Want Nothing + Do Anything=Have Everything - The Happiness Equation

This book's thesis is that happiness is the horse and not the cart: you start with happiness and then everything falls into place. Happiness is not the end result, but starting point!

And Neil cogently supports his theory with quotes from famous people, literature from authors like Rudyard Kipling, his personal experience, and some scientific studies. The book is very well written with cartoons, easy to understand napkin drawings and simple language without jargon.

To start from happiness is a great idea, and definitely makes a lot of sense. And the whole book is about why and how you should do it. But where tread meets the road is whether it is possible.

To change your way of thinking, it probably should be listened to repeatedly as an audiobook; but with so many cartoons, I am not sure that would work.

This is a great resource and an easy, stimulating read. The problem for me with books of this sort is that they assume that you are capable of releasing all the fetters accumulated during your life that prevent you from "just doing it!" The zillions of New Year's Resolutions that dry up and blow away by February 1st every year are proof that good intentions are not enough to keep us from being held back by our entanglements. There are some succinct and wonderful insights to be gleaned but as another reviewer has said, this book is more suited to people already fairly well positioned to succeed, with first-world angst and ennui ranking high on their list of problems. I am not sure this is the book you turn to when your husband leaves you, your child dies (God forbid), your best friend has cancer, YOU have cancer, you get a DUI, you are 150 pounds overweight, you are fleeing your war-torn country with your family and the clothes on your back, etc. I like the format for ease -- you can read just a few pages and get some useful insights -- it's entertaining and very good-natured. For deep issues, deep work and profound change, you may need to look elsewhere, or be prepared to use the insights in this book slowly and diligently over a long period of time.

There aren't enough words to describe the awesomeness that is "The Happiness Equation"! I am a recent graduate of University and just moved back home from being in higher education for 5 years. I, like so many, struggled to adjust to the transition from "school mode" to "real life mode", and I found it a bit difficult to be happy in my new life. This book brought me back, reminding me that I don't need to follow a certain path or take everyone's advice to be happy; I just need to BE ME. There are essentially 9 Secrets to being happy, and Neil Pasricha laid them out one by one, giving multiple examples and analogies. I laughed, I cried, I reflected...I re-learned how to be me, and YOU CAN TOO! If you want to be happy and are willing to grow as an individual, do yourself a favor: splurge a little by setting aside $20, buy this book, read it, and reflect. You won't regret it! :)

Create space! This, is my favorite tip from Neil for leading a happier and more satisfied life. This, among other suggestions, can be used to implement live a more satisfied life. Happiness, like everything, is a choice as Neil reminds us. There's a lot of great research highlighted, like the fact that what we think makes us happy (e.g. winning the lottery, success) really doesn't create any more happiness long term unless you make the choice to be happy - and there is research to prove this! This book is a powerful, easy read on simple ways to intentionally live and be happy! Don't miss out on some clever ways you can implement today to lead a more intentional satisfied life!

A refreshing, punchy read. Neil's book is full of his hard-earned wisdom on happiness and fulfillment. Filling a niche with his playfulness and precise insight, Neil manages to bring a great deal of simplicity to a topic that's often guised in unnecessary complexity. No one understands basic human happiness the way that Neil does. Aside from its clear takeaways and actionable thinking, what I appreciate most about the book itself is how Neil has taken the next step from his success with the Book of Awesome series to galvanize himself as one of the great personal development thought leaders of our time.

A fresh perspective on happiness.

A great title for people who likes a fact based, common sense approach to finding and cultivating happiness. I found this book at a particularly difficult time in my life and it truly helped me cope. No matter what was going on it was nice to have an positive escape with Neil’s gentle and positive writing style.

A big theme in this book is finding “the reason you get up everyday” and finding this can lead to very fulfilling life - even one you don’t have to retire from like our current western model says we have to. If our work makes us happy - why retire? Love it.

