76. [The 7 Secrets of Happiness: An Optimist’s Journey] (Gyles Brandreth) (19/12/23) ***1/2

The concept of happiness is pretty ephemeral, I tend to think of myself as contented, which allows for a breadth of feeling, one can be a little out of sorts and still feel generally contented. That said I’m game to explore how one can change, improve, massage one’s state of mind for the better. My favourite book on happiness is that of the Dalai Lama (overdue for a re-read).

Brandreth had an unhappy year where his best friend died, and he lost his parliamentary seat. He went in search of counselling and met with the tv therapist Dr Anthony Clare, and they set themselves the task of coming up with 7 Secrets to happiness. Clare sadly died before the book was written, but Brandreth presents their findings.

The flaw in this book is that really you wait too long to get to the 7 Secrets which are in the final 20 pages, and some folk will have lost interest by then. Brandreth’s chippy voice is an acquired taste, though there are some interesting quotes and thoughts. However he fails at one of the key secrets – Don’t focus on/talk about yourself so much – as he talks about himself and his generally famous friends, constantly!

So in a nutshell, the 7 secrets of Happiness are:

Cultivate a passion – find something that just gives you great pleasure, that puts you in the zone. Just one thing is enough
Be a leaf on a tree – everyone, like every leaf, is individual. Be individual, but be part of a system, part of the tree. Family, community, job.
Break the Mirror – take the focus off yourself, talk about yourself less, self-awareness is good, but looking outwards will make you happier
Don’t resist change – change is everywhere at all times, resisting it makes life more complicated. Accommodate it.
Audit your happiness – realign the balance. If you are spending more time doing things that don’t bring you pleasure, change the balance, or change how you feel about some of those things
Live in the moment – there are pleasures and benefits from enjoying what has come before, and what might be ahead, but aim to spend as much time as you can in the present. Think about how you are feeling as you are typing that email, listening to that kettle boil, feeling the hot water on your hands as you caress clean that favourite mug (some of my own mindful in the moment thinking)
Be happy – just do it ( )

This book is a great read.

It's very short, so it's fast to read and digest.
The author lays out the 7 secrets of happiness and also gives some background on happiness

I think this author nailed it. He really did find the seven ingredients of happiness.
( )

This book is a great read.

It's very short, so it's fast to read and digest.
The author lays out the 7 secrets of happiness and also gives some background on happiness

I think this author nailed it. He really did find the seven ingredients of happiness.
( )

This book is a great read.

It's very short, so it's fast to read and digest.
The author lays out the 7 secrets of happiness and also gives some background on happiness

I think this author nailed it. He really did find the seven ingredients of happiness.
( )

An entertaining essay about how to open yourself to happiness, full of Gyles's trademark anecdotes and name-dropping. ( )