Von allem etwas und deshalb nichts so richtig. Als "Anfängerbuch" vielleicht geeignet, mir waren zu viele Floskeln und Allgemeinplätze drin.
Sie startet viele Abschnitte mit Anweisungen ("tu dies, mach das"), um dann zu erzählen wie es ihr damit ging. Davon abgesehen dass sie ein ziemlich privilegiertes Leben führt, fand ich diesen Wechsel auch irritierend. Entweder ist es ein Ratgeber oder ein Erfahrungsbericht. Dieses Buch will beides sein und ist deshalb beides nur halb... 2,5 Sterne, aufgerundet auf 3. ( )

Returned to library. Will revisit just didn't have the time to read and think about it right now.

As usual, I thoroughly yet enjoyed another book about how to make your life better. This time the focus was how to find happiness. If Gretchen had not gone into spiritual, it would have been five stars. However, I think she is way off the mark to think Buddhism is the secret to a good life. I know that is a difference of religious opinion, but for me to ignore it is for me to deny what I personally know as a true and and authentic Christian life. Instead of harping on a decision that is a life choice, and in the spirit of trying to keep the peace and be happy as the book quite frequently suggests, I pray that the author's choice of a higher realm of thinking will conclude one day in a way that she will realize what the ultimate happiness is. I still feel that a lot can be gained from this book to make one question how words and actions can directly influence your own personal happiness. Be warned, this book is LONG and can't be read quickly to fully digest it. ( )

3.5 stars

I love goals. I love making them and tracking them, and I love hearing others' goals and their progress on reaching them. So naturally, I enjoyed Gretchen's project. I appreciated that she included examples of her successes and failures. I liked that she incorporated statistics/studies into her book, but correlated them to her challenges, making them more memorable.

I have to admit, her "Secrets of Adulthood" and "Splendid Truths" were a bit much for me, and she kept repeating them over and over again... After she began including comments from her blog, I also started to tire of that - a few well-placed comments would have been fine, but sometimes she included so many that they went on for pages and simply felt like filler. The book could have easily been reduced by 50-100 pages.

There's nothing new or profound in this book (there usually isn't in this kind of writing) but it was still a fun read. ( )

A great book!
I like the tone of the author - it is not preachy. Mrs.Rubin didn't adopt an attitude where she dictates the reader "to do this", "don't do this" , "do this at your peril".
Instead, she puts forth her thoughts on happiness and explains the approach she adopted to maximize happiness in her life. I liked a few ideas the book offered. For example, maintaining a one-sentence journal for each day in life.
The book is insightful and practical.
( )

recommended by AP English listserv

The kind of book you can expect from an American, pragmatist and efficiency-oriented approach to happiness. Plus, all the hateful and enviable successes of a person who really takes her job (the job of being happier) very seriously. Overfilled with "studies suggest that..." sentences, but not devoid of good quotes and references. ( )

I think that this book is far more popular with women then with men, however I found it very uplifting. I hope to implement many of the ideas presented in my own life. ( )

3.5 stars I found it fairly entertaining but also slightly annoying. I can see how there's an audience for this book - it's just not me. I did enjoy the details of her life - if it were more solidly a memoire than a self-help type book I would have received it better. ( )

I got some good ideas and some inspiration and that was the point. ( )

Interesting references to others' work, but I had a really hard time relating to the author which made for slow going. ( )

This book is a very good choice if you are trying to be more self aware and bring more happiness into your life. Even though the author's life is completely different then mine, her ideas and principles can easily be applied to my life. I would recommend this book in small bites, it helps to really think about what she's saying and to digest how the ideas can be incorporated into your own life. I would definitely recommend this book. I originally borrowed if from the library, but I plan on purchasing a copy of it because I can see myself coming back to this book again and again. ( )

Rubin wanted to spend a year applying happiness advice. She consulted philosophers and scientists, fiction and non-fiction, and worlds modern and ancient. From these readings, she came up with resolutions to try in 11 areas of her life (vitality/energy, marriage, work, parenthood, leisure, friendship, money, eternity, books, mindfulness, attitude). Each month, she focused on one set of resolutions, and the twelfth month was an attempt to apply them all.

I like the premise, and the execution has much going for it. Each chapter reads something like an overview of techniques for living a happier life. Much of it overlaps with current popular works on happiness, but if you aren't familiar with those works, Rubin's book contains great pointers. I enjoyed Rubin's honesty. Both in the book and on the companion blog, she revealed her successes and her failures. She was forthright with sharing the practices which did not work for her and let us know when going against common wisdom worked for her.

Perhaps because she was trying to describe too much in too little space, the book ended up primarily descriptive rather than reflective. She described what she was trying, why she tried it, and the results, but the moments of reflection on how things were going or why certain things worked and others did not were perfunctory.

The other thing that bugged me about the book was the way that Rubin would integrate comments from her blog. Since the blog was being written during the project, the comments do provide useful alternate perspectives. However, her way of integrating blog comments was simply to drop a bunch of comments into the related part of the text. There was no synthesis, no analysis.

