Admit That You Are Happy!

If you're seeking a deeper understanding of happiness and how to cultivate it in everyday life, a thoughtfully curated book list on the subject can be a powerful resource. These books span a range of perspectives—from psychology and neuroscience to philosophy and memoir—offering insights into what it truly means to live a joyful and fulfilling life. These titles explore both the science and the spirit of happiness. Whether you're looking for practical strategies, personal stories, or thought-provoking ideas, this list is designed to inspire a more intentional and uplifting approach to your well-being.

Updated July 21, 2025
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Fond du Lac Public Library
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Life in five senses : how exploring the senses got me out of my head and into the world
Rubin, Gretchen
Paper Book
'A charming journey through the science and experience of fully engaging your senses of smell, taste, touch, sight, and sound' - Adam Grant, author of Think Again The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project turns to the five senses...

152.1 Rubin 2023

The comfort book
Haig, Matt
Paper Book
* New novel THE LIFE IMPOSSIBLE available in paperback now * THE INSTANT NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Profound, witty and uplifting' Observer'Full of eloquent, cogent and positive reminders of the beauty of life' IndependentThe Comfort Book is a collection of consolations learned in hard times...

152.42 Haig 2021

Microjoys : finding hope (especially) when life is not okay
Spiegel, Cyndie
Paper Book
Bighearted and hopeful. Unflinchingly honest and healing. A profound compendium of intimate, inspiring essays and thoughtful prompts that will keep you afloat in difficult times and sustain you in the everyday. Microjoys are a practice of uncovering joy and finding hope at any...

152.42 Spiegel 2023

Living untethered : beyond the human predicament
Singer, Michael A.
Paper Book
Now a New York Times bestseller! The book you need right now is finally here! From beloved spiritual teacher Michael A. Singer--author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, The Untethered Soul--this transformative and highly anticipated guide will be...

153 Singer 2022

The art of making memories : how to create and remember happy moments
Wiking, Meik
Paper Book
The third book from the CEO of The Happiness Research Institute and internationally bestselling author of The Little Book of Hygge, Meik Wiking. Every year, we are given a fixed number of days. Some days pass us by without leaving a trace and some days we remember...

153.12 Wiking 2019

Think again : the power of knowing what you don't know
Grant, Adam M.
Paper Book
#1 New York Times Bestseller "THIS. This is the right book for right now. Yes, learning requires focus. But, unlearning and relearning requires much more--it requires choosing courage over comfort. In Think Again, Adam Grant weaves together research and...

153.42 Grant 2021

The art of noticing : 131 ways to spark creativity, find inspiration, and discover joy in the everyday
Walker, Rob
Paper Book
A thought-provoking, gorgeously illustrated gift book that will spark your creativity and help you rediscover your passion with "simple, low-stakes activities [that] can open up the world."--The New York Times Welcome to the era of white noise. Our lives are in constant...

153.73 Walker 2019

From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness And Deep Purpose In The Second Half Of Life "This Book Is Amazing" - Chris Evans
Brooks, Arthur C.
Paper Book
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'In this book, Arthur C. Brooks helps people find greater happiness as they age and change' - The Dalai Lama 'This book is amazing' - Chris Evans From the bestselling author and columnist behind The...

155.67 Brooks 2022

Do nothing
Headlee, Celeste Anne
Paper Book
We work feverishly to make ourselves happy. So why are we so miserable? This manifesto helps us break free of our unhealthy devotion to efficiency and shows us how to reclaim our time and humanity. 'This book is so important and could truly save lives . . . With intelligence and...

158 Headlee 2020

The way of integrity : finding the path to your true self
Beck, Martha Nibley
Paper Book
OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'A roadmap on the journey to truth and authenticity... [The Way of Integrity] is filled with aha moments and practical exercises that can guide us as we seek enlightenment' Oprah Winfrey ...

158.1 Beck 2021

Build the life you want : the art and science of getting happier
Brooks, Arthur C.
Paper Book
- THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - You can get happier. And getting there will be the adventure of a lifetime. In Build the Life You Want, Harvard Professor Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey invite you to begin a journey toward greater...

158.1 Brooks 2023

New happy : getting happiness right in a world that's got it wrong
Harrison, Stephanie
Paper Book
We all want to be happy. This goal drives everything that we do. Why, then, are so many of us so unhappy? It's not your fault. You have been told a lie: that achieving your own success will make you happy. This is "old happy," society's incorrect definition of happiness.

