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How to be Happy

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132 pages, Hardcover

Published July 12, 2024

7 people are currently reading
45 people want to read

About the author

Ruskin Bond

680 books3,560 followers
Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.

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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Ekta Kubba.
229 reviews8 followers
May 23, 2024
I was on the bus, coming back to my hometown after meeting Mr Bond, with a bagful of books and a heart full of memories. I read the first page of the book 'How to be Happy'. But people were not happy with my new venture of stepping a stone ahead of being a happy person. They were sulking over why the lights were on. So, I switched off the lights and let them have their share of happiness to sleep peacefully in the dark. I'll learn to be happy some other day. And that day came with the dawn when I was not asked to switch off the sunlight. And here I am, taking lessons from the loveliest, happiest, and bubbliest person- Ruskin Bond- on how to be happy.
In the era of blooming self-help literature, this simple yet charming book is a therapy of the best kind. This is in no way a self-help book. No! This is a typical Ruskin Bond book. This is the Ruskin Bond as who he is. He takes you towards happiness in his own way. You read the first page of the book, and, lo, you are smiling. You turn to the second page, and some tension from the workplace starts fading up. You turn a few more pages, and you think how simple it is to be happy.
This book is like your favorite music to the ears; a warm hug in the cold nights; a friendly pat on the shoulder in your difficult times.
This is a book full of colors and will bring different colors of happiness in your life.
This book is full of life. It is the celebration of the simplest of the joys of life.
Pick up the book.
Read it.
Enjoy ♥️
Profile Image for Katherine.
953 reviews180 followers
May 17, 2025
How to be happy encapsulates the simple joys of life that makes living worth while. Ruskin Bond uniquely encourages readers to always feel the power of love, self-acceptance and happiness even if there are some turbulent phases of life.

Not only is this book fascinating but also visually delightful. There are several original quotes that I'm sure will become "quotes to live by" for many. Through his extraordinary writing he conveys that to find true happiness try making others happy. Regardless of what life has in store for you, you are responsible to find your share of peace and happiness in every moment. There's a reason why we say "Nature Heals" and in this book, we find ways in which mother nature has been nurturing and nourishing us. Appreciate everything and value the five senses, cherish your good luck moments, books are your forever friends. One of my favourite quotes among many is "A dream will sustain you, keep you going, give you a destination, something to live for."

"How to be happy" doesn't have that monotonous approach that brings nothing new to the table rather it explores opportunities of creativity and ideas on how to be content. Living s fulfilling life is much more simple and easy, we don't need have extravagant performances everytime and all times.

I'm truly looking for reading more such inspiring books from him in the future.
Profile Image for Dhwani.
687 reviews25 followers
September 17, 2024
Ruskin Bond's How to be Happy is a charming and insightful exploration of the elusive pursuit of happiness. The book packs a powerful punch of advices drawing on the author's decades of life experience and keen observational skills to offer a refreshingly honest and relatable perspective on what it means to live a contented, fulfilling life.

Mr. Bond begins by acknowledging the human desire for happiness, recognizing that it is a goal we all strive towards in our own unique ways. He then skilfully takes apart the myth of happiness as a permanent state, instead presenting it as a fleeting feeling that must be actively cultivated and appreciated in the present moment.

Through a series of vignettes and reflections, the author guides readers on a journey of self-discovery, encouraging them to find joy in the simple pleasures of daily life - a beautiful sunrise, a shared laugh with a friend, the comfort of a good book. Bond's writing is infused with a gentle, almost lyrical quality, as he weaves together astute psychological insights with vibrant descriptions of the natural world.

At the heart of the book is the profound message that true happiness is not about chasing after material wealth or status, but rather about learning to be content with who we are and finding meaning in the here and now.

Cover design and illustrations by the wonderful Shamika Chaves add to the book and the readers will experience a renewed sense of gratitude and a deeper understanding of the art of living well after reading the book.
Profile Image for Anuradha Sowmyanarayanan.
Author 1 book3 followers
July 22, 2024
Let’s face it. We can be happy some of the time, but we can’t be happy all the time. Life‘s not like that.

“And in the happiest of homes tragedies make their appearance – loved ones are lost, accidents occur, families break up, there are financial problems. None of this will go away just by the wave of a hand or a few comforting words.”

These are words from the book HOW TO BE HAPPY BY RUSKIN BOND, Unmasking the picture of life and happiness and encouraging the readers to accept the realities of life alongside choosing to be happy.

Happiness can be defined as an enduring state of mind consisting not only of feelings of joy, contentment, and other positive emotions but also of a sense that one's life is meaningful and valued. Happiness energizes us and is a highly sought-after state of being.

Right, everybody will agree with this. To guide children and adults towards the path of Happiness, comes a book from RUSKIN BOND titled HOW TO BE HAPPY, one among the “How to...” series. The earlier ones are How to Be a Writer and How to Live Your Life.

Happiness is more than a good feeling or a yellow smiley face. It's the feeling of truly enjoying your life, and the desire to make the very best of it. Happiness is the "secret sauce" that can help us be and do our best.

Maybe that’s why the book cover is not only yellow but also with other colors with signs and symbols in cute fonts.

