1. ISBN13: 9780061583254
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. "The days are long, but the years are short," she realized. "Time is passing, and I'm not focusing enough on the things that really matter." In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.

In this lively and compelling account of that year, Rubin carves out her place alongside the authors of bestselling memoirs such as Julie and Julia, The Year of Living Biblically, and Eat, Pray, Love. With humor and insight, she chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier.

Rubin didn't have the option to uproot herself, nor did she really want to; instead she focused on improving her life as it was. Each month she tackled a new set of resolutions: give proofs of love, ask for help, find more fun, keep a gratitude notebook, forget about results. She immersed herself in principles set forth by all manner of experts, from Epicurus to Thoreau to Oprah to Martin Seligman to the Dalai Lama to see what worked for her—and what didn't.

Her conclusions are sometimes surprising—she finds that money can buy happiness, when spent wisely; that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that "treating" yourself can make you feel worse; that venting bad feelings doesn't relieve them; that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference—and they range from the practical to the profound.

Written with charm and wit, The Happiness Project is illuminating yet entertaining, thought-provoking yet compulsively readable. Gretchen Rubin's passion for her subject jumps off the page, and reading just a few chapters of this book will inspire you to start your own happiness project.

Customer Review :

Great book!

I found this book a very enjoyable and informative read. Gretchen Rubin wrote this in not only a humorous manner but very insightful. This is a book that everyone can learn something from. Though your circumstances may be different than Ms. Rubin's you may find ways that will increase the happiness in your life. Share this book with someone you love.

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Happiness is doing and a little bit being

The author's first commandment is "Be Gretchan". That is what we get in this book. I laughed out loud at her sincere attempts to be nicer to her husband even though he didn't seem to notice when she did an "Extreme Nice" week towards him. Her honesty about needing and wanting a gold star for all of the things she feels she needs to do to be a good wife, a good daughter, and a good daughter-in-law yields a lot of good suggestions. It's just that she can't seem to let go of her strong need for approval and a pat on the back. Her husband's "please don't make me" plea not to be coerced into stuffing and sealing Valentine photo card envelopes which is solely her idea was a tender observation of her self-described personality traits (anger, self-righteousness and prickly critical reactions.) I thought the weakest part of her sojourn was spirituality and mindfulness. Especially her quick resistance ("Be Gretchan") to exploring or even reading about Buddhism and mindfulness: no desire to do extensive research here. Her ignorance and subsequent arrogance shows up when she comes up with her own "koans" as though she already has an understanding of what Zen Koans and Buddhism are about. Cleaning out one's closets does make one feel better. There ARE a lot of helpful suggestions. In the end, Gretchan has written a book about DOING THINGS that will make one happier: the ultimate Western World approach to completing goals in life. What she is less willing to explore by "being Gretchan" is Eastern, which teaches BEING in the world. There, the striving quiets down and the self is able to reflect its true nature. Without even trying.

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Life changing to say the least!

Great book, I couldn't put it down! Gretchen Rubin does and excellent job of combining wit, philosophy and advice with her own personal journey on her "Happiness Project." It'll encourage you to improve your own life and even after a few chapters I could feel a difference.

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Good idea, but...

I was looking forward to reading this book since I found the idea of it intriguing. As I was reading, I realized that something was bothering me, but initially I couldn't figure out what it was. Finally, about half way through, it hit me: the author seems to be boasting. She goes on and on about how great her life is by letting the reader know that she has a soul mate husband, wonderful kids, a great education, her dream job, perfect relationships with in-laws and parents, tons of friends and acquaintances, etc. It had me wondering why she even embarked on this project other than the obvious: money. If she's not as happy as she could be with all of these advantages, then I am not interested in her journey, anyway. If you're looking for something insightful, I would not recommend this book.

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good, but not great

I have mixed feelings about this book. Some of it was really good and resonated with me (including the included comments from her blog), some I thought was plain stupid. I also thought a lot of it was written in a very egocentric tone and somewhat lengthy - I had to skip over some pages to keep going. But then again, Rubin makes quite clear that this book is about her project, so why shouldn't she speak about herself?
Overall, I liked it and it got me thinking, but it is not a literary masterpiece - like most blogs turned books.

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1. ISBN13: 9780345515612
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

What do we wish most for our children? Next to being healthy, we want them to be happy, of course! Fortunately, a wide array of scientific studies show that happiness is a learned behavior, a muscle we can help our children build and maintain.

