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Happy: Simple Steps to Get the Most Out of Life
by
Ian K. Smith
Happiness isn’t the too-brief rush that comes from getting something you’ve wanted—it’s the lasting great feeling that comes from becoming someone you want to be…..
And someone others want to be with, too. No matter where you start, Happy can help you improve your life and permanently alter your happiness set point.
Dr. Ian has inspired millions to lose weight. In counseling...more
And someone others want to be with, too. No matter where you start, Happy can help you improve your life and permanently alter your happiness set point.
Dr. Ian has inspired millions to lose weight. In counseling...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
April 27th 2010
by St. Martin's Press
(first published 2010)
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All of us go through a time in our lives when being happy just doesn't seem realistic. When I was going through my divorce, I wasn't even able to remember what that five letter word meant. I wish that I would have had a copy of this book back then.
Ian breaks the emotions down for you in an easy to understand manner that has such a positive feel to it that you can't help but feel better. Here is what you will learn from reading this book:
--How to be optimistic
--Why optimism and realism are not op...more
Dec 07, 2011
Lacey Louwagie
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
self-help
I have trouble resisting this audiobook because, well, who doesn't want to discover the secret to happiness? I was hoping for some solid research into happiness similar to what I've found in Daniel Amen's books. And while this book did contain some psychology and research findings, they were so bogged down by the author's tangential personal stories and empty platitudes ("live every day like it's your last") that it was hardly worth wading through the junk to get to them. Although this book is s...more
I tend to be skeptical of those "here's how to get happy" books, but for some reason I sometimes end up reading them anyway. Not because I necessarily don't feel happy, but I guess I feel like you can never be too happy, you know? This one has several good points, but I'd heard a lot of the material before. On the other hand, I liked that the author cites the research to support his claims and provides practical suggestions for putting the ideas to use. For instance, I already knew that exercise...more
I admit, I've become skeptical of most self-help books whose message can be summed up in "think good thoughts and good things will happen" mantra so popular (and profitable) lately.
Please make no mistake, I believe that one should maintain a positive outlook whenever possible, but the truth is, for many of us, life can be extremely challenging when you are dealing with difficult situations and/or people.
So, when I saw this book simply entitled "Happy," I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Still I p...more
Please make no mistake, I believe that one should maintain a positive outlook whenever possible, but the truth is, for many of us, life can be extremely challenging when you are dealing with difficult situations and/or people.
So, when I saw this book simply entitled "Happy," I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Still I p...more
I wish there was two and half stars. I liked the first few chapters, I thought them very useful, the rest was scanned quickly. It said nothing I had read before, and quoted the same books, I have read in other quoted self help books. I learned something though, the reason my husband is happy is because he has a great imagination. He doesn't need to actually act upon the dream, he just has fun imagining. (Now I'll get in trouble for that.) I hate to say this, but I think the real problem is this...more
p.41 "the happines that is genuinely satisfying is accompanied by the fullest exercise of our faculties and the fullest realization of the world in which we live. " Bertrand Russell
p.130 living vs. surviving "...get the most out of your efforts rather than your efforts taking the most out of you."
p.137 "Our passions are often in conflict with practicality, and it is the resolution of this conflict that presents the greatest challenge."
p.207 "...truly believe that a new day represents a new oppor...more
p.130 living vs. surviving "...get the most out of your efforts rather than your efforts taking the most out of you."
p.137 "Our passions are often in conflict with practicality, and it is the resolution of this conflict that presents the greatest challenge."
p.207 "...truly believe that a new day represents a new oppor...more
Felt more like an opportunity to make some money than to really open the discussion on the topic of happiness. I'm very skeptical anyway of any books that suggest you trick yourself into thinking a certain way. Is blinding yourself from reality the way to happiness? Sounds dangerous to me. This book doesn't challenge any previously established conventions or add anything new to the discussion.
This book was an easy quick read. All the information in it was stuff I already knew. It was also very annoying that there were random blurbs and lists scattered in a disorganized fashion throughout the entire book, which cut into the middle of whole sections! It's hard to follow a book in which there are totally unrelated lists and side notes taking up whole pages throughout chapters and even the same paragraphs.
