The Happiness Secret

When a man discovers his father in New York has long had another, secret, family—a wife and two kids—the interlocking fates of both families lead to surprise loyalties, love triangles, and a reservoir of inner strength—"It would be impossible to overstate just how good this book is" (Ann Patchett). Ethan, a young lawyer in New York, learns that his father has long kept a second family—a Thai wife and two kids living in Queens. In the aftermath of this revelation, Ethan's mother spends a year working abroad, returning much changed, as events introduce her to the other wife. Across town, Ethan's half brothers are caught in their own complicated journeys: one brother's penchant for minor delinquency has escalated, and the other must travel to Bangkok to bail him out, while the bargains their mother has struck about love and money continue to shape their lives. As Ethan finds himself caught in a love triangle of his own, the interwoven fates of these two households elegantly unfurl to encompass a woman rallying to help an ill brother with an unreliable lover and a filmmaker with a girlhood spent in Nepal. Evoking a generous and humane spirit, and a story that ranges over three continents, Secrets of Happiness elucidates the ways people marshal the resources at hand to forge their own forms of joy.

Unhappy is the story of happiness. More than two thousand years ago, when the ancient Greeks first pondered what constitutes "the good life," happiness was considered a civic virtue that demanded a lifetime's cultivation. Not just mere enjoyment of pleasure and mere avoidance of suffering, true happiness was an achievement, not a birthright. Now, in an age of instant gratification and infinite distraction, history professor Richard Schoch takes a refreshingly contemplative look at a question that's as vital today as ever: What does it mean to be happy? Schoch consults some of history's greatest thinkers -- from Aristotle to Thomas Aquinas to Buddha -- in his quest to understand happiness in all its hard-won forms. Packed with three thousand years' worth of insights, many long forgotten, The Secrets of Happiness is a breath of ancient wisdom for anyone who yearns for the good life.

A fun, illustrated guide that takes us around the world, discovering the secrets to happiness. Author Helen Russell (The Year of Living Danishly) uncovers the fascinating ways that different nations search for happiness in their lives, and what they can teach us about our own quest for meaning. This charming and diverse assortment of advice, history, and philosophies includes: Sobremesa from Spain Turangawaewae from New Zealand Azart from Russia Tarab from Syria joie de vivre from Canada and many more.

The Secrets of Happiness is an extraordinary tale of sisterhood, from Lucy Diamond author of The Beach Cafe. The best things in life . . . can be just around the corner Rachel and Becca aren't real sisters, or so they say. They are stepsisters, living far apart, with little in common. Rachel is the successful one: happily married with three children and a big house, plus an impressive career. Artistic Becca, meanwhile, lurches from one dead-end job to another, shares a titchy flat, and has given up on love. The two of them have lost touch, but when Rachel doesn't come home one night, Becca is called in to help. Once there, she quickly realizes that her stepsister's life is not so perfect after all: Rachel's handsome husband has moved out, her children are rebelling, and her glamorous career has taken a nosedive. Worst of all, nobody seems to have a clue where she might be. As Becca begins to untangle Rachel's secrets, she is forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about her own life, and the future seems uncertain. But sometimes happiness can be found in the most unexpected places . . .

A smart and funny book by a prominent Harvard psychologist, which uses groundbreaking research and (often hilarious) anecdotes to show us why we’re so lousy at predicting what will make us happy – and what we can do about it. Most of us spend our lives steering ourselves toward the best of all possible futures, only to find that tomorrow rarely turns out as we had expected. Why? As Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert explains, when people try to imagine what the future will hold, they make some basic and consistent mistakes. Just as memory plays tricks on us when we try to look backward in time, so does imagination play tricks when we try to look forward. Using cutting-edge research, much of it original, Gilbert shakes, cajoles, persuades, tricks and jokes us into accepting the fact that happiness is not really what or where we thought it was. Among the unexpected questions he poses: Why are conjoined twins no less happy than the general population? When you go out to eat, is it better to order your favourite dish every time, or to try something new? If Ingrid Bergman hadn’t gotten on the plane at the end of Casablanca, would she and Bogey have been better off? Smart, witty, accessible and laugh-out-loud funny, Stumbling on Happiness brilliantly describes all that science has to tell us about the uniquely human ability to envision the future, and how likely we are to enjoy it when we get there.

A compelling and practical guide, tailored to help you achieve balance, fulfillment, and joy in your professional life. The Secrets to Happiness at Work book brings together proven strategies from positive psychology, mindfulness, and personal growth to transform your work experience. Dr. Tracy Brower, PhD, MM, MCRw is a sociologist and an award-winning speaker and has over 25 years of experience working with global clients to achieve business results. Her work has been featured in TEDx, The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, and Fortune.com. Within the pages of this transformative guide, you will discover: Key principles of positive psychology to help you improve job satisfaction Practical mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and improve focus Personal growth strategies to unlock your potential and improve performance Tips on achieving work-life balance to enhance overall well-being Insights on fostering a positive work culture and nurturing professional relationships This guide is not just for those feeling dissatisfied in their current position, but for anyone seeking to boost their happiness at work. From managers aiming to improve workplace morale, to individuals seeking personal growth and satisfaction, The Secrets to Happiness at Work is an invaluable tool for creating a more positive and productive professional life. An ideal read for career coaches, HR professionals, corporate trainers, or anyone looking to improve their work life.

"Who would imagine that a story about some cats (and monkeys and an elephant), could be so illuminating?" Martin Colin, Goodreads Do you ever wonder how some people always seem to be happy, no matter what? Have you ever felt more depressed than others and unable to join their state of happiness? You're not alone... At one time or another, we've all been in a pit of despair where it feels like happiness is an impossibility. It is here Mystic the cat begins his journey toward a place of pure joy and harmony—a place we all can reach. Mystic loses everything he thought was the cause of his joy and reason for existence when his best friend, an elephant named Bumpa goes missing. Heartbroken, Mystic decides to search for his lost friend, and regain his happiness. But on his journey, he meets a strange, beautiful black cat named Freedom who insists he doesn't need Bumpa to be happy, and a terrifying red cat named Trembly who tries to convince him that happiness is an illusion. Mystic's hope shatters and his worst fears threaten to push him into a bottomless abyss of pain. Will Mystic have the strength to face his fears? Will he ever see Bumpa, or be truly happy ever again? More than an adventurous cat story, this novel illustrates how to quiet the deceptively negative noise of the mind so the pure joy that is you can finally shine through. Follow Mystic on his journey of discovery, and with him, unlock the secret to true happiness... Buy your copy today!

Swap worry and anxiety for joy and contentment and choose to live in a happier way. Happiness is like a riddle. The more we want it and the more we seek it, the more elusive it becomes. And yet, when we are least conscious of looking for it, it can envelop us in a warm sense of contentment and belonging, making a single moment precious and valuable beyond measure. A feeling of happiness has the power to light up our whole being. Scientists will tell us that it has the power to heal and to extend life. It is the ingredient we all seek to make our lives complete. Like the air we breathe, we are not conscious that we need it, until it disappears. Happiness makes us feel glad to be alive. The Secrets of Happiness offers you a more joyous approach to living and thinking; a shift in approach that may reframe your view of the world; simple things you can do to re-consider your life - consciously - so that you can decide whether now is the time when you can be happier. It includes strategies to warm the heart and open the mind to the extraordinary power of happiness. It shares the experiences of others and provides the closest we might have to a happiness 'formula'. The good news is, happiness is within everyone's grasp. It has the power to transform, heal and restore life back to one worth living.