The Happiness Advantage

The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work

By: Shawn Achor

Narrated by: Shawn Achor

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • An engaging, deeply researched guide to flourishing in a world of increasing stress and negativity—the inspiration for one of the most popular TED Talks of all time

“Powerful [and] charming . . . A book for just about anyone . . . The philosophies in this book are easily the best wire frames to build a happy and successful life.”—Medium

Happiness is not the belief that we don’t need to change; it is the realization that we can.

Our most commonly held formula for success is broken. Conventional wisdom holds that once we succeed, we’ll be happy; that once we get that great job, win that next promotion, lose those five pounds, happiness will follow. But the science reveals this formula to be backward: Happiness fuels success, not the other way around.

Research shows that happy employees are more productive, more creative, and better problem solvers than their unhappy peers. And positive people are significantly healthier and less stressed and enjoy deeper social interaction than the less positive people around them.

Drawing on original research—including one of the largest studies of happiness ever conducted—and work in boardrooms and classrooms across forty-two countries, Shawn Achor shows us how to rewire our brains for positivity and optimism to reap the happiness advantage in our lives, our careers, and even our health. His strategies include:

• The Tetris Effect: how to retrain our brains to spot patterns of possibility so we can see and seize opportunities all around us
• Social Investment: how to earn the dividends of a strong social support network
• The Ripple Effect: how to spread positive change within our teams, companies, and families

By turns fascinating, hopeful, and timely, The Happiness Advantage reveals how small shifts in our mind-set and habits can produce big gains at work, at home, and elsewhere.

©2010 Shawn Achor (P)2010 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Shawn Achor is funny, self-deprecating, and devastating to my notions of what his field is all about…. I'm butter to his knife." (The Boston Globe)

"Achor bases his training on a burgeoning body of research on the positive psychology movement, which emphasizes instilling resiliency and positive attitudes." (The Wall Street Journal)

“Achor transports us to his virtual classroom, a journey along which we glean the seven secrets of happiness. The Happiness Advantage reveals the most important discoveries coming out of modern psychology.” (Rom Brafman, bestselling co-author of Sway and Click)

Very Insightful

Good for salesman and women of all ages and tenure. From first day employees to corp execs.

Very interesting.

Happines is a mindset. Your emotions can screw your life. Learn to control them and you will succeed.

Very good book

Impactful. Packed with studies that drive the philosophies and tons of practical examples. Worth the read.

Inspirational

I enjoyed the insight and information on becoming more positive in the way you think. It’s small changes, consistency and time that can help you change your mindset.

An engaging way to look at functional happiness

This offers concise and concrete examples and reasoning to become more productive and effective in life by improving your mental state.

The Science behind Dale Carnegie

This book puts compelling data behind many of the tools taught in Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People", focusing on Positivity.

Enlightening!

Love the stories! This made me more aware of my actions and moods and how they affect others. Enjoyed all!

Very uplifting and motivating

Would you consider the audio edition of The Happiness Advantage to be better than the print version?

I received the audio version as a gift. There is a universal need for more positive media. Shawn does an excellent job of dispersing positive thoughts and rational reasons why they not only feel good, help others feel good, but also promote success.

Good information I'm already benefitting from

Would you listen to The Happiness Advantage again? Why?

Yes, because I want to write down the seven principles. Listening as an audio book I can't flip back to the headlines, so yes, I do want to listen again.

What did you like best about this story?

I like that he used his own experience and research.

Have you listened to any of Shawn Achor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Write down three positive things to be thankful for each day. How to make rules to change habits. How happiness leads to success. Success does not lead to happiness. My happiness will spread to others.

Any additional comments?

Thank God he never once mentions the universe. How I hate listening to authors tell me how I need to ask the universe for things! This book gives you real tools, using proven techniques, so I can make the changes I want to make! I'm the only one who can do that!

Heard that before...

I have read /listened to lot of the examples in previous books so the book didn't feel like eye opening to me. Good message overall