From the Bookshelf of Bookworms Anonymous…

The Happiness Project

Gretchen Rubin

Start date: January 1, 2013

Finish date: January 31, 2013

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Jan 05, 2013 Stephanie rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: couldn-t-finish, bookclub

I'm only giving it 2 stars because I think the intent of the book was great. I think that sharing the experience of discovering your own happiness can have a great affect on people.

I am not a fan of Gretchen herself. Her personality drives me insane. The endless books and research - the entire thing felt like a giant research paper. Ironic, after her discovery that not every decision needs extensive research. It felt contrived. The whole book is her need for a gold star - look at how I am able ...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Lena rated it liked it

I really, really wanted to love this book. I'm usually a fan of "self-help" books, especially when the writer undertakes some ambitious goal. Let me distinguish this review into two categories: the concept, and the writer.

The concept is fantastic. I believe that everyone can take away at least a couple tidbits of knowledge from this book and incorporate them into their lives. I like how Rubin breaks down her plan into monthly digestible chunks, giving readers ideas for their own "happiness proj I really, really wanted to love this book. I'm usually a fan of "self-help" books, especially when the writer undertakes some ambitious goal. Let me distinguish this review into two categories: the concept, and the writer.

The concept is fantastic. I believe that everyone can take away at least a couple tidbits of knowledge from this book and incorporate them into their lives. I like how Rubin breaks down her plan into monthly digestible chunks, giving readers ideas for their own "happiness projects."

But here's the thing: While Rubin may be an interesting individual in real life, she (and her family) are painfully boring on paper. Rubin admits that she doesn't have a lot of interests, and laments that she wishes she were more dynamic, and part of her project was accepting herself for who she is. I'm all for accepting oneself for who he/she is, but perhaps these less interesting folks shouldn't write such personal books. She poorly recreates memories to relate her experiences, and the dialogue she uses is horribly flat and unrealistic. I just couldn't see her as a real person, and a project this personal needs to be written with warmth, personality, and humility.

Another aspect lacking from this book is relatability. Though the author was up-front about this book being about a journey to find a little more happiness in an otherwise happy life, it's a tough sell when the author gallivants around Manhattan with the rest of the world's writer population (the "uniqueness" of being a writer in Manhattan is another rant for another time), flashing her law degree and published books. I get that the biggest trauma that Rubin experiences is her sister's diagnosis with diabetes and the fact that her husband doesn't email her back, but really? REALLY. Life looks peachy for Mrs. Rubin and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that most readers of this book have slightly more stressful lives than hers, and are really trying to learn ways to take the good with the bad. And I'll go out on another limb to say that a very small portion of this country's population lives like Rubin, making the premise of this book "how to make a pretty damn good life even better" completely obsolete.

I suppose this book is a byproduct of the blessed life of Rubin though, in that most people who are actually trying to make themselves happy against adversity don't have the time or luxury to sit down and write about it all day. They're trying to make it happen in little ways that most likely will never get broadcasted, when people like Rubin do have the luxury to sit down and write this.

Bottom-line: great idea, not-so-great writer. ...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Heather rated it it was ok

Shelves: poorly-written

The idea of a happiness project is far more appealing than reading about the author's method of finding happiness which more closely resembled a scavenger hunt. Once in a while one of her notions would sound appealing but for the most part Gretchen was too irritating to read about. She craves (as she calls it) Gold Stars and I felt like this book was a massive cry for Gold Stars. ...more

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