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TheMan presents: (38 customer reviews) Quote:   48 of 52 people found the following review helpful:5.0 out of 5 stars This book actually works, July 15, 2007By N. Miller “Lit Addict” (Honolulu) – See all my reviews(REAL NAME)   Even the bright yellow cover was carefully planned! This book may repeat what other books have said before, and it does it well. The author, Tal Ben-Shahar backs up his book with an abundance of research, surveys, science, logic, and well, PROOF. Of course, a lot of being happy starts from within ourselves, the motivation to want to be happier. Reading this book gave me a helpful kick-start.Not only is this book an explanation of positive psychology, it also serves as a workbook. There are “Time-In” sections which ask you to reflect on certain areas of your life:”Think back to a period or two in your life when you enjoyed both present and future benefits.”Also, there are more in-depth exercises included. It’s great to see a self-help book with clear text, good editing, well mapped out and wonderfully organized. The wording is up to date, the references personal.I can’t think of anything negative about the book. Ben-Shahar appears to be very open-minded as he covers each section: relationships, love, work, etc. I finally felt good about myself (I’m 20 something, floundering about trying to find my way.) If you have a question about how to apply positive psychology to a given situation, it’s pretty easy to get advice straight from the book after looking it up in the table of contents. (Fast advice!)The principles in this book can not only be applied to all ages.And it helps that they name-dropped Harvard. Well, Harvard is living up to expectations here. This book is very well written and sinks in. I highly recommend reading it more than once.Positive psychology has grown since the late 1980’s to become a serious field of study, shifting the focus from mental illnesses and repairing damage to a psychology that focuses on cultivating an individual’s strength and constructive traits.Positive emotions, therefore, are key elements in the development of a resilient psychological immune system based on optimism and self esteem.  The goal of positive psychology is not only to overcome depression and negativity, but to ensure that every person has the tools to continue strengthening themselves in positive ways throughout their lives and be able to access happiness from within.“Attaining lasting happiness requires that we enjoy the journey on our way toward a destination we deem valuable. Happiness, therefore, is not about making it to the peak of the mountain, nor is it about climbing aimlessly around the mountain: happiness is the experience of climbing toward the peak” – Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD.May all of our journeys be successful and full of joy.Can You Learn to Be Happy?Grounded in the revolutionary “positive psychology” movement, Ben-Shahar ingeniously combines scientific studies, scholarly research, self-help advice, and spiritual enlightenment in his book. He weaves them together into a set of principles that you can apply to your daily life. Once you open your heart and mind to Happier ’s thoughts, you will feel more fulfilled, more connected . … and, yes, HAPPIER.ImageThink of “Happier” as your owCan You Learn to Be Happy?YES . . . according to the teacher of Harvard University’s most popular and life-changing course. One out of every five Harvard students has lined up to hear Tal Ben-Shahar’s insightful and inspiring lectures on that ever-elusive state: HAPPINESS.HOW?Grounded in the revolutionary “positive psychology” movement, Ben-Shahar ingeniously combines scientific studies, scholarly research, self-help advice, and spiritual enlightenment. He weaves them together into a set of principles that you can apply to your daily life. Once you open your heart and mind to Happier ’s thoughts, you will feel more fulfilled, more connected . . . and, yes, HAPPIER.“Dr. Ben-Shahar, one of the most popular teachers in Harvard’s recent history, has written a personal, informed, and highly enjoyable primer on how to become happier. It would be wise to take his advice.”–Ellen J. Langer, author of Mindfulness and On Becoming an Artist“This fine book shimmers with a rare brand of good sense that is imbedded in scientific knowledge about how to increase happiness. It is easy to see how this is the backbone of the most popular course at Harvard today.”–Martin E. P. Seligman, author of Authentic HappinessIf you’re a “rat racer,” who lives in the hope of being happy in the future, and yet is unable to enjoy the here-and-now . . .If you’re a “hedonist,” who finds some pleasure in the good things in life–good wine, good food, good company–and yet is unable to enjoy lasting fulfillment . . .If you’re a “nihilist,” who’s completely given up on finding happiness . . .you can learn to be happier!Thousands of Harvard University students have discovered that you can become happier. They learned the secret to lasting fulfillment from acclaimed teacher Tal Ben-Shahar’s class on positive psychology–a branch of psychology that combines the latest scientific research with good old common sense. Now you can join his class and learn how positive psychology can make you happier right now–no lottery windfall, job promotion, or new love required.Think of Happier as your own personal workbook. As you read each chapter’s illuminating discussion on happiness and incorporate its simple exercises into your daily routine, you will see every aspect of your life with new eyes and a new sense of purpose.When you learn how to live for today and for tomorrow at the same time, you learn how to balance your immediate personal needs with long-term goals and enjoy life as you never have before.n personal workbook. As you read each chapter’s illuminating discussion on happiness and incorporate its simple exercises into your daily routine, you will see every aspect of your life with new eyes and a new sense of purpose. Note: Smaller version available on elib, this one is higher quality