36-word summary: Love the idea, dislike the execution
by Lyssa Myska Allen, who uses DailyHap.com to help her figure out how to be happy
As someone who wants the population of the entire world to start focusing on their happiness, I really, really wanted to like The Happiness Project. As a New York Times Bestseller, it’s definitely spreading the love about being happy. But … I didn’t.
I love the premise: to take small steps toward happiness (um, sound familiar?). Author Gretchen Rubin is both privileged and successful in her own right and that seems to turn some readers off, but that’s not what bothered me. What bothered me most about The Happiness Project is that it is cold. It lacks the warmth and humor necessary for a story about human growth.
The book also struck me as incredibly self-absorbed. Now, plenty of stories are all about their author, this is not a problem in and of itself. It is also, you could argue, the point of the book. True. But the stories Rubin tells lack the humor, empathy, self-awareness, and poignancy that make stories about someone else’s trials and tribulations so fun for us as observers of their lives to read.
The book explores various expert sources at happiness—some academic research, some internet celebs, some religious texts—and I think in theory, that’s a great mix. But like her anecdotes, Rubin fails to engage. She simply implements “expert ideas” without any creativity or deeper reflection on why or how.
I must confess I only read half of the book. But that’s part of my review: I could only read half of the book—and happiness is my passion. I’m glad happiness is more and more at the forefront of our society’s consciousness, but I can’t say I’m happy that this book is the text many are using to guide them in their happiness journey.
Use DailyHap.com instead! (You knew that was coming.)