The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun

Written by Gretchen Rubin

Narrated by Gretchen Rubin

#1 New York Times Bestseller

“An enlightening, laugh-aloud read. . . . Filled with open, honest glimpses into [Rubin’s] real life, woven together with constant doses of humor.” —Christian Science Monitor

Gretchen Rubin’s year-long experiment to discover how to create true happiness. Drawing on cutting-edge science, classical philosophy, and real-world examples, Rubin delivers an engaging, eminently relatable chronicle of transformation.

Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. “The days are long, but the years are short,” she realized. “Time is passing, and I’m not focusing enough on the things that really matter.” In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.

In this lively and compelling account, Rubin chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Among other things, she found that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that money can help buy happiness, when spent wisely; that outer order contributes to inner calm; and that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.

As an added bonus, this recording includes a sampling of Gretchen’s podcast, Happier With Gretchen Rubin. In this episode, ""Choose the Bigger Life,"" Gretchen and her sister, Elizabeth Craft, discuss happiness, good habits, and whether Gretchen is going to get a dog.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Dec 29, 2009
• ISBN: 9780061996924

Gretchen Rubin

I'm the author of the New York Times bestsellers "The Happiness Project," “Happier at Home” and “Better Than Before.” I write about my experiences as I test-drive the wisdom of the ages, current scientific studies, and lessons from popular culture about happiness, habits, and human nature. My next book will hit the shelves in summer 2017: “The Four Tendencies: The Surprising Truth about the Four Hidden Personality Types That Drive Everything We Do.” Find out your Tendency—are you an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel?—when you take the free quiz at GretchenRubin.com. Subscribe to my award-winning weekly podcast “Happier with Gretchen Rubin” (more than 1 million downloads each month) and hear my sister and I discuss strategies and tips for how to make your daily life happier. I also created an app to help people harness the power of the Four Tendencies. Learn more at BetterApp.us or search the app store for “Better Gretchen Rubin.” My previous books include a bestselling biography of Winston Churchill, "Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill,” and one of John Kennedy, “Forty Ways to Look at JFK.” My first book, “Power Money Fame S..: A User's Guide,” is social criticism in the guise of a user's manual. I wrote “Profane Waste” in collaboration with artist Dana Hoey. I've also written three dreadful novels that are safely locked away in a drawer. Before turning to writing, I had a career in law. A graduate of Yale and Yale Law School, I clerked for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and was editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal. I live in New York City with my husband and two daughters.  

Reviews for The Happiness Project

[Brittany · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've read this book several times already. It's encouraged me to start a Happiness Project of my own. Love it and will read again!

[Katherine Garcia Gil · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excelente ... After listening it , I might no be happier but I feel more relaxed and focused on what I have , be grateful and what my goals are.

[Ashley Guinan Russell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really great book so much so that I ordered a copy after listen so that I can start my own happiness project!

[Luke David Johnson · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Reads like a high school research paper. It's just terrible.

[Ainur Sobolev · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic!!!

[uberbutter · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin
292 pages

★★★ ½

I wasn’t sure how I would like this book, there were a fair amount of poor reviews mostly stemming from people thinking this author was self-absorbent. But as I started to read the book it hit me more and more, why aren’t people allowed to be self-absorbent once in awhile? Where does it say that people can’t focus and improve on themselves? Gretchen Rubin has a good job, a good husband, two wonderful children, and an overall great life but she feels something is missing. She feels like while she has all these great things, she spends so much time worrying and focusing on other things that she isn’t properly happy with those things right in front of her so she vows to change things to put herself, and subsequently others around her, in a happier place.

I kept going back and forth on this book on whether to give it a 3 or 4 star rating and ended up going down the middle of those two. The concept is a good one if not completely original, who doesn’t look for a little bit of extra happiness in their life? I started out really enjoying this book and thought it was a 4 star but somewhere along the line it became somewhat repetitive. Also, I found myself annoyed by her use of other people’s responses to her blog posts – this is her story, not everyone else’s – and I felt like it was more a filler than a necessity for the most part. With that being said, I can see how many of her resolutions can be helpful and while I haven’t really jumped to try any of them yet, it’s something I might try at some point. Other resolutions of hers just didn’t resonate but again, this was her story, not mine (she does point out that everyone’s project would be different and molded to fit that persons needs). The back of the book is filled with some helpful hints to keep to some common goals and I am interested in some of the suggested readings. A quick, cheerful read with a sweet ending.