The best short, technique-packed guide to happiness on the market.
I set and achieved one simple, important goal by doing one of the exercises. The book is short enough to re-read every so often; you can review the chapter endings to stay on track.
I bought it at my local indie bookshop that had it on the shelf.
I set and achieved one simple, important goal by doing one of the exercises. The book is short enough to re-read every so often; you can review the chapter endings to stay on track.
I bought it at my local indie bookshop that had it on the shelf.
I read sections, but honestly mostly skimmed thru the book. I would not have read this if it wasn't a book club read. I didn't find any new information, and was put off every time the author talked about his learning that not everyone is as pompous as he is,
That being said, there is basic starting point information if you need a place to start or a refresher.
That being said, there is basic starting point information if you need a place to start or a refresher.
Fascinating book about specific ways to reduce stress and live more happily. I especially enjoyed his anecdotes, his lists of suggestions, and his summaries of medical studies that show how we can be happier. I almost gave this book a 5.
Reading this book was like talking to a long time friend, who has your happiness in his best interest. Ian K. Smith takes you through, (what some of us already know), a wonderful list of things that should and shouldnt be what makes us happy. i recommend this book to anyone who is searching for happiness, or just needs a refresher course on what it should mean to be happy.
I was looking for a non-religious guide to happiness. This book did a good job. He does mentions prayer but in conjunction with meditation. Made some good points. Worth the read.
Ian K. Smith references research done on happiness and summarizes it for the reader. I think I'd rather read the original sources, but at least he gives the names of the researchers, e.g. Martin Seligman, so that the reader can do his or her own research.
I'm not sure how I ended up reading this; but I did, and it's a little bit like a journal for you to write your thoughts, feelings, etc, and how you tried to make an effort to make yourself or others happy.
Pretty self explanatory though.
Pretty self explanatory though.
For a 17 word review:
Psychologist Ian Smith analyzes what makes people happy with studies and personal experiences within this informative book.
Psychologist Ian Smith analyzes what makes people happy with studies and personal experiences within this informative book.
This book was incredible. The lessons within it teach so much and it is on a level everyone can understand. I really do believe it can help change your life.
Only read part of this book. I guess I felt really happy once I finished a 1/4 of the book...
Excellent guide to motivate us all to get out of own way and take accountability of our own like!
Not bad as these kinds of books go. Pretty good advice.
Really great book
Not much new...such a let down.
A basic book about different ways to find happiness and steps for getting there. This is not new information, but it was well presented. The author broke happiness down into components (work, family&friends, dreams, spirit, exercise, etc). Each section included questions and action plans for potentially improving happiness related to each component. This book got placed into my very small collection of books to be read again.
Simple book with hundreds of tips for having a happy life. You just need to smile, playing with kids, leaving your book anywhere and hoping for someone to read it and grabs its messages, these are some tips written in this book. Something to ponder, westerners have been writing a lot of things, ranging from as simple as 1,2,3 up to as complex as Quantum Theory.
This book was okay. It had good ideas to try, but mostly it was nothing new.
Good book I liked the stories; it was dry at times, but the stories told helped. I did recognized one of the stories he told differently; but same concept. Interesting that the stories told are as if actually happened, when it probably did; but I would like to know the true source and the source I heard about before was many, many years ago....
Simple read for those on the go that describes the essential morals and traits for living the life that you want. Ian gives nice exercises for you to do by writing out things such as things that are important to you, how to spend more time with the things and people you love. I enjoyed this book very much. Good read.
May 18, 2013
Katherine
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2013
Tami
is currently reading it
May 17, 2013
Anissa Rajala
is currently reading it
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Ian K. Smith, M.D., is the number one bestselling author of The Fat Smash Diet, Extreme Fat Smash Diet, The 4 Day Diet, The 4 Day Detox, Happy and EAT. He is a medical contributor on The View and The Rachael Ray Show, the diet expert on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club, and host of the nationally syndicated radio show Healthwise on American Urban Radio Networks. He writes a medical column for Men’s Health...more
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