As a fitness professional I will recommend this book to anyone. Great practical ideas that make you think positively and you really feel it. Very liberating read. Buy it now!

Living Intentionally has become a new buzzword. For me, that would mean doing what makes you happy, and doing the best possible job you can at it. Some might equate that happiness with having money. Amazingly, often the richer the person is, the less happy he actually is with his life. Hard to comprehend, I know, for those of us just getting by. This is a helpful and motivating fast read, short chapters all 14 pages or less, that deal with learning how to find happiness, the right way to work your way towards it, and the lessons you need to remember along the way. Nothing earth shattering here, but much of this is that ah ha stuff you already know, but don't think to utilize. A good fast motivating read overall.

I own a fitness facility in southeast Michigan called Applied Fitness Solutions (AFS). We have developed a system that allows our team to personally coach each and every member. We give our clients the guidance, support and accountability of a personal trainer for a fraction of the cost. The last 7 years have been an incredible journey!

That said, I realize that we can give all of the guidance, support and accountability in the world but if someone does not have the correct mindset, there is no system that will work for them (at least not to it's full potential). I have found "The Happiness Equation" to be a GREAT resource for myself, my team, and our members. I recommend it to so many of our new members and we have a few copies circulating around the staff at all times. I think Neil's perspective is a much needed reminder to all of us and it helps our members understand the importance of starting this journey to better themselves. They cannot do it for family, friends, co-workers, etc.....if they want to be successful making these changes, I tell them, "Do it for you!" Thank you for your wisdom Neil! All of us here at AFS appreciate that more than you know!

Neil Pasricha has nailed it again! I absolutely loved The Happiness Equation, and am still reflecting on some of his principles such as The Saturday Morning Test and the mood number-crunching from the "hidden" chapter (I won't give it away, but it's fun surprises like that—and what you'll find beneath the cover —that make Neil such a joy to read). In this new home run, Neil incorporates the richness and humor of his previous books with impeccable research, and the result is rich, funny, interesting and superb as always. Highly recommend!

About 2 months ago I read The Happiness Equation. I loved it so much that I went through it twice and took notes for my friends and family who I knew could benefit from certain concepts.
The concept that resonated with me the most is that we cannot control our emotions; only how we react to our emotions. I have 3 children under the age of 7, so emotional reactions happen frequently in my home! Your book has reminded me that I can step back and choose how I want to react to something, since 90% of a situation is my reaction. I have learned to not let certain things bother me anymore and I’ve gained patience that I didn’t know I had. You are totally right- it is NOT easy, (but like you said, the point isn’t to be perfect- it’s to be better!). Being a better parent is one of my ikigais so I truly appreciate your words of wisdom.

Neil does a tremendous job of reminding his readers that when you are intentional with your activities and behaviors you can train yourself to be happy. Too often people fall into the trap of believing that some big/significant event must happen first and then our happiness follows. Neil reminds us that just the opposite is true. When we put our own happiness first and live the lives we want to live rather than what others want for us, the results will take care of themselves. Our words matter. Our actions matter. In life we keep score of most everything; the hours we work, the commissions we earn, the funds in our retirement accounts, the number of vacation days we take etc. However, we fail to keep score or do the math on our own Happiness Equation. In this book Neil gives 9 "secrets" to use as daily reminders, helping us to focus on what truly matters, our own happiness.

The Happiness Equation is a refreshing take on an incredibly important topic - how to be truly happy! Neil's writing is quick and friendly making this a really enjoyable read - more like you're sitting across the table with a friend having a really engaging conversation. However, despite the casual tone, Neil is able to effortlessly weave in the latest research from psychology and behavioral economics to drive home his points.

The book itself is broken into 9 "Secrets" that are really useful short-hands to easily recall the mental exercises and thoughts that Neil teaches help unlock happiness when employed. (Examples include: Be Happy First, Do it for you, Create space). Within each of these secrets, Neil does an excellent job of providing clear illustrations and examples, making the points completely relate-able and easy to understand.