158.1 Harrison 2024

Enchantment awakening wonder in an anxious age
May, Katherine
Paper Book
#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER "When I tell you that I dogeared almost every page in this book, I'm telling God's honest truth. I didn't know how much I needed someone else to validate what I was going through. The sense that I had lost my curiosity, my imagination, my ability to make...

158.1 May, Kathleen 2023

The well-lived life : a 102-year-old doctor's six secrets to health and happiness at every age
McGarey, Gladys
Paper Book
Dr. Gladys McGarey, the 102-year-old mother of holistic medicine, reveals her powerful secrets for how to live with joy and vitality at any age. In her book, The Well-Lived Life, she offers a counterintuitive approach to living a rich, full, and purposeful life, and healing at...

158.1 McGarey 2023

The wisdom of Morrie : living and aging creatively and joyfully
Schwartz, Morris S.
Paper Book
From the eponymous subject of the beloved classic Tuesdays with Morrie comes an insightful, poignant masterpiece on staying vibrant and connected for life.'Beautiful ...Those lucky enough to read this book will be inspired.' Deepak ChopraWho am I really? What have I done? What...

158.1 Schwartz, Morris 2023

Look again : the power of noticing what was always there
Sharot, Tali
Paper Book
For fans of Thinking, Fast and Slow and The Power of Habit, a groundbreaking new study of how disrupting our well-worn routines, both good and bad, can rejuvenate our days and reset our brains to allow us to live happier and more fulfilling lives.Have you ever noticed that what...

158.1 Sharot 2024

The good life method : reasoning through the big questions of happiness, faith, and meaning
Sullivan, Meghan
Paper Book
"At once revolutionary and conservative . . .  positively warm, oddly free of moralizing, welcoming of disagreement and engagement." --Los Angeles Review of Books Two Philosophers Ask and Answer the Big Questions About the Search for Faith and Happiness

170 Sullivan 2022

In emergency, break glass : what Nietzsche can teach us about joyful living in a tech-saturated world
Anderson, Nate
Paper Book
Who has not found themselves scrolling endlessly on screens and wondered: Am I living or distracting myself from living? In Emergency, Break Glass adapts Friedrich Nietzsche's passionate quest for meaning into a world overwhelmed by "content." Written long before the advent of smartphones,...

193 Nietzsche Anderson 2022

The art of happiness
Bstan-dzin-rgya-mtsho, Dalai Lama XIV
Paper Book
The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living is a practical, inspirational guide that combines the wisdom of the Dalai Lama's eastern spiritual tradition with human happiness expert Dr Howard C. Cutler's western perspective.From health, self-esteem, family and relationships to anger, stress,...

294.3444 B849

The four agreements : a practical guide to personal freedom
Ruiz, Miguel
Paper Book
The incredible New York Times and international bestselling guide to true happiness. "This book by don Miguel Ruiz, simple yet so powerful, has made a tremendous difference in how I think and act in every encounter."-Oprah Winfrey In The Four Agreements,...

299.792 R859fo 1997

The power of strangers : the benefits of connecting in a suspicious world
Keohane, Joe
Paper Book
In our cities, we barely acknowledge one another on public transport, even as rates of loneliness skyrocket. Online, we carefully curate who we interact with. In our politics, we are increasingly consumed by a fear of people we've never met. But what if strangers, long believed to be the cause of...

302 Keohane 2021

The laws of connection : the scientific secrets of building a strong social network
Robson, David (Science journalist)
Paper Book
This groundbreaking study reveals how social connections are far more important than we thought, showing us the steps we can take to build better relationships and improve our lives. Social connection is as essential for our health and happiness as a balanced diet and regular...

302.3 Robson 2024

Neurodharma : 7 steps to the highest happiness
Hanson, Rick (Psychologist)
Paper Book
'Accessible and gentle, there is deep wisdom here from which all may benefit' Professor Mark Williams, bestselling author of Mindfulness 'Astonishing' Ruby Wax Explore the new neuroscience of awakening and develop lasting inner...

612.8 Hanson 2020

Brain wash : detox your mind for clearer thinking, deeper relationships, and lasting happiness
Perlmutter, David
Paper Book
Fight back against a modern culture that is rewiring our brains and damaging our health with this practical, doctor-approved plan for healing that includes a ten-day boot camp and forty delicious recipes. Contemporary life provides us with infinite...

612.82 Perlmutter 2020

Tame your anxiety : rewiring your brain for happiness
Breuning, Loretta Graziano
Paper Book
Anxiety is natural. Calm is learned. If you didn't learn yesterday, you can learn today. It's not easy, of course. Once your natural alarm system is triggered, it's hard to find the off switch. Indeed, you don't have an off switch until you build one. Tame Your Anxiety...