The book clarifies that while happiness has many different definitions, it is often described as involving positive emotions and life satisfaction. Happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment.

The author insists that the key to true happiness is being able to discover it in every moment, not waiting for it to arrive with the achievement of some future goal.

In continuation with this idea, Ruskin Bond has allotted a few pages as PRESCRIPTION FOR A HEALTHY AND HAPPY LIFE. One among them is BE PREPARED -the Old Boy Scout motto and he also shares different ways of being prepared.

Ruskin Bond’s book is not complete without a talk about Nature. His fans know well about this. Nature gets intertwined with the concept of the book with a touch of Bond's style in the heading itself “Being Nature-ally happy.” In that “Magic, it’s all around us” will leave the readers awestruck and force them to realize that.

HOW TO BE HAPPY is a book with practical tips to find happiness in everyday life. The author also shares his life experiences and makes clear to readers that Happiness is a choice because every person can choose to make the best out of their circumstances and strive for a happy, joyful life. Happiness does not require perfection; you don't need a problem-free life to be happy, but you may need to spend time cultivating happiness.

It’s a colorful book with colors on pages, fonts, photographs, and illustrations with quite interesting thoughts on identifying happiness in life. It’s a short one and makes a quick read.

Grab the book and the chances to be happy.
Profile Image for Anusuya Sarkar.
153 reviews3 followers
July 21, 2024
Book name- “How to be Happy” ☺️
Author- @ruskinbondofficial ✨
Publisher- @harpercollinsin
Genre- Non-Fiction
.
“One success will erase many failures. Winners hang on when losers let go. The happy heart is not easily broken.”😊
-Ruskin Bond🍂
First of all thank you so so much @harpercollinsin @harpercollinschin for sending me this beautiful book. When I got the book I was just so happy it is beyond any words. I am so grateful for the opportunity 😊 It was like a dream come true. Since I started discovering my love for books from my teenage I always loved reading books from harper collins❤️✨.
This beautiful book is written by Ruskin Bond in his 90s. And it’s an inspiration in itself. Something that we should definitely learn from him “how to be happy” in little joys of life. And if we cannot be happy, we can make an effort to make others feel happy. This book taught me many things to remember not only just finding happiness but how to not give up in any way, how to become a better person, how to deal with situations, how to find peace in your own being. It’s like that sun rays after the heavy rain, by sipping a cup of hot tea/coffee and feeling the warmth till it makes your heart happy, it’s like smelling the earthly scent during the rain. Many things are there in life which we always neglect and do not appreciate enough & make ourselves depressed by just thinking what we don’t have. YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON who can make yourself happy and others happy too. This book is a treasure that I’ll be keeping with me forever and everywhere I go. And the book has simultaneously pictures of Ruskin Bond’s related feelings along with the writing which adds more beauty and fulfilment to the book. This book is like a warm blanket on a rainy day, it’s a feeling to be at home. I absolutely loved reading this book, please don’t miss this gem. It’s a perfect read when you need someone to answer all of your questions. ❤️✨
Review- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Romita Mukherjee.
488 reviews14 followers
August 4, 2024
“We can’t be happy all the time, but we can certainly be happy some of the time.”

Ruskin Bond never disappoints in making his books feel like a big, warm hug!

When I got this book in my hands, I decided to savour it slowly but leave it to Ruskin Bond, sir, for writing such a beautiful book that once you pick it up, there is no chance of putting it down.

I don’t think there is anyone in this world who doesn’t want to be happy, however, instead of finding happiness in the little things around us, we keep on looking out for the next big thing that we feel is definitely going to make us happy. Ruskin Sir, through this book, makes you realise how significantly blissful those things and moments can be, whom we so easily render insignificant. 

From experiencing the tranquilly of solitude to the smell of earth after rain, from taking that leisurely walk in nature to the warm cup of coffee after a tiring day of work—these little things are what happiness is made of.

Filled with pictures and graffiti, this book is an experience in and of itself. Every page in this book has something for you to take away; however, a thought that really stuck with me was... 

“Do I write because I am happy, or does writing make me happy? I am never quite sure," writes Ruskin Sir and I can’t help but ponder...

Do I read because I am happy, or does reading make me happy? 

I guess I will also never be sure.

I have nothing more to say other than begging you all to pick up this book as soon as you can.
Profile Image for The Indian Book Club.
170 reviews29 followers
July 3, 2024
"How To Be Happy" is a beautifully written book by Ruskin Bond, reflecting on his experiences and offering insights on choosing a happy disposition. He addresses the realities of life and the inevitable hardships one must face, emphasizing that staying happy all the time is a myth.

"We can't be happy all the time, but we can certainly be happy some of the time."

Bond highlights the little beauties in life that we often overlook, celebrating the charm of mundane things that humans tend to ignore.

"Be wanted. Don't stop working. Write that story, that poem you have always wanted to write. Make your own bed. Dust the room, your desk, your books."

From family and friends to the importance of our five senses, Ruskin Bond covers it all. This book is a quick read that evokes a sense of nostalgia and serves as a reminder to breathe, look around, and lose ourselves in the beauty of life.