Drawing on what psychology, sociology, and neuroscience have proven about confidence, gratefulness, and optimism, and using her own chaotic and often hilarious real-world adventures as a mom to demonstrate do’s and don’ts in action, Christine Carter, Ph.D, executive director of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, boils the process down to 10 simple happiness-inducing steps.

With great wit, wisdom, and compassion, Carter covers the day-to-day pressure points of parenting—how best to discipline, get kids to school and activities on time, and get dinner on the table—as well as the more elusive issues of helping children build healthy friendships and develop emotional intelligence. In these 10 key steps, she helps you interact confidently and consistently with your kids to foster the skills, habits, and mindsets that will set the stage for positive emotions now and into their adolescence and beyond. Inside you will discover
 
• the best way avoid raising a brat—changing bad habits into good ones
• tips on how to change your kids’ attitude into gratitude
• the trap of trying to be perfect—and how to stay clear of its pitfalls 
• the right way to praise kids—and why too much of the wrong kind can be just as bad as not enough
• the spirit of kindness—how to raise kind, compassionate, and loving children
• strategies for inspiring kids to do boring (but necessary) tasks—and become more self-motivated in the process
 
Complete with a series of “try this” tips, secrets, and strategies,Raising Happiness is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you instill joy in your kids—and, in the process, become more joyful yourself.

Customer Review :

Make the World a Better Place by Reading Raising Happiness!

raising HAPPINESS by Christine Carter, Ph.D. is a must read for everyone (not just parents). Even though the book provides 10 simple steps for more joyful kids and happier parents, these 10 simple steps are actually steps toward more joyful living. During each chapter, by applying Dr. Carter's easy to implement steps to the reader's household and workplace, one can achieve greater happiness.

This book reminds us that good parenting is necessary for the children of our future. The front cover of the book of a young girl running on her own self-power - flying a rainbow kite outdoors under a beautiful blue sky with clouds, symbolizes the importance of the message of this book - we, as a community, need to raise happiness and elevate the importance of playtime. We do not need to focus on perfection - just to work on expecting effort and enjoyment. Throughout the book, Dr. Carter identifies scientific studies to compliment her teaching, and infuses the book with humor, insightfulness, meditation techniques and downright common sense. It was a pleasure to read this book, and put the teachings into practice.

Please read this book today, and make the world a better place by raising happiness all around you. Thank you.



Rating :

Sound Sensible Advice

This book offers some simple and sensible guidelines to not only raising happier children (at whatever age your children currently are), but also on how to help your own happiness along in an effort to model behavior for your children that will help them learn ways to avoid the pitfalls of negativity and frustration.

This book was recommended to me by a friend who works with children professionally and I have to say that I am encouraged by the help that this book offers for both parents and professionals.

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Not just another self-help parenting book!

Dr. Carter has written an honest, practical, and encouraging book which parents everywhere will not only enjoy reading, but will find valuable lessons for increasing family and personal happiness. "Raising Happiness" is packed with knowledge based on research, yet remains easily readable without being bogged down with scientific terminology and ramblings. Whether you are a parent of a toddler or teenager, a parent-to-be, work with kids, or just want to understand more about how to cultivate happiness, this book is a must-read!

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Real, easy, and MEANINGFUL

This book is an excellent source of tips and techniques you can begin to implement TODAY that will change the overall feeling in your house immediately. Christine carter has translated literally hundreds of social science articles into practical steps you can take to help your child grow, learn, and feel happy and fulfilled. Need to get out the door on school mornings? She has a plan. Want your child to be happy with what they have rather than asking you to buy something else? She has strategies. This book helps everyone in the family be more attentive to what we already have, the joy of our relationships, and ways we can help each other. Not just a "parenting" book. It is a family-building book. You will benefit as much as your children.

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Prescribing this book to patients

I really love this book. Its simplicity, optimism, and compassion for both parents and kids resonate with me as a parent and as a psychologist who works with families. I appreciate that nearly every one of Carter's happiness building skills can be initiated right now... making it a great book for new parents as well as for parents negotiating the teen years. In Carter's world, and supported by solid research, it's never too late to create new habits to build family happiness. I keep many copies of this book in my office and have found myself giving it to nearly every family with whom I work.

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More reviews...

1. ISBN13: 9781401323356
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

What Room Are You In?

Ask any woman how she's feeling. Even when things look pretty darn great from the outside, chances are that at least one thing (and it may seem minor to others) is nagging at her, making her feel less than spectacular, bringing her down: I'm too fat. My husband doesn't help enough around the house. My friend is going to be mad if I don't call her back. Why don't my kids try harder at school? My job is less than inspiring. Whatever happened to that old boyfriend, the one who got away?

