Business Book Review: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

The ultimate marriage of feel-good meets thinking in systems, goals and processes. It’s a happiness playground for the hyper-organised.

My Rating: ★★★★★

Length: 368 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins US

Released: 2018

Key Takeaways for Personal Branding

Like the title and light-hearted cover imply, The Happiness Project is the ultimate feel-good book. But, it’s not just a fluffy read. It’s highly pragmatic - a systematic approach to experiencing happiness. Rich in research references, it’s perfect for those who love processes, goals and measuring what they’re managing - the hyper-organised and technical thinkers.

In this number one New York Times best-seller, Gretchen Rubin shares the journey of her personal “happiness project”. A year-long quest that saw her divide her year into 12 core focuses. One for each month, with key resolutions within each.

Research shows that happy people are more altruistic, productive, helpful, likeable, creative, resilient, interested in others, friendlier and healthier. And also make better friends, colleagues and citizens.

While not immediately obvious by its title, it’s not just another book about happiness. It’s one about goal setting and execution. Rubin’s approach will give you a new method of strategising for your year ahead.

Act More Energetic

Rubin says one of the most helpful insights in the project came from one of her personal “12 commandants”:

‘Act the way I want to feel.’

She highlights that even an artificial smile brings about happier emotions. This means the ‘fake it til you make it’ strategy could be highly effective.

Take Time For Projects and Creating “New Traditions”

In her mission to ‘lighten up’ parenthood, Rubin resolved to ‘take time for projects’. And she found they could pop up unexpectedly.

Her daughter’s obsessing and indecision over her birthday cake would have ordinarily bothered her. But instead, she turned it into quality time with her. She took the time to work with her on the project. Naturally, a project mindset underpins most of The Happiness Project. And it’s a delight journeying through Rubin’s many projects, including writing a novel in 30 days.

Rubin also shares the delight of creating “new traditions”:

"A “new tradition” may be an oxymoron, but that shouldn’t stop me from inventing a tradition I wished we had.”

This included setting out annual Halloween family photos just for the Halloween season. When I first read this book years ago, this mindset is what most resonated with me. I began thinking about continuing and creating traditions all year round.

Meditating on Death

Rubin reminds us of the Buddhist teaching:

“Of all mindfulness meditations, that on death is supreme.”

Medieval monks kept images of skeletons in their cells. And sixteen-century artists often painted symbols that highlighted the brevity of life and certainty of death - such as hourglasses.   

In her own take on the fragility of life and certainty of death, Rubin and her husband uniquely mark their wedding anniversary. Using it as an annual review - a “Be Prepared Day”, ensuring their wills are up to date and all affairs are in order for the other partner should anything happen to either one of them.

Favourite Quotes

What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while.

People who love their work bring an intensity and enthusiasm that’s impossible to match through sheer diligence.

Research shows that the more elements that make up your identity, the less threatening it is when one element is threatened.

The challenge, therefore, is to take pleasure in the “atmosphere of growth”, the gradual progress made toward a goal, in the present.

Living vicariously through Rubin’s happiness project is heartwarming. She’s honest about what worked and what didn’t, where she made compromises and found better alternatives.

While the plethora of projects she embarked on each month might initially feel impossible for most, you are likely to find a gem or two that applies best to your life and personal goals. Or perhaps, ideas you never even knew were missing from your potential happiness.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin:  Available on Amazon.