Before Happiness

The 5 Hidden Keys to Achieving Success, Spreading Happiness, and Sustaining Positive Change

By: Shawn Achor

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “This fresh, uplifting book is filled with ideas for improving our organizations and our lives.”—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the podcast WorkLife

“With his characteristic blend of academic rigor and twinkle in the eye, Shawn Achor will change your view of happiness, of reality—and of yourself.”—Susan Cain, New York Times bestselling author of Quiet and Bittersweet

Why are some people able to make positive change while others remain the same?

In his international bestseller, The Happiness Advantage, Harvard-trained researcher Shawn Achor described why happiness is the precursor to greater success. Before Happiness is about what comes before both. Because before we can be happy or successful, we need to first develop the ability to see that positive change is possible. Only once we learn to see the world through a more positive lens can we summon all our motivation, emotion, and intelligence to achieve our personal and professional goals.

In Before Happiness, Achor reveals five actionable, proven strategies for changing our lens to positive:

• The Most Valuable Reality: See a broader range of ideas and solutions by changing the details on which your brain chooses to focus
• Success Mapping: Set goals oriented around the things in life that matter to you most, whether career advancement or family or making a difference in the world
• The X-spot: Use success accelerants to propel you more quickly towards those goals, whether finishing a marathon, reaching a sales target, learning a language, or losing ten pounds
• Noise-Canceling: Boost the signal pointing you to opportunities and possibilities that others miss
• Positive Inception: Transfer these skills to your team, your employees, and everyone around you

By mastering these strategies, you’ll create a renewable source of positivity, motivation, and engagement that will allow you to reach your fullest potential in everything you do.

Critic reviews

“In this remarkable book, one of the leading thinkers in the field of positive psychology digs deep into the science to find practical techniques for unleashing your genius for happiness. So forget about cheap gimmicks and gooey affirmations. Instead, listen to Shawn Achor—and prepare to take notes!”—Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret

“Before Happiness is the book that positive psychology fans have been waiting to read. Shawn Achor, the leading light in bringing the science of happiness to work, offers his signature blend of eye-opening research insights, entertaining stories, and infectious enthusiasm. This fresh, uplifting book is filled with ideas for improving our organizations and our lives.”—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the podcast WorkLife

“Shawn Achor is a positive genius who is capable of taking complex academic research and making it come to life in companies and schools across the globe.”—Tony Hsieh, bestselling author of Delivering Happiness and former CEO of Zappos, Inc.

“In Before Happiness, Shawn Achor provides simple, scientifically sound strategies built around three key factors most of us undervalue: where we choose to put our attention, how much social support we build into our lives, and whether we view stress as a challenge rather than a threat.”—Tony Schwartz, bestselling author of The Power of Full Engagement and Be Excellent at Anything

“Read this book before you buy any other self-improvement title. For anyone who wants to find more meaning, achievement, and joy in life, this is the single best place to start.”—Tom Rath, bestselling author of StrengthsFinder 2.0 and Eat Move Sleep

“Achor infuses Before Happiness with empirical evidence, anecdotes and studies showing that even a simple adjustment in thinking impacts our outlook and how we’re perceived. . . . The book offers insights and ideas for adjusting your angle of vision so you open the door to happiness and success.”—Success

“A must-read.”—The Washington Times

Loved it.

It largely related to a workplace environment which wasn't on my scope but HEAPS of information completely usable in everyday life whatever setting you may find yourself in.

I'm very enthusiast of the concepts

you will need a notebook handy... is a lot of information could escape. pay attention isn't enough

Awesome book

There were some gems in this book. Definitely worth the read. Highly recommended. Get this book!

Very insightful and practical

Excellent narration by the author himself!

The book outlines 5 key strategies that can be implemented alongside the habits that Shawn Anchor talks about in The Happiness Advantage.

This book takes you on an adventure of how to build meaning into your own life and then how to naturally achieve your goals much faster than you could have ever imagined by using some biological and psychological success accelerants.

The final chapter might just be the most important chapter I have ever read to understand just how to bring happiness into my life and relationships. His discussion of franchising happiness to empower yourself and others was fascinating.

With over 6 simple action steps from each section, I feel well equipped to create the lasting happiness in my life that I have always dreamed of.

If you are an intellectual person, this book is for you. He does an excellent job of putting emotions into an understandable language.

Powerful and inspiring

Easy listen on commute. Concrete suggestions to use everyday. Many well presented points. May need to re-listen to get every pearl. Great positive energy burst to start the day !

Great book

I really enjoyed this book, Shawn's style is relaxed, entertaining and informative. Highly recommended reading for anyone who wishes to develop increased self awareness.

Humor makes science fascinating

I can’t speak highly enough about this book,

This will change your life if you let it

Packed with Practical Application

I read this book 3 times because I wanted to glean every ounce of wisdom I could learn, and will probably read it I handful of times more.I gained Immense value from this book. Sean Anchor gives 30 practical takeaways in this book that will help you w results to find and give yourself and those around you inspiration. This book may be used as a resource and if you’re so inclined it’s worth studying and taking notes on. If you like books with a lot of meat you will be very pleased with this book. I was. I have recommended to many of my friends and will continue to do so. I think this book should be required reading in all high schools across the nation. This book has ignited many interesting dinner conversation w my 2 teenaged!

Excelent book

I have learned a lot, I am using some of the strategies wrote on this book, it really work.

The reality that choose y what I will be.

Every young person should be given a free copy

This is an absolute gem of a book - and unlike so much of the self-help literature, contains enough conceptualisation, reflection and recommendation for readers to emerge from listening with some clear, sensible and valuable ideas on how to address the challenges they face. Like his college professor, Brian Little, Shawn Achor has written a book borne of a brimming love of the human condition and the opportunities it holds for each of us. Having explored a number of online resources about Shawn, I have recommended him warmly to friends and family. If you have a spare credit on your account and you haven't read this book already, make it your next purchase - it's a treat, and potentially a life-changing one for many! :-)