Whether it's the size of our thighs or our bank accounts, there always seems to be something that isn't measuring up to our high standards--and we let the dissatisfaction spill over into other areas of our lives, distracting us from taking pleasure in everything that's going right.

In The Nine Rooms of Happiness, Lucy Danziger, editor in chief of Self magazine, and women's-health psychiatrist Catherine Birndorf use the metaphor of a house to release us from this phenomenon. In this house, the living room is where we deal with friendships and our social life; the bedroom is where we explore intimacy, romance, relationships, and sex; the bathroom is for issues relating to health and body image; the kitchen is for nourishment and the division of chores; and so on.

Our "inner house" can have eight beautifully designed, neat and tidy rooms, and one messy one, and still we focus on the mess.

The Nine Rooms of Happiness pinpoints common self-destructive patterns of behavior and offers key processes that will help readers clean up their emotional architecture. After each room is "clean," Danziger and Birndorf show us how we can spend time on ourselves figuring out what is most meaningful to us--finding larger passion and purpose that makes returning to the rest of our house a pleasure, no matter what calamity or mess awaits.

The result? After reading this book you'll think differently about the things that are bringing you down and be able to live a happier, more joy filled life, in every room of your emotional house.

From the outside, you'd think I have it all: beautiful house, wonderful children, devoted husband. But am I happy? I think so. There's nothing that has gone terribly wrong. There's no reason for me not to be happy. But I don't feel happy so much as I feel I'm just going through the motions. Sometimes I have the feeling that there's more and I just haven't found it yet. But what . . . and how dare I want more? Isn't all that I have enough?
--from The Nine Rooms of Happiness

Customer Review :

Amazing book

This is an unbelievable book. The authors provide a great combination of practical advice with real psychiatric breakdown of the different processes involved in happiness. Also, the interviewed hundreds of women to get these anecdotes. A must read. it changed the way i think about relationships.

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Insightful and motivating

I highly recommend this extremely readable book. The allegory of a woman's life being a house is meaningful on many levels. Although each room represents a different aspect of a woman's life, overall it is the entire house i.e. the home that still remains a woman's domain. On the eve of international woman's day, the issues continuing to plague women have not gone away. The Nine Rooms of Happiness deals with these issues in a unique and captivating way. Nothing is more rivating than a well-told story. This collection of "stories" describes day to day problems that are not earth shattering events but still affect a woman's ability to function in her most productive way. When reading this book it is evident that in whatever room you are in, you are not alone.

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Focuses too much on parenting issues

I know my husband and I are in the minority because we don't have kids (and aren't planning to). This book seems to focus a lot on parenting, and as a result it does not interest me. That's a shame, because I think it could be a very interesting subject if it wasn't so skewed in that direction.

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Happy To Be Reading This

What do I want to be when I grow up? Happy!

This book gets your attention with revealing women's stories (one gives her husband sex daily so that he won't stray and another is overwhelmed with guilt because she has her dream career but is not physically close to her family.) After each "vignette" there is a one act play-like workshop where the experts offer simple strategies to move through the issue and offer simple ways to find some personal resolution. The result: we as the audience confront a little bit our own self especially the parts that may be stuck. We get a little closer to being more honest about who we really are and what we really want through women who share their own stories. "Nine Rooms" explains that balance in the tradition sense is overrated and must be self-defined. Real contentment comes from being able to look at every area of your life--family, friends, work, sex and relationships, and even fitness-- as an opportunity to make peace with the imperfect. Plus the cute little website ([...]) is a lot of fun and I found out when I'm not trapped in the basement, I'm very into making a fuss about my tenth room. ([...])

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I couldn't put it down!

This book spoke to me! I couldn't put it down. If you are like me, a working Mom of three children, an overscheduled life, a husband who is never home, a sincere desire to "do it right," you will gain so much perspective and insight from this book!

I started this book thinking it was interesting, but as soon as I started getting into the heart of the book, found that it was full of very real situations, many of them applicable to my life or people around me. The authors' approach encourages each individual to search within themselves to find the answers they need. I know my husband and children (and of course myself!) will benefit greatly from all that I have learned in this thought-provoking book.

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1. ISBN13: 9780310247456
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Review :

One of the most helpful practical books for life

This is a must read for anyone. It is very helpful and practical for one of life's biggest challenges for all people. I have used it in counseling to help a number of other people and have found the insights and practical steps liberating for me personally.