There are a lot of new and fresh ideas in this book, making it easily to recommend to anyone. The time reading this book and thinking through its message is time well spent - who couldn't do with being happier!?

Neil Pasricha has written another great book that will help you add happiness to your life. Each chapter takes you step by step toward having a happier life. It is especially useful today due to all the stresses everyone feels in life. People always have so much to do. Rush, rush, rush from one event to another, always on the internet, never having enough time in the day to enjoy life. There are ways to prioritize what is important in life and ways to find more time in your day. Neil helps you get to the important things in life. Everyone will find something useful to add to their life and make it a happier one from reading this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Happiness Equation. Neil has a great voice and it shines through on every page. He is nothing if not authentic, and has a knack for simplifying complex ideas into bite-sized chunks that are a pleasure to chew on and digest.

It’s not rocket science, and it’s not meant to be: this book suggests straightforward ideas for improving your attitude and approach to everyday life. If offers a fresh perspective on situations many people encounter and find challenging to overcome. Neil provides reading that is well researched, funny (I genuinely LOL’d several times, and am not one to use those 3 letters lightly) and uplifting. It doesn’t present a one-size, fits-all solution to a happy life – but it doesn’t set out to. Surely no genuinely good book would purport to solve all your problems. If it does, return it immediately.

The Happiness Equation is probably ideal for a reader with a naturally optimistic outlook, a sense of humour and the ability to think critically – about Neil’s advice, and how they approach their own life. There certainly is ample food for thought here and some valuable takeaways I hope to apply myself.

Inspiring work, Neil!

An immensely practical book that's useful for diagnosing where you can grow in happiness. You won't find every tip useful or even agree with it, but you will find at least a few that will help you grow as a person or feel unstuck.

It could certainly be better organized and more deeply explore some topics that need it. But, very accessible and practical.

I have read numerous books on the topic of happiness, some I enjoyed, some I didn't understand, and some I didn't finish. This book is different ... I loved every second and could not put down. I was actually sad when I was finished. Not only is it extremely relatable, but it is easy to read, down to earth and quirky. It helps show the reader that everything you want is achievable as long as you put happy first. And be true to who you are, and you will die a happy (wo)man.The lessons in this book are lesson I will carry with me for years to come, and pass down to my children one day. Thanks for such a well written amazing read !

The Happiness Equation provides simple and easy perspectives to help anyone in pursuit of happiness. Anecdotes, case studies and everyday examples demonstrate how everyday people living with modern pressures and commercial messages can confidently decide what is best for themselves. Simple secrets provide the key to rediscovering self-worth and how easy happiness can be achieved. Neil boils down innovative thoughts and concepts into easy to understand logic with well-written short chapters to drive home each idea. The Happiness Equation is a great book for all ages, one to be revisited periodically to refresh the ideas and continue to practice the secrets it holds inside.

Amazing work - a real transformational playground! Neil Parsricha has done it again to deliver uplifting material that’s really a game changer.

The Happiness Equation synthesises wisdom in an easy to digest manner - advice is simple, incredibly easy to implement, and given in such a wonderfully lighthearted way. Reading through this will change your perspective on life for the better. Neil’s words will feel like a hug through a the page.

This book was totally inspirational. I began reading it as part of my Miracle Morning (another inspirational book by Hal Elrod - check it out!), and totally devoured it. This book contains concrete examples and specific practices that you can put into use every day, to live a happier life.
It's basically an instructional manual on how to how to be happy, that I think everyone should read at least once in their lives! It's very well written, in a conversational tone, easily accessible. I found myself making snapchat stories, daily, of all the benefits I was getting from this book, as I was reading it.

If you're looking for real ways to become more positive, this is the book for you!

The impetus for the author to research happiness was realizing that many of the most successful people he meets are not happy. So, if wealth, status and success aren't the path to happiness, what is?