612.8233 Breuning 2019

The comfort crisis : embrace discomfort to reclaim your wild, happy, healthy self
Easter, Michael (Health and fitness writer)
Paper Book
Discover the evolutionary mind and body benefits of living at the edges of your comfort zone and reconnecting with the wild-from the New York Times bestselling author of Scarcity Brain. "If you've been looking for something different to level up your health,...

613 Easter 2021

The in-between : unforgettable encounters during life's final moments
Vlahos, Hadley
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Passionate advocate for end-of-life care and TikTok star Hadley Vlahos shares moving stories of joy, wisdom, and redemption from her patients' final moments in this "brilliant" (Zibby Owens, Good Morning America) memoir.   "This...

616.029 Vlahos 2023

Designing your work life : how to thrive and change and find happiness at work
Burnett, William (Consulting professor of design)
Paper Book
The authors of #1 New York Times bestseller Designing Your Life taught readers how to use design thinking to build meaningful, fulfilling lives. Now, in the original DESIGNING YOUR WORK LIFE, they apply that transformative thinking to the place we spend more time than anywhere else-...

650.1 Burnett 2020

Never enough : from barista to billionaire
Wilkinson, Andrew (Businessman)
Paper Book
USA Today Bestseller. National Bestseller. 'Like going to business school and therapy all in one book.' -- James Clear, New York Times Bestselling Author, Atomic Habits. Once a barista in a small cafe making £6.50 an hour, Andrew Wilkinson built a business valued at over a billion dollars by the...

650.1 Wilkinson 2024

Four thousand weeks : time management for mortals
Burkeman, Oliver
Paper Book
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Provocative and appealing . . . well worth your extremely limited time." --Barbara Spindel, The Wall Street Journal The average human lifespan is absurdly, insultingly brief. Assuming you live to be eighty,...

650.11 Burkeman 2021

Beyond happiness : how authentic leaders prioritize purpose and people for growth and impact
Lim, Jenn
Paper Book
The co-founder and CEO of Delivering Happiness updates the Delivering Happiness model for our new abnormal, showing organizations of every kind how to cultivate a culture that can adapt to change, be highly profitable, and support all its people...starting with yourself.

658.314 Lim 2021

Design a healthy home : 100 ways to transform your space for physical and mental wellbeing
Heath, Oliver
Paper Book
Create a healthy, happy home with 100 design ideas to support your physical and mental wellbeing. Using the latest evidence and research in wellbeing and Biophilic Design, learn how to transform every space in your home to create a restorative and nurturing environment. Discover...

747 Heath 2021

My hygge home : how to make home your happy place
Wiking, Meik
Paper Book
Our homes should be a place of comfort, a place to feel safe when we shut the door. Somewhere to be ourselves, to unwind and create special memories. Inspired by Danish design and traditions, this beautiful new book from Meik Wiking shares how to turn your home into a sanctuary and live like the...

747 Wiking 2022

Nature style : cultivating wellbeing at home with plants
Langan, Alana
Paper Book
It's no secret that time spent in nature is good for us. Nature helps us thrive, improves our health and wellbeing, decreases stress and increases happiness. But if you don't have the luxury of a forest at your doorstep, bringing the outside in can provide an immediate connection to the natural...

747.98 Langan 2022

A pocketful of happiness
Grant, Richard E.
Paper Book
'A gorgeously candid account of acting and show business. And an intimate and heartfelt story of love, loss and a life spent together. It is an honour to be invited in on these diaries. I cannot remember being so moved by a book' Dolly Alderton 'Fascinating, funny and...

791.43 Grant, Richard Grant 2023

Dusk, night, dawn on revival and courage
Lamott, Anne
Paper Book
"Anne Lamott is my Oprah." -Chicago Tribune From the bestselling author of Help, Thanks, Wow comes an inspiring guide to restoring hope and joy in our lives. In Dusk, Night, Dawn, Anne Lamott explores the tough questions that many of us...

813.54 Lamott Lamott 2021

The happiest man on Earth
Jaku, Eddie
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE ABIA BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR 2021Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. It is up to you. Eddie Jaku always considered himself a German first, a Jew second. He was proud of his country. But all of that changed in November 1938, when he was beaten, arrested and taken to a...

940.5318 Jaku Jaku 2021

The pursuit of happiness : how classical writers on virtue inspired the lives of the founders and defined America
Rosen, Jeffrey
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller and an "enriching...brilliant" (David W. Blight, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Frederick Douglass) examination of what "the pursuit of happiness" meant to our nation's Founders and how that famous phrase defined their lives and became the foundation of...

973.3092 Rosen 2024


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