[BrandyGreen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book!

[Megan McCune Campbell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book. Lots to think about.

[magadri-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the book and would give it 3 out of 5 stars. I like the way the information was presented and Rubin included some lovely quotes sprinkled throughout the chapters. I thought she was funny, and I was able to relate to her in a lot of ways since we are both Type A personalities. However, there *were* a few times that I thought she was kind of whiny or bitchy, but you can't really expect for someone to be likable 100% of the time.The book is separated into a chapter for each month and each month she focuses on a different topic. In the month's main topic, she sets a few goals/things to work on. The subjects she covers are:Jan: Boost EnergyFeb: Improve MarriageMar: Work Harder at JobApr: Be a Better MomMay: Spend Time on Play/HobbiesJun: Be a Better FriendJul: Use Money to Improve HappinessAug: Focus on SpiritualitySep: Pursue a Passion (She chose books)Oct: Mindfulness/Enjoy the NowNov: Good Attitude/MannersDec: She aimed for perfection in all of the previous month's topicsI particularly enjoyed reading the improving marriage, spending time on play, and spirituality sections. I felt like there was some good information/viewpoints to absorb from those chapters. I especially liked that her spirituality section was from more of an agnostic point of view focusing primarily on gratitude, so I felt that it could be beneficial to believers and non-believers alike.However, I feel that her sections on work and money are not full of a lot of particularly good information for the large majority of people. Rubin leads an exceptionally blessed life in that she has plenty of money and that she works from home. Not that I begrudge her this, but I just feel that not a lot of people can relate. In the money section, she says that you should indulge in a modest splurge on something. She proceeds to "modestly splurge" on a LOT of things over the course of the book. Buying a brand new fancy book collection just for the hell of it is not an option for a lot of people. As for the work section, she mainly discusses how she starts a blog. Not helpful to most people. She also includes a weird letter she emailed to someone who gave her book a bad review. I feel like it would have been keeping more to her own goals to have accepted the bad criticism and moved on, rather than feeling the need to defend herself to some random reviewer she didn't know personally.Anyway, as a whole, the book was enjoyable. It was a quick read and I would recommend it. Although at times, Rubin comes across as slightly disingenuous, she is very relatable, funny, and intelligent, and I would definitely read more from her. I would also read this book again, because overall, I found it to be encouraging and a good motivator to focus on your goals.

[Carys Murley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Makes you think, reflect, and begin to make changes! Worth the read/listen.

[Isabel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Truly inspiring, thought provoking and genuine. Thank you Gretchen!

[Faizal Perlo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good reading

[pathogenik-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've had lots of fun reading this candid, honest, and sometimes humorous account of the year that Gretchen spent trying to be happier. It is set as resolutions made for every month of the year. I have started reading this book earlier this year. Every now and then, i would read a few pages, I liked to let it linger over the year. I've decoded back in September that it would be fun to finish reading it on December, since the last chapter in the book is about December, and I did, and I'm very glad that I did. It's an easy enjoyable read. i am not sure if i'd read her other book 'happier at home' , but it's not out of question. Very nice book, not a heavy self-help book, yet pretty educating. i loved the quotes she used, and how organized it was - she's a very organized serious person, and I like that.

[mathias_bergqvist_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Personal and relatable, also as a 40 yr old man. :-)

[Hesham Mamdouh Mahfouz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The greatness behind this book is due to the fact it is like a solved example memoir which leaves you with immediate practical doable life-changing action items (resolutions as the writer likes to call it) and keeps the connection between you and the happiness "project" through the happiness project blog with other enthusiasts who share same simple dream of just living happily. Rarely, I am giving a five stars rate but when it comes to a life changing one it becomes well deserved.

[amcheri-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I got some good ideas and some inspiration and that was the point.

[toddtyrtle · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Interesting references to others' work, but I had a really hard time relating to the author which made for slow going.