The author approaches the subject in a fresh way. I've read many of the books and research on happiness and some of them are referenced in this book. This book approaches happiness quantitatively which offers a unique perspective. While you may not agree with all of the author's conclusions in this book, I found many which recommend actions you can take and thoughts you can think to increase your happiness. He distills the research for you into actionable steps. The focus is on execution of the theory. Here are some concepts which I found most helpful:

* be happy first - 7 ways to get there: 3 walks a week, 20-minute writing on a positive experience, 5 random acts of kindness a week, unplug after dinner or at a convenient time, find flow in activities, 2-minute meditations and record 5 gratitudes a week

* there are 7 billion people on the earth and 115 billion who have ever lived. 14 out of every 15 people who have ever lived are now dead. You are alive and if you earn over $50,000 a year you are in the top .05% of world wealth.

* our social connections are the biggest drivers of our happiness

* overvalue you so you're only working only on things you enjoy

* create space in your life by: automate, effectuate, regulate and debate

* how to add an hour to your day with one small change

* create space by: removing choice, removing time and removing access

* trick Jerry Seinfeld uses to write great comedy - can be used for big goal you set for yourself

* it's weird not to be weird - John Lennon

* 3 simple tests to uncovering this secret inside of you of figuring out what you want to do

* use the bench test to decide if something is right for you

* when you are resisting something you want to do, try the cycle: do - can do - want to do

* don't have the 5 regrets of the dying

* let yourself be happier

These are some of the topics which struck me as worthy and worth the price of the book. Many of them are potentially life-changing. That's why I find this book useful as it presents information on an important topic - perhaps the MOST important topic in life - in a practical way. Is it selfish to focus on happiness? Not when you realize that being happy is a gift you give others. Being around a consistently happy person is a privilege.

Other reviewers have objected to a suggestion not to retire which the author explained in a chapter. Perhaps it should be worded: when you retire keep pursuing activities you enjoy, and growth or goals, you aspire to. Don't stagnate.

A useful way to use this book is to try some of the suggested activities for two weeks to a month and see how they impact your life.

The goals of the Happiness Equation are listed on the cover: want nothing (be content with what you've got) and do anything (enjoy your freedom) to have everything, which theoretically is happiness, but that sometimes becomes muddled with wealth and fame. The book is a compendium of tips that you have heard before, illustrated with scores of the quadrant matrix popularized by BCG. Apparently the matrix is the one tool that Pasricha retained from his MBA days, to which he alludes more often than is necessary. In fact, the H-bomb is dropped at least once a chapter.

Pasricha's secrets to happiness run the gamut from merely trite to facile to downright irritating. Accept yourself (to illustrate this "secret," he explains that he has learned how best to inform people about his Harvard pedigree). Have a goal. Do not retire; Pasricha is militant about this! In his worldview, people with regular 9-5 jobs lead fulfilling and social lives; once they retire from those jobs they turn into vegetables and probably die within minutes. The exception appears to be Harvard MBAs, who work too hard. He has no solution for them, but advises people only to do work they love. (Some people don't get a chance to do the work they love until they retire from their day jobs, but self-fulfillment outside the workplace is not a topic you'll see addressed here.)

Another pet peeve of Pasricha is making decisions, and he cites an exhausting and expensive shopping trip to prove his point. He suggests creating rules for your life so you have to make as few decisions as possible, including wearing black every day to save time spent on choosing outfits. He stops short of advising readers to read the same book every night, vacation at the same resort every year, or consume Soylent at every meal, but maybe he doesn't realize how time-consuming those decisions can be. (It takes way longer to stand in the checkout line at the grocery than to pull something out of the closet to wear, never mind having to cook!)

More secrets: set priorities, including time limits for meetings, and just do it! (Credit given to Nike.) Most importantly, be yourself.

There you go. I just saved you an hour+ of your life and some money, both of which you can invest in a better book.

