Happier

I've been reading since before I started Kindergarten and I usually read a book or more each week. I've already plugged the Stephen Colbert book in an earlier post but I try to shy away from preaching about how everyone else should read the book I'm reading. For instance, I've only recommended the book Water For Elephants to people I thought would enjoy it as much as I did. I finished it a few weeks ago and thought it was engrossing and fantastic. But, if you didn't already hear from me about that book I wasn't sure if you'd enjoy it. Usually that's how I speak about what I'm reading. I tell the people I think will truly enjoy a book all about it. Or I answer questions when asked what I'm currently reading.

I say usually because the book I'm just finishing is probably going to be my soapbox speech book. The one I feel the need to tell EVERYONE about. It's called Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD. He is a professor at Harvard and the book is based on one of his classes - the most popular class at Harvard. It's about positive psychology and how to be happier. Because, as Dr. Ben-Shahar explains, the question is not "am I happy?" but "how can I be happier?" It is fascinating! It articulates what most of us already know, that one is not necessarily meant to be as happy as someone else. We all have different levels that we start from but research has shown that each of us can be happier than we currently are. It gives some interesting ways to become happier and there are "Time In" assignments where you assess your own life and feelings. What I found most fascinating is that there is an entire class at Harvard about this and it appears to be needed. Because all of the evidence points to greater material wealth leading to greater depression rates.

Mostly, I must confess, I want everyone to read this book and do the assignments to see if they can really make themselves happier. Not only because everyone deserves to be happier and all that but I'm skeptical and want some anecdotal evidence. Can you learn optimism? Dr. Ben-Shahar claims he is a learned optimist. (Here's a link to his interview on National Public Radio.) I'm not sure I buy that. I've always been an optimist but there are several pessimists in my life circle and try as I might to get them to see the glass half full they can only do so for a short time period and they can't always do if for themselves. Now I'm not expecting anyone to be as happy, or as optimistic, as anyone else I just want to know if one can make gains beyond one's current state. For instance, if on a happiness scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being depressed and 10 being elated you are currently at a 4 can you get yourself to a sustained 6? The experimental evidence suggests you can. I'd like some real world examples not just some study reports. So, if the world is your classroom let this be a textbook, complete with homework assignments. We can discuss our assignments, the text, and whether the professor is accurate. Let the class begin!