Blogs, books, and other resources like The Happiness Project

August 18, 2013 9:32 PM

I recently listened to The Happiness Project and started reading the blog. I have enjoyed this and found it insightful, so I'm looking for more resources like this. I'm currently listening to The Happiness Hypothesis. Basically, I'm looking for information (with or without personal anecdotes) on possible means of achieving a happier, more balanced and enjoyable life that might not otherwise be obvious.
posted by wansac to Grab Bag (12 answers total)

I have a copy of Simple Abundance: a Daybook of Comfort and Joy. It has an entry for each day of the year - some are more philosophical and questioning, others are around practical things and there is a list at the end of each month of "joyful simplicities" that match the season. I tend to just thumb through it and read something that speaks to me then, rather than read through it (some bits of it are too much for me). Some are written in the first person, some are written in the third person. Sample entries: The Art of Pottering, When You Hunger and Thirst, Ceremonials for Common Days, Accepting Real Life, Setting Aside a Personal Sabbath, Clearing Out What Isn't Useful or Beautiful.
posted by AnnaRat at 2:34 AM on August 19, 2013 [2 favorites]

TED, Martin Seligman: The new era of positive psychology

Background, Seligman and his work on authentic happiness. He is also the author of "Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life." (Brain Pickings posts on happiness indexed here.)

BBC series, The Happiness Formula
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:33 AM on August 19, 2013

I really enjoyed Daniel Gilbert's Stumbling on Happiness.
posted by peacheater at 4:44 AM on August 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

nthing Stumbling on Happiness. I regularly use ideas presented in the book. He's a Harvard psych prof who studied how we make decisions and the errors our thinking which leave us unhappy.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 5:35 AM on August 19, 2013

I enjoyed Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson, also 59 Seconds by Richard Wiseman, which breaks down happiness research into short activities.
posted by halcyonday at 5:35 AM on August 19, 2013

Just as a heads up the 3:1 Positivity Ratio part of Barbara Fredrickson's has effectively been retracted by the researcher. It was an unsubstantiated extrapolation from a mathematical model.
posted by srboisvert at 5:54 AM on August 19, 2013

This is a small thing, but I downloaded the Happier app for my smartphone after hearing an interview with the founder. I do enjoy it and it can provide a reminder to be mindful about the positive and stay in the moment.
posted by Miko at 6:39 AM on August 19, 2013

I recently enjoyed Happy Money by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton, about how to adjust your spending habits for maximum happiness. Michael Norton talks about some of the ideas in this podcast.
posted by JuliaJellicoe at 6:57 AM on August 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

The Happy Movie
posted by biscuits at 4:12 PM on August 19, 2013

Both books by Sonja Lyubomirsky. The provide actionable steps to take.

The How of Happiness

The Myths of Happiness: What Should Make You Happy, but Doesn't, What Shouldn't Make You Happy, but Does
posted by saturdaymornings at 4:35 PM on August 19, 2013

Six Unconventional, Scientific Ways to Be Happier
posted by bluecore at 8:54 PM on August 19, 2013

Also, two TED Talks I've enjoyed:

Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work

Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are
posted by bluecore at 9:23 PM on August 19, 2013