Clear, concise, and a real page-turner, author Neil Pasricha’s The Happiness Equation offers a practical, easy to follow 9 steps that will teach you how to become a happier person. The books reads like you’re sitting at a coffee shop enjoying your favourite beverage while Neil breaks everything down using simple diagrams, quotes and parables from a wealth of sources. If you are looking for some concrete, simple and straightforward ways to make your life happier NOW, then this book is for you! I'm already looking forward to re-reading it!

Just like his previous publications, The Happiness Equation is nothing short of AWESOME!

The Happiness Equation is an energetic, fast and informative romp through a wide range of thoughts and ideas about our quest for happiness. Many of Pasricha’s tips are things we should know, or thought we knew, but just never got around to implementing. The matrices were a great tool to help distill the concepts and make it easier to retain some of the critical ideas. I was inspired to make simple changes in my own life before I even got to the end of the book! My suggestion is to read it through and then keep it on your bedside table so you can refer to it often and maintain the momentum on your journey toward happiness!

A word of Gratitude to Mr. Neil Pasricha, & the teams behind both the printed and audio books of The Happiness Equation, for giving us an entertaining pathway- through Neuroscience, Sociology & Positive Psychology, well seasoned with personal stories and practical tips- to get us to Be Happy First :) Found the scientific research refreshingly cited, and loved both the original "scribbles" (imagined at 1st with the audio-book) and the selected well-known (or not so well-known?) quotes. Delighted to discover outlines, review sections, a bonus track and a hidden message! Have been juggling with the items of the equation for a while myself, but now, with the 9 Secrets + at my fingertips, I feel confident I can also help others get to Happy first. Thank YOU. Merci. Gracias!

There is practical and relatable advice in this book that really struck a chord with me. I have been able to commit 20 minutes a day to my happiness and I see that time transforming the other minutes in my day. It is like a trickle down effect and it all starts with this book. I always thought of myself as a happy person, but now I have the knowledge to increase that happiness and it's working. I feel happier and able to make decisions quicker and more assertively.

This book is for anyone who is looking for a way to change their life - and the lives of those around you.

I received The Happiness Equation as a gift and it has kept on giving! The "secrets" Neil Pasricha shares are thorough and meaningful strategies, many of which I have joyfully embraced and embedded into my life. I especially love secret #6: The secret to; Never Being TOO Busy Again. In our fast past world I found myself consistently longing for 'more time' . . . I now know how to create more time thanks to Neil! I find this secret to be so valuable I started sharing it during my wellness workshops as one way for my audiences to alleviate stress and improve their wellness. I highly recommend this book and want to thank Neil Pasricha for writing it!

This is a really enjoyable read from Neil Pasricha. I learned a little bit, picked up a few helpful life hacks, but more importantly, this book made me smile - not something I can always say for other books in the genre. Neil's inclination to see the good all around us is contagious.

A FANTASTIC MUST READ! The Happiness Equation is an AWESOME book. It is thought-provoking, inspiring, engaging and powerful. It explains profound truths in simple and creative ways. With every page you will find ah-ha moments that will open your eyes. Neil puts in words that which we can't always explain but that which we feel everyday. You will be challenged and motivated to put yourself first and be happy. This book will awaken you & jolt your senses. It will certainly change the way you define happiness & success, how you understand yourself & others and ultimately, it will change your outlook on life; it's half full, NO, make that filled to the brim if you just let yourself see it. Neil has a beautiful mind. Thank you for sharing your gift of words and thank you for brightening my journey and letting me be a part of your quest for global happiness!

Neil consistently has a way of taking an idea that may seem simple, but putting it into words that end up being incredibly insightful. He first did this with The Book of Awesome, a book that is full of clever and funny observations on daily life. Neil brings this same relateabilty to the Happiness Equation. He doesn't tell you how you should live your life, but points out how your perspective can play such an important role to your happiness. Neil seems to have also figured out the book-writing equation, with yet another winner!

