ReadersMagnet recommends these five books that will help us seek opportunities for happiness.
Almost everywhere in the world, people are living through dark and desperate times. The pandemic has affected not only our physical and mental health, but also our social lives, our economy, and our society. There is anxiety, anger, uncertainty, and intolerance in many parts across the globe. In these trying times, there is a great need to seek positivity and opportunities for happiness. The Pursuit of Personal Renaissance Experience by Peter Justus advocates just that. Peter’s book on finding opportunities for happiness is just one of the five reads we recommend in this time of chaos and doubt.
The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama
More than 10 years since its publication, The Art of Happiness remains one of the leading materials in the field of positive psychology. Published in 2009, it is one of the pioneer works in the genre of happiness books. In this book, the Dalai Lama imparts his knowledge in defeating the daily anxieties that we face as well as anger, self-doubt, and discouragement. Along with American writer and psychiatrist Dr. Howard Cutler, his Holiness explores many aspects of everyday life- relationship, loss, the pursuit of wealth and progress, and how to deal with obstacles that prevent us in achieving inner peace. The Dalai Lama draws inspiration from 2,500 years of Buddhist meditations and blends it with common wisdom to help modern readers of different traditions and cultural background. The art of Happiness continues to enlightened and inspire people around the world.
The Pursuit of Personal Renaissance Experience by Dr. Peter Justus
The Pursuit of Personal Renaissance Experience: Finding Opportunities for Happiness in the Ever-Present Now is a self-help book that blends science and spirituality in providing guide to readers on how to achieve happiness and contentment. In his book, Dr. Peter Justus explains that only by examining the different facets of our daily activities and continuous pursuit for improvement can we find peace of mind. Dr. Peter Justus also highlights another key factor in achieving happiness which is being in the moment. Sometimes, we do things perfunctorily and we forget why we are doing it. This leaves a void in our existence. We can only avoid this by embracing each moment. The Pursuit of Personal Renaissance Experience is filled with valuable lessons and insights that we can all use, especially during these times of uncertainty.
Happiness by Design: Change What You Do, Not How You Think by Paul Dolan
Behavior expert Paul Dolan shares his knowledge on happiness and positive behaviour through his 2014 book Happiness by Design. He draws insights from economics and psychology to demonstrate the postulate: to be happy, we must behave happy. Dolan introduces a-three step method- deciding, designing, and doing, as a means to effectively overcome the negativity that surrounds us and help us redesign our environments so that they attract happiness, fulfilment, and even wealth. In Happiness by Design, dolan offers practical advice on how to organize our lives to achieve happiness and contentment.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck by Mark Manson
One of the most successful self-help books in recent years, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life is the second book by blogger Mark Manson. Ironically, in this book Manson firmly believes that the struggles we face is what gives meaning to our life and that relying on self-help books is not in any way practical or helpful. The book is consists of nine chapters all written in Manson’s style of “contrarian” to the self-help industry. The books is most famous for its use of profane language and blunt honesty. Every once in a while we need works like these to drive home the point of, well, “not giving a fuck.”
The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner 2009
The Geography of Bliss is one interesting read. It is part memoir, part self-help guide, and part comedy. Published in 2009, The Geography of Bliss takes readers to various parts of the world to look for happiness’s location.
“Are people in Switzerland happier because it is the most democratic country in the world? Do citizens of Qatar, awash in petrodollars, find joy in all that cash? Is the King of Bhutan a visionary for his initiative to calculate Gross National Happiness? Why is Asheville, North Carolina so damn happy?”
Eric Weiner turns to travel, psychology, science, and humor in answering these questions and the result is a delightfully unforgettable read about finding happiness.