Solve for Happy

Engineer Your Path to Joy

By: Mo Gawdat

Narrated by: Mo Gawdat

In this “powerful personal story woven with a rich analysis of what we all seek” (Sergey Brin, cofounder of Google), Mo Gawdat, Chief Business Officer at Google’s [X], applies his superior logic and problem solving skills to understand how the brain processes joy and sadness—and then he solves for happy.

In 2001 Mo Gawdat realized that despite his incredible success, he was desperately unhappy. A lifelong learner, he attacked the problem as an engineer would: examining all the provable facts and scrupulously applying logic. Eventually, his countless hours of research and science proved successful, and he discovered the equation for permanent happiness.

Thirteen years later, Mo’s algorithm would be put to the ultimate test. After the sudden death of his son, Ali, Mo and his family turned to his equation—and it saved them from despair. In dealing with the horrible loss, Mo found his mission: he would pull off the type of “moonshot” goal that he and his colleagues were always aiming for—he would share his equation with the world and help as many people as possible become happier.

In Solve for Happy Mo questions some of the most fundamental aspects of our existence, shares the underlying reasons for suffering, and plots out a step-by-step process for achieving lifelong happiness and enduring contentment. He shows us how to view life through a clear lens, teaching us how to dispel the illusions that cloud our thinking; overcome the brain’s blind spots; and embrace five ultimate truths.

No matter what obstacles we face, what burdens we bear, what trials we’ve experienced, we can all be content with our present situation and optimistic about the future.

Best Book Ever

I usually don't like to read but I try to read one book a year just to keep this habit in my life. Also, it usually takes me 2 to 3 months till I finish reading that book. However, when I got solve for happy I finished it in 5 days only, because it was really interesting and full of knowledge. Moreover, I got this book as audible to send it to my father to listen to it and I know it will make him happy. I highly recommend to get it and you I'm sure it will help your understanding of happiness.

It can change your life

Solve for Happy is another book I recommend. It is from a Google X engineer who lost his son due to a medical error in Dubai and struggle to find the formula of happiness. What to take out of your life, what points of view to modify and what to add to be happier. It's a pretty good book till the last few chapters when he tries to discredit the theory of evolution. If you put that aside, it's a great book, beyond a shadow of a doubt!

A challenging and engaging book

The reading by Mo truly brings you into his story and helps you hear his feelings as he explains how he has solved for happy. His story is uplifting and his equation for happiness is well thought out and challenging. I'm grateful that I listened to this book, it will be my go to as I go forward.

This is a very special book. Maybe the best I have or ever will read

I was introduced to this book by a very kind, like minded and intelligent doctor. He was from another culture, extremely foreign to me in every way. He lived in another country thousands of miles from my home. We met randomly on an island far from both of our homes. We were both involved in volunteer work full of sacrifice and discomfort. Some of the final words of this exceptionally well written book were this.:."we do what we can because we can for everyone while we are here" or something like that. Profoundly impactful story full of some of the greatest logic and reason married with faith. Thank you Dr. Ali for referring me to the inspiring story of Ali; told by his father in his own words.

Great useful book, except the last part

I loved the book, except the designer "god" portion at the end. Note that I'm agnostic, don't know whether some designer exists, but I believe his math is wrong. His religious views do not bother in the least, as it is of the "personal relationship" kind. I don't care whatever you believe, as long as it does not interfere in other's personal life (and thus public life overall). For details on why I disagree with his view, look up "Survivor Bias" which is fairly easy to understand, and then "Anthropic principle". The rest of the book I found very helpful and useful.