Neil Pasricha writes about happiness in a way that the reader is able to relate emotionally and logically. A topic that can either be discussed in a spiritual or scientific way, Pasricha playfully creates a style that is a bit of both, and something completely new. The fun and accessible way that this book is written captivated me and made me want to pick it up every extra moment I had. A great read and a fantastic way to reframe how we see happiness, and set intentions to fill our lives with more of it.

Gave very good point on how to train yourselves into living a happier life. A great read, a lot of concrete ideas, and steps to improve ourselves personally and professionally. I would recommend it if you set a new resolution to improve your life this year.

With a flair for engaging the reader, Pasricha's writing is both captivating and accessible. The Happiness Equation beautifully explores the bewildering concept of self fulfillment and offers a nuanced perspective on the debate of materialism and its stranglehold on our modern lives. The book is uplifting without being condescending, and Pasricha's candour allows for a special connection between author and reader. A wonderful book, overall!

I found my way to Neil Pasricha, and more specifically the "Book of Awesome", during a very difficult time in which I needed any positivity I could get my hands on. So it was with tremendous excitement that I got my hands on his latest book, which for me, holds a very personal connection.

This isn't your average "get happy" book, but rather a detailed exploration of what it means to actually be happy, and the steps we can all take to get there in our personal and professional lives. I honestly couldn't recommend this book, or this author, enough. Enjoy.

In this book the author captures a series of insights he's had about "happiness." He makes lots of references on nearly every page. That alone makes this book difficult to summarize because in a sense it's already a summary of a large body of concepts, opinions and facts.

And therein lies the value proposition. The author did the hard work of compiling, sorting and editing a huge amount of content relevant to the subject of happiness. In my opinion, the result is very good. I like the idea of having this book handy and re-reading parts of it from time to time.

I have several books on the subject of happiness. I like the subject. I don't know that these books make me happy but they have helped me to take responsibility for my own happiness, and that counts for something.

Happiness equation was just what I needed to read. It provides a fresh perspective in and easy to read fashion. It's funny, insightful, honest, and motivating. Pasricha is able to take complex ideas and philosophies and present them in an easy to understand and easy to implement fashion. I found myself asking myself "why haven't I been doing this all along? I can do this!" Would definitely recommend the read.

I think everyone should read this book. It's appropriate for all ages. I'm in my 20s and I'm so glad to have read this while I'm young. There are so many takeaways from the book that I had to go back and highlight areas. Now I'm still reflecting how I can incorporate these new ways of thinking into my daily life. Great read for the summer too!

This was one of my favorite reads. Neil provides insightful lessons into how to lead a happier life. Over the last several months I was cognizant of his writings and used his teachings to improve my mood.

He also explains the pitfalls of unhappiness and stress. Why people make goals for themselves yet in spite of their best efforts are never actually happy.

To sum up an incredible book and a must read.

Elie

So many search for happiness and struggle to find it. Neil Pasricha has written an amazing book that will change your pursuit of happiness. He has a fresh perspective on why happiness can be so difficult to find and how to find through simple, straightforward steps you can find it. It will change how your approach your life. (Well it can if you are willing to soak it in and think critically about your attitude and how you handle situations and challenges). The advice is easy to start and realistic. This book is awesome!

This book was a fun, informative read. I think there is often a misconception that "being happy" is simply a state of mind that we choose. It was nice to understand that there is so much more involved to achieving happiness. The author's simple 9 lessons were easy to follow and put into practice. This book is not about learning to be a pollyanna - it is about putting in place systematic common sense life habits to help live a happier life. This is one book that I have not put away on the bookshelf after reading it. Putting in place habits is not always easy - but what greater incentive to do so than to live a happier life. It will certainly act as my manual and something I have already shared with my family and friends. Thank you for this great book!