Read more about the book here: https://theindianbookclub.com/readers...
Profile Image for Bandita.
590 reviews97 followers
July 27, 2025
This is a delightful and colorful book written by one of the most beloved authors of India. In this book, Ruskin Bond shares his small and big advices on how he finds happiness.

“Happiness will come your way if you don’t run after it. Chase a butterfly and it will fly away. Stay still, and it may settle on your hand.” – this is one of my favorite quotes from the book and one of my favorite advice in real life. Happiness can be tricky. When we look for it, we never seem to find it. But when we stop looking for it, somehow happiness finds us.

As always, Bond emphasizes on appreciating the beauty of nature, and to find contentment in smaller things in life, as I have started doing. In this way, I can personally vibe with his advices.

Also, as I said this book is colorful and vibrant, with photographs and attractive font styles, making the reading experience more immersive.

Overall, this was a charming little book which I enjoyed reading. I would definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Anjali Sharma.
964 reviews59 followers
August 21, 2024
How to be Happy by Ruskin Bond is a beautiful book inside out, sharing the simplest lessons on how to have a happy disposition. The book is a visual treat with beautiful design, illustrations and photos that complement the writing in the best way possible.

In this beautifully illustrated book, Ruskin Bond shares his words of wisdom on everything from chasing your dreams to embracing nature. The book while being a perfect guide for teenagers, serves as a reminder to adults that basic things like spending time in nature and having a hobby can do wonders when it comes to staying happy.

I finished reading this book in one sitting and found it to be excellent, the best thing about this book is the simplicity of the advice shared by the author which is complemented by other visual elements. I highly recommend this book to kids and adults alike!
Profile Image for A_Chirping_Aquarian.
380 reviews1 follower
June 19, 2024
A delightful read with amazing anecdotes on really how to be happy. Each flip of page makes you go wow and like it makes us wanting to be trying so many things .


I learnt from the book about simple things that I enjoy in my life and asked my student to write about the same so many lovely and I have got and all it did was to make me happy..

It’s an extensive read with amazing illustrations and little pieces of advices here and there. It makes u happy , gives u an ear to ear smiles and a checklist to create a list and to enjoy the ones you are doing right now already.


A book that should be there on all bookshelves!!!
5 reviews
June 18, 2024
"You can't buy happiness ....It inhabits a small space in your mind, and you must look for it there" ~ Ruskin Bond

A colorful, simple and well-illustrated book from one of my childhood favorite authors spilling out the secrets to happiness.

• Immerse yourself in nature, use all your senses to appreciate its beauty.
• Make and nurture friendships.
• Laugh often at circumstances and at yourself.
• Maintain a cheerful, happy demeanor.
• Never give up on your dreams.
• Strive for perfection in your passions, and you will soon achieve greatness.
Profile Image for Renu.
60 reviews61 followers
November 1, 2025
I feel very relaxed after reading Ruskin Bond’s" book. It came at the right time, when I was going through a mini heartbreak. Whenever I read Buskin Rond's, it feels as if my body stretches itself into relaxation and all the stress and burden of growing up sophisticatedly drains out of my mind. I feel deeply calm and happy.

The biggest joy was that I bought this book with my own money — as a gift to myself on my birthday. What greater happiness can there be than buying your favorite author’s book with your own money as your own birthday gift? 🙂

I love Bunskin Rond. ❤️
Profile Image for Avinash Pandey.
202 reviews8 followers
June 7, 2024
Ruskin Bond prescription of happiness is simple: Enjoy the nature by using your senses. make and keep friends. laugh often on circumstances and yourself. A cheerful happy demeanour is the surest way to survive long. Don’t give up on your dreams. Try to aim perfection in your passion, you will reach greatness soon . Enjoy and Read. Strongly recommended
Profile Image for Saurabh Kumar.
Author 1 book19 followers
March 29, 2025
This is the HarperCollins Publishers India version of almost the same book titled ‘Hold on to your Dreams’ published by Penguin India. Both books were published in commemoration of the author’s ninetieth birthday. This one has slightly better paper quality and colour photographs.
In short, read both!
Profile Image for Samanta.
48 reviews1 follower
July 15, 2024
A small read, simple one. Illustrations are really nice and content of book is also very simple. It definitely made me happy after reading it. Good read if you want a small coffee getaway with yourself.
381 reviews16 followers
May 25, 2024
Its a mediocre book, but an essential addition to a Ruskin Bond fan.
When a 90 yr old says stuff, listen up
Profile Image for Kartik Chauhan.
107 reviews13 followers
June 13, 2024
A gorgeous book! Thawed some really dense feelings and brought so much joy with its timeless wisdom and stunning illustrations <3
21 reviews
June 5, 2024
Such an adorable book. I'll revisit it from time to time to remind myself of such essential life lessons that we forget often.
Profile Image for Sriya.
4 reviews
June 5, 2025
such a great read to comfort your soul and romanticize life
Profile Image for Ankit Gupta.
170 reviews2 followers
February 3, 2025
Such a cosy and inspiring book! Ruskin Bond’s writing never fails to stir nostalgia and hope inside you 🙂
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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