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Changed my life and everyone around me

Boundaries works in every area of your life. Many people focus on changing others through trying to control others which, never works and only makes everyone miserable. Boundaries teaches you to control only your own life, what you're will to accept or not accept and in turn it makes everyone around you responsible for their own life. Your kids will have a higher self esteem, they will become more responsible, they will be happier, and your relationships will be better than ever with everyone you choose to keep in your life, whether it be an out of control child, a judgemental parent or spouse, a controlling person in your life. The list goes on.

P.S. Overly controlling men do not want their spouse or girlfriend to get a hold of this book. It would do them a lot of good to read the book but highly unlikely. If you want to weed out a control freak just have this book lying around and wait for the negative comments to start coming out.

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Potentially useful, sometimes unrealistic.

Although this book attempts to address an extremely important aspect of human relationships (i.e. establishing healthy boundaries) there are times when I feel the book was not very realistic. In an ideal world perhaps information imparted would work quite well. Unfortunately we do not live in an ideal world.

For instance in Chapter 9 the authors attempt to discuss "Boundaries and Your Spouse." The authors state "in marriage...When the two become one on their wedding day, spouses do not lose their individual identities. Each participates in the relationship, and each has his or her own life." Wouldn't that be nice if that were true? What IS realistic far too often is that the WOMAN does in fact lose HER identity to the man as evidenced from the beginning with her very last name change. The man does NOT lose his. The authors continue "The problem arises when one trespasses on the other's personhood, behaviors, choices, and values of the other...To try to control these things is to violate someone's boundaries." This I fully agree with but having worked in the field of domestic violence for many years is NOT what I often saw. The authors rightfully point out that in 1 Corinthians 7:4-6 the Bible says that the husband and wife have "authority over each other's bodies." Husband and wife are advised to submit onto each other. However, what many priests and ministers overly stress is the necessity of the WIFE'S submission to the husband. Apparently it is left to the husband to decide what form this submission should take. If, heaven forbid, the wife is not submissive enough, there are many husbands who feel justified to use physical abuse to make this happen. This violation of the wife's boundaries does not seem to be addressed in any of the churches currently in existance.

In Chapter 11 "Boundaries and Work" it is NOT realistic nor particularly helpful to confront an overly critical supervisor telling them how you feel about their attitude and how it affects you. Particularly those of us who have been in the military or worked for the Department of Defense know that this would not likely have a good outcome. This would be true particularly if you followed the authors advice: "If she will not agree to change, you may want to tell her that you do not wish to talk with her until she gets her attitude under control." I have to say though that the authors DO offer the alternative of following a company's grievance policy. This sometimes might work. The authors make the point that "The important thing is that you can't control her, but you can choose to limit your exposure to her either physically or emotionally distancing yourself from her. This is control."

Still the ability to establish REALISTIC boundaries can be very helpful and one worth exploring. This book can help you with that.

Rating :

Boundaries

Cloud & Townsend are excellent speakers with excellent knowledge and have a great presentation....but not in this! The information they have is so valuable, so life changing and so very LOST in this video. You will spend much of your time watching graphics including an irritating pencil streaking across the screen for endless periods of time. This nonsense interrupts the speakers so often you almost want to give up watching it. You cannot even skip to the next session to avoid it.
Cloud & Townsend gave a presentation in a video years ago that I viewed and it was so remarkably well done. I even tried to buy it...but it does not exist. I tried to get the audio version of this video and sadly it is not presented by these speakers but someone else who you cannot stand to listen to. My advice: they completely re-do this project (both video & audio) and fire the graphics people, the reader, and do their presentation without interruption. Only then can their message be heard and understood.

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Great, appropriate

Great book. Helped me know when to say no, not to be mean, but to preserve myself for the MOST important things.

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More reviews...

1. ISBN13: 9781572246959
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and other great teachers were born with brains built essentially like anyone else s. Then they used their minds to change their brains in ways that changed history.

With the new breakthroughs in neuroscience, combined with the insights from thousands of years of contemplative practice, you, too, can shape your own brain for greater happiness, love, and wisdom.

Buddha's Brain joins the forces of modern science with ancient teachings to show readers how to have greater emotional balance in turbulent times, as well as healthier relationships, more effective actions, and a deeper religious or spiritual practice.

Well-referenced and grounded in science, the book is full of practical tools and skills readers can use in daily life to tap the unused potential of the brain and rewire it over time for greater peace and well-being.

