• The How of Happiness

  • A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want
  • By: Sonja Lyubomirsky
  • Narrated by: Sonja Lyubomirsky
  • Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (670 ratings)

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The How of Happiness  By  cover art

The How of Happiness

By: Sonja Lyubomirsky
Narrated by: Sonja Lyubomirsky
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Publisher's summary

You can change your personal capacity for happiness. Research psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky's pioneering concept of the 40% solution shows you how.
©2008 Sonja Lyubomirsky (P)2008 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Finally we have a self-help book from a reputable scientist whose advice is based on the best experimental data... The How of Happiness is smart, fun, and interesting - and unlike almost every other book on the same shelf, it also happens to be true." (Daniel Gilbert, Harvard University professor of psychology and author of Stumbling on Happiness)

"A guide to sustaining your newfound contentment." (Psychology Today)

"Lyubomirsky's central point is clear: a significant portion of what is called happiness . . . is up for grabs. Taking some pages out of the positive psychology playbook, she coaches readers on how to snag it." (The New York Review of Books)

Featured Article: How to Be Happier, According to These Smile-Inducing Audiobooks


"Happiness" seems like this abstract concept we keep reaching for but will never be able to actually grasp, right? Wrong—at least according to the following authors. Here is a list of the best audiobooks to help you find your pathway to happiness. Some are step-by-step guides; others are personal accounts of finding the way to a genuinely happy life. Whichever style you prefer, there's an audiobook about happiness that will fit your journey.

What listeners say about The How of Happiness

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    4 out of 5 stars

Well worth reading and doing.

Well worth reading and doing. It's hard to say more. The science of positive emotions has been maturing over the years and we're starting to see a lot of great material coming out, like this book, which is helpful and grounded in good research. The research is what distinguishes this from so many self help books, since those are usually based on one's personal experience or maybe on a clinical practice. What we miss there is a clinical practice lacks is a control. That is, is what I'm doing any better than doing nothing at all. I've adopted some of the practices already and am adding them to my teaching.

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5 people found this helpful

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Well studies book

What I liked about this book is that it's very practical.
It is also supported with scientific studies and yet this is not presented in a long boring way.
Only info that is needed is presented in the book.

Good job.

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1 person found this helpful

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Very Good Book!

Just what I need to read over and over! Great Scientific approach to happiness!

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  • Overall
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Very Practical Advice

Great book on how to improve our happiness level. I highly recommend this book as the steps to improve happiness is doable.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Informative and uplifting

A ton of research info and great tips on becoming happier with your self, situation, and relationships.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Needs more digital chapter boundaries!!

This book needs many more digital chapter boundaries!!

The book tells the listener to skip to the postscript if depressed (presently, 41 minutes into chapter 14), but makes this very challenging. I'm not depressed. I'm worried about a couple of depressed friends and I wanted to know what they would read/hear if they skip to this section. It took me ten minutes to find the postscript. One of my friends certainly won't have the energy/will to do this.

I will be giving the physical version of the book to anybody who seems depressed, since this is so problematic in my opinion.

Other than this regrettable audiobook technology issue, I think this book is great! I'm really grateful that my sister gave it to me!

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    4 out of 5 stars

Worth the credit...

Coming from a scientific background and thinking in an analytical way I greatly appreciate all the statistical support for Sonja's work. I enjoy how she throws in personal accounts that further describe her findings by sharing her own doubts and stumblings. Sometimes I thought the 'hows' suggested were a little trite but I did participate in most of her questionnaires and tests with worthy positive results. Who knew?! I love the idea of a happiness set point and proof that 40% of one's happiness can be improved! Very encouraging! Many times I found myself saying "Hmmmm...there's an idea!"

Her narration was wonderful. She has a great voice for this subject matter!

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16 people found this helpful

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Excellent Perspective!

It's nice to hear such a refreshing perspective on happiness by a Psychologist. Thank you Sonja!

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it made me happy :)

Great book with research supported methods of learning how to be happy. Such a simple idea! I really am happier now. The book is WORTH IT.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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pretty good information

didn't like the academic style. it was more engaging at higher speed to make the dull parts less relevant.

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