[sanyamakadi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There was a lot of good stuff in the book, and the writing was very casual and easy to read. There were some small annoyances (e.g. waaaaaay too many pages were covered with paragraph-long quotes from the comment section of her blog), and one really big one. The first couple months focus on her actions and her marriage, and her main resolution was to stop "nagging," i.e. stop asking and expecting her husband to take an active role in the mental load of parenthood and marriage, and if she wanted tasks done it was better to just do them herself than ask someone else for support. My feminist heart cringed every time she accused herself of "nagging" or "needing gold stars" i.e. some acknowledgement for her work in keeping the house and marriage running. Telling women to take on more and expect less from their partners is NOT the key to happiness, and I shutter to think of how many women have read her book and felt like they just needed to change their own expectations of support and partnership, and just take on more, to be happier.

[lukegoldstein · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A ton of good tips for small changes along with big changes if you’re ready for that.

[charlotteburt · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting but i'm not sure its going to change my life in any way.

[dolly22_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A very light hearted account of happiness, what it is and how to achieve it. Don't expect any major enlightenments, but still a light, easy read

[andycyca-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Those who know me, know that I hate those cheesy cookie-cutter self-help books about telling yourself in the mirror "You're an champion". They feel to me like an exercise in egotism. They tell me how *others* believe I can be happy.Fortunately, this book isn't that case.Although it seems superficial at times, Rubin finds here some interesting ideas about happiness and one of the most important ones is that (the quest for) happiness doesn't look the same for everyone. We all have different problems and situations that make any DIY Happiness Kit impossible. Instead, Rubin takes us through her own ideas for *her* personal happiness, along with results.Some might argue, and perhaps with good reason, that the book is vain just because it was written by a woman with a job, a stable and loving family, no particular undesirable situations like disease or war and no dramatic story. To me, that's completely missing the point of the book.Instead she notes that even with all those things, happiness seems to be something else, unrelated to her status and position. Rather, it has to do with the way one acts, thinks and reacts to situations. Of course, it's impossible to account for everything and she emphasizes this repeatedly: there's no single way of achieving happiness, but we can learn some tricks and ideas from others and then adapt those to our own circumstances.Her voyage serves as a starting point, rather than a map. A series of guidelines, rather than rules and ideas rather than orders. This is why, in a way, it reads better and more honest than the average crap. She says "This is what worked for me, perhaps some of it might work for you. Off you go!" and nothing more.Give it a chance if you really have no idea where to start looking (and even if you have, chances are this might hold a surprise or two for you!)

[sgilbraith-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

While I won't say this book is useless, I can't, in all honesty, recommend it to anyone.

[gilroy_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm a loyal listener to the Happier podcast, so I figured it's time to read the book.I liked some of her revelations, her commandments, and her Splendid Realizations. They are all enlightening. Definitely fills in some details of what they talk about in the podcast.One thing that caught me. The four stages of happiness offsets the five stages of grief? Okay...Sometimes, listening to someone else's struggles does help another. But If you're not in the frame of mind to take the advice given, even through anecdotes, then the book won't be a help. I've found this many times when trying to gather information from books that I just wasn't ready for. This book I wanted to learn from and that's why I could enjoy it.This proved informative to me, even if all I take away are her Splendid Truths, her commandments, and a deeper commitment to her podcast. It also encouraged me to buy the book, rather than keep it as a borrow from the library.

[tytania-2 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm so "done" with happiness. I think I'll seek out some books about finding curmudgeonliness next. No, seriously, I'm afraid I won't be able to give this book a fair review, because I don't exactly remember what led me to obtain and read it, and I'm not really that interested in happiness anymore... I'm kind of there, not meaning I'm happy all the time, but I kinda know everything there is to know about my own happiness, now, after half a century. So the book - it's fine. It's one woman's one-year project. (Yet another "My Year of...") At least she wasn't surreptitiously trying to come to terms with the death of a parent or anything like that. She tries so many things, you're bound to come across a couple of good ideas to apply to your own life. God, I felt bad for her husband, though. Is this what married-with-children life is like? The abyss was one scene where her two little girls were fighting, and she discovers her husband upstairs taking a nap. She wakes him up and says, "This is your problem! You need to fix this!" Kill me now, I can imagine him thinking. She sprinkles in scenes like this where she is decidedly NOT happy, which always starts to feel like a nice, humanizing, relatable touch - but then they always end with a sappy, happy ending. You're missing the point of showing us your less-than-perfect side, Gretchen. But hey! This is supposed to be a HAPPY book... why all of this, who woke who from a nap, and who failed to live down to my imperfect expectations.. I'm sorry, though, I'm failing to come up with one excellent life lesson that I can apply to my life going forward, except to really and truly this time STOP with the happiness books.