What a pleasant surprise. I'm generally not a fan of the self-help genre of books, but in The Happiness Equation, the author lays out what seem like "common sense" guidelines to happiness and forces the reader to think about how to apply those guidelines to specific aspects of your life and general mode of thinking to improve happiness and as a result, overall quality of life. The lessons are specific enough to add value, but broad enough to be useful for people in all facets of life. Great read!

This book has taught me that the secret to happiness lies within us all! I received an advance copy of this book and have so enjoyed the author's realizations about happiness and joy. I would recommend this book to everyone. Happiness is something that we all want...

I picked this book up after reading an interview with the author. He said the book isn't new-age wisdom, it's age-old wisdom. Very true and kinda refreshing. I liked how he combines pop-psych with pop-culture, giving self-help with business-productivity pointers. From nuns to Jay-Z, the book is packed with different "takes" on what it means to be happy. A good, easy, meaningful read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's fun, playful, and yet packs so much practical wisdom. I constantly found myself saying "just a few more pages" before putting it down, and found myself thinking about the book quite a bit after I finished reading. If you're looking to invest in your happiness, I highly recommend this book.

The fastest book I have ever read...
And probably the most useful book I have read in this field.

In many indirect ways gives clarity on how to look at situations. Heavy on street wisdom and practical solutions. It's hard not to finish this book without getting a better framework on how to create a better/healthier environment for individuals to flourish.

Thanks Neil for the great work on this book!

Neil Pasricha makes a compelling case for finding happiness everyday in this incisive and entertaining book. Pasricha's down-to-earth style, clear writing, and broad array of observations makes this one of the more accessible books for anyone looking to be more productive, generous, loving and blissful. It's an ideal read for people who want to get more out of life by making the most of their time, head and heart. I'm recommending it to all of my friends!

I got the audiobook of The Happiness Equation-- and I LOVE it. In fact, I'm already on my second listen in a month. This book has actual, actionable ways that you can bring more happiness into your life. Neil did all the research-- and now you get to benefit. Two thumbs up, would listen again. (And probably will.)

I am really interested in the idea of happiness, and I have read a lot about it- many of the same books Mr Pasricha has judging by his quotes. I was really excited to get this book. The first three chapters were good, and I was really enjoying it. And then I got to the fourth chapter. Now I read a lot about happiness, but helping people retire is what I do for a living- and have been for the last nineteen years. To my astonishment, chapter 4 is basically about why retiring will make you unhappy.

It starts with the really sad story of his teacher who was forced into retirement and died the next week. Only here is the thing- the latest research shows that when people aren't forced into retirement by health or other reasons; when they retire because they WANT to, they become happier and healthier. One of the most interesting things about the study (which was done jointly by George Mason University and Utah State University) is that not only was the boost in happiness immediate- it was long lasting. This was surprising as most other catalysts of happiness (like a new job or car) are temporary. The boost in happiness lasted the full 4 year length of the study. My own experience agrees with this- my clients LOVE retirement. They are so busy with their new hobbies and friends and spending time with their families, we can't get in touch with them. Many of them tell me they wish they had done this sooner. His chapter on never retiring sounds like a guy who gets bitten by a dog and advises no one to own a dog EVER- you know, because he had a bad experience with one. The chapter on retirement made me wonder how accurate the rest of the information is.

A lot of the tips in this book, while interesting, seem to have little to do with happiness. I had never considered how much time I waste in the morning choosing an outfit. This is a good tip for me, but this is not a happiness tip is it? The accompanying story is about a guy who wears mostly black, does laundry only once a month and spends almost no time choosing clothing. The story is about how he gets so much more work done than his coworkers, not how much happier he is. Strangely, although the author explained that he knew lots of successful people who were unhappy, he goes on to provide lots of tips and anecdotes of how celebrities became so productive/successful. He advises you to restrict your email, like his first boss, (so you can concentrate at work and be more successful) and eliminate decisions, like Mark Zuckerberg, (so you can spend more time at work and be more successful) and push yourself to do your work first, like Jerry Seinfeld, so that you will become better at it, more willing to do it and- be more successful? He doesn't come out and say that success will make you happier, but by providing so many tips about how to be more efficient at work, he implies it. Is this true? Wait a minute. This isn't what I thought this book was going to be about.

