Book Review

The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living

In this book you will learn that according to a lot of research happiness is not a normal state of being.  Instead, pain and discomfort are inevitable and therefore, depending on how you deal with it, happiness may or may not be attainable.  This book builds on something often referred to as ACT, which is acceptance and commitment therapy.  The way that this works is you have to be aware when you are having negative thoughts and emotions and you need to make an effort to reconnect with core values, acting in accordance with values and flexibility to adjust to any situation.

The book is really a helpful primer on ACT, but it is presented in such a way that you don’t need a medical degree to understand it or implement the strategies that are offered here.  Harris makes sure that the reader knows that ACT is not a medication and may not alone be enough for all people, but it is a great tool to attain happiness when it has eluded you for a long time, perhaps always.

This book is recommended for people who are:

• Depressed
• Anxious
• Having a lot of negative thoughts
• Having strong negative emotions
• Want to be happy

The top 3 reasons you may enjoy this book:

• It’s based on thorough research
• It gives you tools to change your life
• You’ll learn to be more positive

Sincere thanks and appreciation goes out to Rachel Johnson for this in-depth book review!