[decaturmamaof2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book sat on my nightstand for about 2 years - for some reason I kept having a reason not to read it, and there were plenty of other books to devour. Well, I finally read it, and I was pleasantly surprised. I quite liked many sections of this book, and think Ms. Rubin makes some excellent points in sharing her experience. It actually inspired me to declutter some paper piles that had been weighing on my for some time...

[ladyoflorien_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The content of the book was interesting but the writing style is not my cup of tea. This is the third book by Gretchen Rubin I've tried to read. A lot of my friends really enjoyed the book, so you'll have to judge it for yourself.

[borrows0n0wants · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the book and would give it 3 out of 5 stars. I like the way the information was presented and Rubin included some lovely quotes sprinkled throughout the chapters. I thought she was funny, and I was able to relate to her in a lot of ways since we are both Type A personalities. However, there *were* a few times that I thought she was kind of whiny or bitchy, but you can't really expect for someone to be likable 100% of the time.The book is separated into a chapter for each month and each month she focuses on a different topic. In the month's main topic, she sets a few goals/things to work on. The subjects she covers are:Jan: Boost EnergyFeb: Improve MarriageMar: Work Harder at JobApr: Be a Better MomMay: Spend Time on Play/HobbiesJun: Be a Better FriendJul: Use Money to Improve HappinessAug: Focus on SpiritualitySep: Pursue a Passion (She chose books)Oct: Mindfulness/Enjoy the NowNov: Good Attitude/MannersDec: She aimed for perfection in all of the previous month's topicsI particularly enjoyed reading the improving marriage, spending time on play, and spirituality sections. I felt like there was some good information/viewpoints to absorb from those chapters. I especially liked that her spirituality section was from more of an agnostic point of view focusing primarily on gratitude, so I felt that it could be beneficial to believers and non-believers alike.However, I feel that her sections on work and money are not full of a lot of particularly good information for the large majority of people. Rubin leads an exceptionally blessed life in that she has plenty of money and that she works from home. Not that I begrudge her this, but I just feel that not a lot of people can relate. In the money section, she says that you should indulge in a modest splurge on something. She proceeds to "modestly splurge" on a LOT of things over the course of the book. Buying a brand new fancy book collection just for the hell of it is not an option for a lot of people. As for the work section, she mainly discusses how she starts a blog. Not helpful to most people. She also includes a weird letter she emailed to someone who gave her book a bad review. I feel like it would have been keeping more to her own goals to have accepted the bad criticism and moved on, rather than feeling the need to defend herself to some random reviewer she didn't know personally.Anyway, as a whole, the book was enjoyable. It was a quick read and I would recommend it. Although at times, Rubin comes across as slightly disingenuous, she is very relatable, funny, and intelligent, and I would definitely read more from her. I would also read this book again, because overall, I found it to be encouraging and a good motivator to focus on your goals.

[realbigcat · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There are a ton of books written on happiness and The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin takes some of the best ideas as she goes thru a personal search to see what really works. Each month of a single year Rubin tried to apply the principles of a widely known source of happiness. She is brutally honest about what worked and what didn't. In the end she felt happier but ultimately there is no magic pill and what works for one person does not necessarily work for the other. An interesting read that gives some good ideas on your own pursuit of happiness.

[teckelvik · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I forget where and when I first heard of Gretchen Rubin. I listen to her podcast, but I don't remember which came first, book or podcast. Perhaps because I am so familiar with her findings, there was nothing really new here. The life-stunt format was OK, and it was nice to see things laid out, but I didn't feel that this book was very helpful to me. I do recommend her later books, which built on this one, as being more detailed and helpful. Also, the podcast is packed with useful tips and insights.