I can't recommend it because I'm doubtful as to how much of this is true for Mr Pasricha vs true for everyone. This book doesn't seem to be universally applicable either- in fact it may only be applicable to white collar executives who make themselves unhappy by working too much.

I LOVED this book! The way Neil frames and present ideas is compelling, accessible & actionable. I've probably read close to 50 books related to living a happier, more fulfilled life (that's a bit embarrassing to admit) and this is definitely one of my favourites. I find myself referencing it all the time. I can't wait for his next book!

Who said that happiness is the purpose of life? When Jason debated whether or not to go to Kolchis to look for the golden fleece, the goddess Athena told him that if he stayed home, he'd be rich, have lots of family, and be very happy-- but after he died, no one would remember him. On the other hand, if he went to Kolchis with the Agonauts, he would die young but his name would live forever.
He didn't think twice, and went-- and today we remember him.
Did Jason even think about happiness? It didn't even figure on his mental horizon.
Which brings me to my point: The author of this book makes the narrow-minded assumption that Happiness is the Purpose of Human Life. All Human life.
Well (says Athena, and Jason and I second her),says who?
One may say (like the ancient Greeks) that the purpose of life is achieve Renown, what the Greeks called Kleos. To do something that will make your name immortal.
Obviously this is not the only thing you can aspire to. You can also aspire to bring Peace to Earth, or Justice for All, or Retribution to Evildoers, or whatever else you think is worthwhile-- even if it may make you miserable in the short term. But so what?
Because, yes, who said Happiness is the only thing to aspire to?
As the old Greek proverb says, The cat always knows how the dog should lead his life.
Well, the cat that wrote the Happiness book thought all humans are cats. And even if they happen to dogs, they surely must want what cats do. But what if they don't? Worse still, what if they are wolves?
Human wolves don't go for happiness. They go for something Bigger. Some may even prefer to suffer, so long as their name survive.
Yes, there are those who think that the purpose of life is to minimise pain and maximise please and happiness. Investment bankers for example, or CEOs of fortune 500 companies, or other such Happiness Seekers.
Others, however, treat pain and unhappiness as mere constraint. They want to achieve something as Big and Everlasting (such as Kleos) as they can, treating pain rather as a constraint. That is, how much of it can they take, to achieve the Big Kleos?
This apparently did not occur to the happy cat who wrote the book.
For cats who seek happiness, his book is good enough.
Yes, such cats will never have Kleos. They will live and die happy, though no one will remember them.
They don't care? Good for them.
But I-- and Jason-- and Alexander-- and others like us-- face the prospect of personal oblivion with horror. We aim to be remembered.
Which kind of human animal are you?

I really enjoyed reading The Happiness Equation. I love how there are a few easy things you can do each day that not only improve your outlook on life, but may also help you live longer (still looking for my "ikigai"). The examples used by the author are very relevant, and I particularly liked how he once wrote down all the decisions he made in one day to make a point on how to better simplify your life.

Hi, a podcast pointed to this publication. This book does exactly as it says on the box. It supplies the ingredients, you think about them, put the steps in place and your disposition warms. Very prescient knowledge that is easily picked up. Mark

I really liked the practical approach Neil suggests to managing happiness. This isn't just a grouping of stories or ideas -- he breaks it down into simple and applicable frameworks you can apply no matter what situation you find yourself in. I'm going to make this one of the christmas gifts I give out to my team at work this year.

Neil Pasricha’s book, the Happiness Equation, offers real-world, achievable recommendations to help us become happier in life. Having been on a journey to make my own life happier in recent years, many of Neil’s points resonated strongly with me. What better pursuit can we have in life than to become happier? This book can help!