Happier at Home

Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon a Project, Read Samuel Johnson, and My Other Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life

By: Gretchen Rubin

Narrated by: Gretchen Rubin

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the spirit of her blockbuster number one New York Times best seller The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin embarks on a new project to make home a happier place.

One Sunday afternoon, as she unloaded the dishwasher, Gretchen Rubin felt hit by a wave of homesickness. Homesick - why? She was standing right in her own kitchen. She felt homesick, she realized, with love for home itself. “Of all the elements of a happy life,” she thought, “my home is the most important.” In a flash, she decided to undertake a new happiness project, and this time, to focus on home. 

And what did she want from her home? A place that calmed her, and energized her. A place that, by making her feel safe, would free her to take risks. Also, while Rubin wanted to be happier at home, she wanted to appreciate how much happiness was there already. 

So, starting in September (the new January), Rubin dedicated a school year - September through May - to making her home a place of greater simplicity, comfort, and love.  

In The Happiness Project, she worked out general theories of happiness. Here she goes deeper on factors that matter for home, such as possessions, marriage, time, and parenthood. How can she control the cubicle in her pocket? How might she spotlight her family’s treasured possessions? And it really was time to replace that dud toaster. 

Each month, Rubin tackles a different theme as she experiments with concrete, manageable resolutions - and this time, she coaxes her family to try some resolutions, as well.  

With her signature blend of memoir, science, philosophy, and experimentation, Rubin’s passion for her subject jumps off the page, and listening to just a few chapters of this audiobook will inspire listeners to find more happiness in their own lives.

©2012 Gretchen Rubin (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"With her characteristic mix of delightful charm, thoughtful research, and insightful advice, In Happier at Home Gretchen Rubin shows how to add fun,  joy, and harmony to your home life. As usual with Rubin's work, I couldn't put this book down." (Susan Cain, New York Times best-selling author of QUIET: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking)

“From ‘threshold rituals’ to ‘cultivating a shrine,’ Happier at Home has brought more joy into my life. It’s a rare book that inspires personal change and takes you on a rollicking adventure through history and into the minds of great thinkers. I’m grateful for Gretchen Rubin's work.” (Brené Brown, PhD, author of number one New York Times best-selling book, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way we Live, Love, Parent, and Lead)

"A happy home is the elusive ideal we all strive for - whether we live in the city or suburbs, with children or parents, with partners, roommates, or on our own. In Happier at Home, Gretchen Rubin brilliantly shows us how to create an environment that embraces the people and the things that give us a sense of comfort, tranquility, and joy." (Harlan Coben, best-selling author of Six Years and Stay Close)

A lot of repeated information and stories

I love Gretchen Rubin and have thoroughly enjoyed her previous books. This one, however, repeats much of the stories and information in 'The Happiness Project.' It's just not enough new content. Also, it's much more purely autobiographical. I do love her voice, and enjoy listening to her life experience. This book seems a little like filler, though. I'm looking forward to her books which explore new subjects.

If You’ve Read Others ...

... don’t bother. So much regurgitation. So much smugness. Where other of Rubin’s books are seemingly substantially researched, this is mostly the story of me-me-me. If you’ve had a life and reached some measure of maturity, none of this is informative or even helpful, and her self-congratulatory attitude comes across as superior and egotistical.

I just couldn’t even finish it. Such a shame. So many wasted hours.

return

if all sentences with the word "I" was remove there would be 15 pages. couldn't make more than an hour through this book.

Meh?

Not what I expected. No new concept or knowledge. Struggle to finish the book.

Perfectly Gretchen

I loved Happier at Home! It had good tips/examples of adding happiness into daily life, which was expected but what I loved so much was the dialog that Gretchen puts into the book. The dialog between her and family and friends makes this what appears more of a self-help book turn into a story and I love that!!

LOVED IT

I love Gretchen's podcast and have been a listener for about a year now. I love her voice and straight forward vibe. This book gave great suggestions on how to lead a happier life.

Love it!

Gretchen Rubin is one of the most inspirational people in the world today! This marks my third finished book written by her and they just keep getting better and better! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

Favourite Gretchen Rubin book

This is my go-to book to pay more attention to my everyday life and enjoy it more.
Beautifully written, filled with inspiring and original quotes.

Soulful and practical guide to making your house a home

This re-record of Happier at Home was fantastic- hearing this delightful journey with equal parts guidance and grace from Gretchen directly makes it a must listen. Treat yourself!

Read by Gretchen!

Listening to this book made me even more sure that Gretchen and I would be fast friends. In fact, since recording her book in her own voice, it was like we were having a conversation for 10 hours! 😁. In truth, Gretchen is down to earth and so very practical that her research and ideas really ring true to anyone interested in having a little more control over their own happiness. A great read with great tips for seeking and finding a little more happiness at home and in life.