The Happiness Project

I feel like the author didn't really challenge herself at all. She brings up a lot of ideas about how to “improve happiness” but refuses to try highly recommended things (meditation, regular dates with her husband, etc.) because she doesn't anticipate they will work. I get that most people take those ideas and immediately see why they won't work for their situation, but most people aren't writing a stunt book. She should have thrown herself into the concept further, instead of writing the whole book from her (upper class and generally worry-free) comfort zone.

Prior to reading this book, I had read Gretchen Rubin's blog (also titled The Happiness Project) and read many of her peers' work online. I was fascinated by the idea of happiness studies, mostly because the idea of studying happiness seemed so random and scattered.

This book is a personal journey—a memoir—where Gretchen Rubin both enhances her blog's content and adds new material. Her family is mentioned by name and given character and personality. You get a sense of Gretchen's personality as the book develops as well. I can kind of relate to her; I'm a list-maker, a task-doer, someone who likes structure and order.

At the same time, I always felt that Gretchen's blog was too hokey. I felt like it was preachy, and at times it seemed to miss the whole point of happiness. Spontaneity and fun and laughter seemed planned, stinted, or stiff.

This book isn't like that at all. But what I did find is that this book seems to speak more to the issue of mindfulness. Perhaps one of my ‘splendid truths' is that mindfulness begets happiness. When a person is more mindful, he is more cognizant of his behavior and his actions.

I also think that this book sounds like a personal quest to feel right and to feel in control of one's own emotions and behaviors. I think the word ‘happiness' makes cynics everywhere feel automatic scorn for the concept or the reasoning behind this book, but the undertaking is well-developed and actually quite interesting.

I find Gretchen to be an interesting and engaging narrator, though she certainly takes her happiness seriously. Even her lighthearted fun is quite serious in nature.

For a more critical eye on Gretchen's happiness project (and her unhappiness, some might say), you may want to check out this review that I found: http://www.beruly.com/?tag=gretchen-rubin.

Okay, I finally read this at the recommendation of a friend and thought it was pretty good. While I would probably have gone about the task of taking on a year of self-improvement projects differently (and the goal of trying to just “be happier” seems a little shallow), there was notable substance that most people will connect to along the way.

The best part, in my opinion, was just learning the random things that people try to do to be happier - and how sometimes what works for other people won't work for you (which is absolutely okay). This idea does not seem to resonate much in society, where, despite the diversity of beliefs and opinions, certain “mainstream” concepts (meditation, yoga, mindfulness, etc.) tend to take the lead on people who are trying to “find balance” or “be happier”.

The author, to her credit, concludes that she needs to just “be Gretchen”, which is actually more profound of a statement than it may appear at first blush.

I came away from this book challenged to identify (and face) more about myself (fact and fiction) in order to make the most of however much time I have left. And, you know, I think the funny anecdotes and embarrassing stories shared in this book have made that goal seem more attainable.

Let me know what you think!