Thus, in the end, I found this to be a good book, but not a great one. It was a fun read, but I don't feel that it had any lasting impact on my ideas about happiness or how to make my life happier. Those less familiar with the literature she referenced might get a lot more out of it. ( )

At the start, I was very enthusiastic to read this book but by the time I got halfway through, I was still waiting for the "Eureka!" moment where it all seemed worthwhile. It was mostly skippable and some parts were just frustrating (starting a collection for the sake of starting a collection? Plugging in birthdays of friends? A bit hollow...).

I suppose I was expecting a more memoir approach and it seemed more self-help manual than anything else. Dull. ( )

I read this book because one of my friends shared a beautiful passage of this book in one of her stories. I instantly fell inlove with this because I felt like the author mirrors several of my personal views in life. This is a definitely good read, something that will empower you to be more happier in life. ( )

There was a lot of good stuff in the book, and the writing was very casual and easy to read. There were some small annoyances (e.g. waaaaaay too many pages were covered with paragraph-long quotes from the comment section of her blog), and one really big one. The first couple months focus on her actions and her marriage, and her main resolution was to stop "nagging," i.e. stop asking and expecting her husband to take an active role in the mental load of parenthood and marriage, and if she wanted tasks done it was better to just do them herself than ask someone else for support. My feminist heart cringed every time she accused herself of "nagging" or "needing gold stars" i.e. some acknowledgement for her work in keeping the house and marriage running. Telling women to take on more and expect less from their partners is NOT the key to happiness, and I shutter to think of how many women have read her book and felt like they just needed to change their own expectations of support and partnership, and just take on more, to be happier. ( )

Been wanting to take a look at this book, but will not review it, as I skimmed many parts! Seems to have some good tangible advice and motivation tips to find ways to be happier. Would have gotten a lot more from it had I read it years ago, but I have already implemented quite a few of the tips and found my own way to continue improving aspects of my life that need work. It was a good little break from Don Quixote and a reminder to reprioritize exercise and sleep.

I really love this book and want to implement many of her ideas. I may be cheating her by not giving her 5 stars. The only issue I have is that at times she comes off as pretty annoying--but I also think she's my alter ego, or who I would be if I were an Ivy league educated East Coaster. So mostly I'm bothered by the fact that reading her makes me realize how annoying I often am. ( )

Too many comments cut/paste from her blog comments but otherwise thought provoking. ( )

I like some stunt journalism, if it's done well(#ajjacobsfan). I had a hard time swallowing this one for several reasons.

1) The tone. Several readers mention Rubin's seeming inability to understand real problems (a well-known, influential lawyer telling the average middle-class family to spend money? understandable). Rubin does address that. My problem was when she started adding in all the responses to her blog, which seemed to serve the purpose of proving/celebrating her "right-ness." She would experience something, post about it, and include half a dozen other posts that backed up her experience.

2) There were a lot of good tips in the book... except most of them came from someone else. And, if you're like me and have read Gladwell, Gottman, and heard of the others, I would have rather had the list and done my own reading than take second-hand advice. Also she didn't like [b:To Kill a Mockingbird|2657|To Kill a Mockingbird|Harper Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1361975680s/2657.jpg|3275794] so we inevitably clash on an important point.

3) I agreed with some of the people she talked to about the title. It doesn't sound NYT best seller. But then it was. So what do I know?

In writing this I fully acknowledge that I am flying in the face of her statements about criticism. And I'll work to change that. Because I think she's right. Critics are not always the best thing to have in this world. ( )

In this lively and compelling account, Rubin chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. She found that money can buy happiness, when spent wisely; that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that outer order contributes to inner calm; that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.

A ton of good tips for small changes along with big changes if you’re ready for that. ( )

A combination of 12 mini books, each in the form as a months goals. Somewhat a condensed version of Getting Things Done, relationship advice, family, friendship, religion and time. One interesting insight by Gretchen was the comment that Agnostics/Athiests read biographies to identify with people for a similar reason that Catholics read the bible. Some good insights and many good reminders on how to be happy. ( )

Interesting but i'm not sure its going to change my life in any way. ( )

I actually really like this, and I was surprised that the book had garnered the low star reviews and all their accompanying reverie.

Gretchen has obviously thoroughly researched her drive to be happy, and jumps feet first in when trying all the techniques she has identified, then is happy to report on their success or failure in her mission.

I don’t see that her life circumstances detract from this at all, yes many people are far worse off, but that is never a reason to not live your best life, or indeed, improve upon your lot. As humankind slowly realise that *everyone* has mental health, surely we should support endeavours to seek a peaceful and happier life?

I’m glad Gretchen discusses her faults and failures so openly. It balances the book, one that was all happy-happiness with a bit of zen on top would be far too saccharine. Mind you, in the Pollyanna week, I’d have maybe screamed into more than one cushion, if it were in my house. There are times when one should embrace their inner grouch, as it is just so much fun. ( )