The Happiness Project

My book, THE HAPPINESS PROJECT, is a memoir of the year I spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons from popular culture about how to be happy--from Aristotle to Martin Seligman to Thoreau to Oprah. THE HAPPINESS PROJECT hit the shelves in December 2009 (Harper) and, happily, was a #1 New York Times bestseller. As one of the hundreds of happiness experiments I conducted during the research and writing of the book, I started this blog. Here, I recount my daily adventures in pursuit of happiness.

This blog is one of the best lifestyle blogs out there. Add this blog to My Feeds.

"In the Long Run, Men Hit Only What They Aim At."

Mar 13, 2010 11:01am

“In the long run men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, though they should fail immediately, they had better aim at something high.” -- Henry David Thoreau * I’m excited because this afternoon, I get to meet some of......

Happiness Is…a Great Book Event at SXSW in Austin.

Mar 13, 2010 11:00am

Yesterday, I spoke at the Reading Stage at SXSW Interactive, the big annual conference for people engaged in the online world -- like bloggers. It was a lot of fun, with a great crowd and great questions. It was especially......

Relish the Moment. In My Case, Ten Weeks on the Bestseller List.

Mar 12, 2010 7:10am

I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone’s project will look different, but it’s the rare person who can’t benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday’s......

Eleven Tips for Boosting Your Sense of Quiet Focus.

Mar 10, 2010 10:14am

Every Wednesday is Tip Day. This Wednesday: eleven tips for boosting your sense of quiet focus. We all know the feeling of being overwhelmed, of being beset by distractions. The problem is – too many things are clamoring for your......

"The Office," Pam and Jim, and the Mystery of Love. Plus the Weekly Video.

Mar 8, 2010 12:33pm

My husband and I record The Office and watch it together, so I felt a little guilty for catching this scene on live television the other night, until I realized it was a re-run. But I couldn’t turn the channel......

"In Order That People May Be Happy in Their Work, These Three Things Are Needed..."

Mar 6, 2010 2:11pm

"In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it. They must not do too much of it. And they must have a sense of success in it." --John......

Use Up What You Have.

Mar 5, 2010 6:27am

Happiness Is…a Great Book Event in Philadelphia.

Mar 4, 2010 6:50am

Last night, I was in Philadelphia to talk about The Happiness Project, thanks to the kind efforts of the Joseph Fox Bookshop and the Hyatt at the Bellevue. The talk was in a beautiful space next to a glamorous bar......

Ten Common Myths About Happiness.

Mar 3, 2010 6:58am

Every Wednesday is Tip Day (or List Day, or Quiz Day). This Wednesday: 10 common myths about happiness. Lately, I’ve found myself frequently discussing several of ten common myths about happiness, so I decided to post the complete list here.......

A Happiness Lesson from Julia Child?

Mar 2, 2010 6:51am

This weekend, I read a wonderful book, Julia Child’s My Life in France. It describes her first move to France, when her husband was transferred there, how she fell in love with France and French food, and how she became......