If you can change your brain, you can change your life.

"Numerous writings in recent years have exacerbated the traditional rift between science and religion; however, there has been a refreshing parallel movement in the opposite direction. Neuroscientists have become increasingly interested in using first person introspective inquiries if the mind to complement their third person western scientific investigations of the brain. Buddhist contemplative practices are particularly amenable to such collaboration, inviting efforts to find neurobiological explanations for Buddhist philosophy. Stripped of religious baggage, Buddha s Brain clearly describes how modern concepts of evolutionary and cognitive neurobiology support core Buddhist teachings and practice. This book should have great appeal for those seeking a secular spiritual path, while also raising many testable hypotheses for interested neuroscientists."

Jerome Engel, Jr., MD, PhD

Jonathan Sinay Distinguished Professor of Neurology,
Neurobiology, and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
Director, UCLA Seizure Disorder Center

David Geffen, School of Medicine at UCLA

Customer Review :

A pithy, pragmatic introduction to brain science & meditation

I started using this book in my life coaching work and personal meditation practice before even finishing it! Authors Rick Hanson and Richard Mendius have published a gem: This is a highly readable guide to actually using scientific knowledge about the brain in meditation and daily life. Buddha's Brain is written for ease of learning and retention. It's chapter synopses, guided meditations, and pithy, memorable language make it a joy to read and easy to apply.

I would have been happy with this book based on the chapters on The Evolution of Suffering, Mindfulness, Concentration, and Self alone. In the Foundations of Mindfulness chapter, the authors introduce the notion of neurological diversity, providing pragmatic examples of how each of us can adjust meditation practice to our own situations and attentional tendencies. The chapter on concentration,like the rest of of this book, strikes an elegant balance between touching on neurological factors (in this case the role of hormones and gamma waves) with very useful techniques for training the mind. The chapter on Self is beautifully written, weaving together neurology, social factors, and practical tips for relaxing into just being -- and being happier.

Buddha's Brain is a wise, accessible, and fascinating practitioner's companion. It is a resource I'll return to again and again, and is an excellent complement to two other books on my meditation and neurology bookshelf, Train Your Mind Change Your Brain and Being a Brain-Wise Therapist: A Practical Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology).

Highly recommended!

Rating :

Buddha's Brain

The title may be slighly misleading... It's just not another Buddhist self-help book. The authors use a blend of Buddhism/Neuroscience to explain how to changing your brain can change your live in easy-to-understand language. I've read a number of books attempting to explain Mind/Brain relationship. This book helped me understand the subject more clearly.

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...you will find mindfulness and compassion

An excellent book that explores the powerful effects of mindfulness and compassion on freeing the mind and bringing about re-structuring at the most basic level in the brain. If you want to learn more about the healing effects of mindfulness, you should also read the following:
The Path of Mindfulness Meditation: Finding Balance in the Midst of Chaos: The Application of Mindfulness and Vipassana Meditation for Personal Transformation

Rating :

A guide perfect for new age collections

BUDDHA'S BRAIN: HAPPINESS, LOVE & WISDOM provides a self-help guide blending neuroscience with spiritual and new age wisdom, using the latest research to show how to stimulate and strengthen your brain for a deeper spiritual life and a greater sense of inner confidence. Practical tools and skills make for an excellent survey in a guide perfect for new age collections.


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The authors deserve a nobel prize

This is one of the most amazing, life changing books I've ever read, and I've read a LOT in my 51 years. It's the only book I've ever taken the time to review on Amazon and I'd give it 100 stars if I could. Bringing together wisdom from the fields of psychology, neurology, and contemplative practice, they teach how we can create greater happiness, joy, & love in our lives. This is all based on recent western scientific research and thousands-of-years old wisdom, and not fluff created in the imagination of a new age entrepreneur. The authors describe how thousands of generations of social and environmental evolutionary pressures have wired our brains & bodies to work they way they do, and how we can use our mind to change our brain so that we handle stress better, and experience greater peace and joy. The implications of doing the work suggested by this book has the potential to profoundly improve the quality of one's life, and all those one contacts, and to change the course of the evolution of our species. As Rick says (in an interview), we have the brain of a cave-man with nuclear weapon capabilities. We need to learn how to be more loving, aware, compassionate, and self disciplined in how we treat the earth if we are to flourish as a species, and this book gives some practical tools on how to do this. I've been sharing some of these ideas in the classes I teach and many of my students have bought the book also. The authors also have a website with many great, free, down-loadable articles that elaborate on the ideas.

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