TP run. The cover looked fun. The concept up lifting. I went into reading it with high hopes. I didn't look at any previous review (I should have). So, here goes... This book should be re-titled "The Year I Spent Trying To Be Less of an Entitled B*tch (And Failed!)".

The author is a rich white lady living in the upper east side of manhattan with her two healthy little girls and her (as she described) gorgeous rich husband. He's rich, like, stupid rich. Research his family. Your jaw will drop that she had enough time between swimming through piles of money to write this self indulgent crap. Her project includes all the things you would expect: appreciate family more, be happy with the here and now, etc. These simple steps could be very enlightening if done by someone anyone but an upper east side yuppie could relate to. Side note: the author does reference several great books and quotes of OTHER people that would be much more interesting to check out, IMO.

I got through the cleaning out closets chapter fine. It's when the author had to start interacting with other people that it went quickly downhill. One particular story had me gobsmacked. It was her mother in law's birthday party. The point of the exercise was that she was supposed to do "proofs of love." If you've read "The Five Languages of Love" she's talking about Acts of Service. So, she starts planning this shindig, whilst farming out tasks to everyone else so don't think this was a monumental accomplishment. The entire time she's describing all the emails she had to send for this great act of love, she's passive aggressively telling the reader about how *normally* she'd be so resentful about having to do all of this. Can you feel the love?

Fast forward to the day of the party. Everything is going swimmingly. MIL looooves her party. She loves the food cooked by her son who is a private chef. Loved her presents. Love, love, love. So, the night went well? Love was proven, right? Not so fast. The author was feeling like her efforts weren't being recognized enough. Even though her MIL had a fantastic night no one stopped the party to golf clap her organizational skills. That is until her well trained husband, in the middle of gift opening, pulls out a gift for the author. AT.HER.MILs.BIRTHDAY.PARTY. Suddenly, all is well! The author stops pouting because finally it's back to being about her! Order is restored. How her MIL didn't side eye her and mouth "WTF" is a testament to how classy MIL is.

So, all in all I just can't with this book. I'll take Eat, Pray, Love or a Year Living Biblically if I need my year doing stuff fix. But this one is getting tossed.

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May 19, 2013 Ian rated it 4 of 5 stars

A life-changing read. For anyone who has the nagging feeling that they could be happier, this book is a source of encouragement, inspiration, and practical guidance. It is a wonderful account of the author's research on happiness cultivation and her attempt to implement in her own life the wisdom that she found in books ranging from the autobiography of Ben Franklin to the writings of the Dalai Llama. The book contains a convincing argument for happiness as a lifestyle and a choice rather than a...more

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About Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin is the author of the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers, Happier at Home and The Happiness Project--accounts of her experiences test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific studies, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. On her popular blog, The Happiness Project, www.happiness-project.com, she reports on her daily adventures in the pursuit of happi...more

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Books by Gretchen Rubin

Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon a Project, Read Samuel Johnson, and My Other Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life

Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill: A Brief Account of a Long Life

The Happiness Project One-Sentence Journal: A Five-Year Record

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“The belief that unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish is misguided. It's more selfless to act happy. It takes energy, generosity, and discipline to be unfailingly lighthearted, yet everyone takes the happy person for granted. No one is careful of his feelings or tries to keep his spirits high. He seems self-sufficient; he becomes a cushion for others. And because happiness seems unforced, that person usually gets no credit.” — 249 people liked it

“The days are long, but the years are short.” — 118 people liked it

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title link	preview: The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun
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