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
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * The author of The Happiness Project discovers a surprising path to a life of more energy, creativity, luck, and love: by tuning in to the five senses. "Life in Five Senses invites us into the seismic shift toward a life grounded...

152.1 Rubin 2023

Happiness
Chittister, Joan.
Paper Book
Everyone wants to be happy. Many, however, wrongly believe that happiness comes from having enough money, fame, personal comfort, worldly success, or even dumb luck. Happiness just seems to be so elusive and arbitrary -- something all too often just out of reach. Joan Chittister sees...

152.42 C449 2011

The comfort book
Haig, Matt
Paper Book
An instant New York Times Bestseller! The new uplifting book from Matt Haig, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Midnight Library, for anyone in search of hope, looking for a path to a more meaningful life, or in need of a little encouragement. ...

152.42 Haig 2021

Laughter yoga : daily practices for health and happiness
Kataria, Madan
Paper Book
Could you use a good laugh? This definitive guide by the founder of the worldwide laughter yoga movement will show you how to giggle your way to good health! Bring laughter into your life at any time of day--no special equipment needed, no new wardrobe, no expensive classes, not...

152.42 Kataria 2018

The joy plan : how I took 30 days to stop worrying, quit complaining, and find ridiculous happiness
Roman, Kaia
Paper Book
As a mother, a wife, and a businesswoman, Kaia Roman always had a plan. But when her biggest plan, the business she cofounded, collapsed, Kaia found herself crushed by depression. And what felt even worse was that, with a husband and two kids relying on her to get out of bed, she didn't have a plan...

152.42 Roman 2017

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...

152.42 Spiegel 2023

Goodbye, again : essays, reflections, and illustrations
Sun, Jonny
Paper Book
Instant New York Times Bestseller  "Truly, there's no shame in taking a break from books during the pandemic. But if you're feeling ready to reach out, try starting with Goodbye, Again. Take my word for it -- let Jonny Sun into your life."---Janet W. Lee, NPR The...

152.42 Sun 2021

Joy on demand : the art of discovering the happiness within
Tan, Chade-Meng
Paper Book
Instant New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Joy is the root of happiness. Joy is a sustainable state that fuels our creativity and inspiration for innovation.  It strengthens our ability to attract friends and to get along with people.  Learning to cultivate...

152.42 T153 2016

The art of making memories : how to create and remember happy moments
Wiking, Meik
Paper Book
What's the actual secret to happiness? Great memories! Meik Wiking--happiness researcher and New York Times bestselling author of The Little Book of Hygge and The Little Book of Lykke--shows us how to create memories that make life sweet in this charming book. Do you...

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
Brooks, Arthur C.
Paper Book
INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The roadmap for finding purpose, meaning, and success as we age, from bestselling author, Harvard professor, and the Atlantic's happiness columnist Arthur Brooks. Many of us assume that the more successful we are,...

155.67 Brooks 2022

Do nothing : how to break away from overworking, overdoing, and underliving
Headlee, Celeste Anne
Paper Book
"A welcome antidote to our toxic hustle culture of burnout."--Arianna Huffington "This book is so important and could truly save lives."--Elizabeth Gilbert "A clarion call to work smarter [and] accomplish more by doing less."--Adam Grant   ...

158 Headlee 2020

The happiness project : or, why I spent a year trying to sing in the morning, clean my closets, fight right, read Aristotle, and generally have more fun
Rubin, Gretchen.
Paper Book

158 R824

Happier at home : kiss more, jump more, abandon a project, read Samuel Johnson, and my other experiments in the practice of everyday life
Rubin, Gretchen Craft.
Paper Book
In the spirit of her blockbuster #1 New York Times bestseller The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin embarks on a new project to make home a happier place.  One Sunday afternoon, as she unloaded the dishwasher, Gretchen Rubin felt hit by a wave of homesickness....

158 R824h 2012

Outer order, inner calm : declutter & organize to make more room for happiness
Rubin, Gretchen
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * In this lovely, easy-to-use illustrated guide to decluttering, the beloved author of The Happiness Project shows us how to take control of our stuff--and, by extension, our lives.   Gretchen Rubin knows...

158 Rubin 2019

Your brain is always listening : tame the hidden dragons that control your happiness, habits, and hang-ups
Amen, Daniel G.
Paper Book
New York Timesbestselling author Dr. Daniel Amen equips you with powerful weapons to battle the inner dragons that are breathing fire on your brain, driving unhealthy behaviors, and robbing you of joy and contentment.Your brain is always listening and responding to these hidden...

158.1 Amen 2021

The way of integrity : finding the path to your true self
Beck, Martha Nibley
Paper Book
OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK AN INSTANT 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
You can get happier. And getting there will be the adventure of your lifetime. INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In Build the Life You Want, Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey invite you to begin a journey toward greater happiness no matter how...

158.1 Brooks 2023

This book won't make you happy : eight keys to finding true contentment
Feliciano, Niro
Paper Book
"Thought-provoking, insightful, full of practical tidbits, and a fun read." --Dr. Leah Katz, psychologist and author of Gutsy: Mindfulness Practices for Everyday Bravery When people find out she is a therapist, Niro Feliciano knows she isn't going anywhere anytime soon. At soccer games, at...

158.1 Feliciano 2022

Please unsubscribe, thanks! : how to take back our time, attention, and purpose in a world designed to bury us in bullshit
Gambuto, Julio Vincent
Paper Book
A life-changing guide to freeing ourselves from the utter nonsense of modern life, for fans of Atomic Habits and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck--the best book to read if you're stressed-out, overloaded, or just plain weirded out by this crazy world we're all...

158.1 Gambuto 2023

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 centenarian mother of holistic medicine, reveals "a story that teaches as much as it inspires" (Edith Eger, New York Times bestselling author), filled with life-changing secrets for how to live with joy, vitality, and purpose at any age. Dr. Gladys...

158.1 McGarey 2023

Brighter by the day : waking up to new hopes and dreams
Roberts, Robin
Paper Book
An Instant New York Times Bestseller!  From the beloved host of Good Morning America and New York Times bestselling author Robin Roberts, a guide to instilling hope and optimism into readers' lives, infusing...

158.1 Roberts 2022

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

158.1 Schwartz, Morris 2023

Hygge : the Danish art of happiness
Søderberg, Marie Tourell
Paper Book
In Autumn 2016, everyone will be talking about 'hygge'. This Danish concept has no English translation but is all about focusing on the little things in life that bring you warmth and happiness, whether it's spending quality time with loved ones or creating a 'hyggelig' atmosphere in your home.

158.1 Soderberg 2016

The power of nunchi : the Korean secret to happiness and success
Hong, Euny
Paper Book
"A must-read for anyone interested in the art of intuitively knowing what others feel." --Haemin Sunim, bestselling author of The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down and Love for Imperfect Things Improve your nunchi. Improve your life. The Korean...

158.2 Hong 2019

The good life method : reasoning through the big questions of happiness, faith, and meaning
Sullivan, Meghan
Paper Book
Two Philosophers Ask and Answer the Big Questions About the Search for Faith and Happiness For seekers of all stripes, philosophy is timeless self-care. Notre Dame philosophy professors Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko have reinvigorated this tradition in their wildly popular...

170 Sullivan 2022

Undistracted : capture your purpose, rediscover your joy
Goff, Bob
Paper Book
The world has never been more distracting--joy has never been more possible. You live with a massive amount of distraction: desperate headlines smartphone scrolling an endless to-do list   Not to mention the nagging...

248.4 Goff 2022

How happiness happens : finding lasting joy in a world of comparison, disappointment, and unmet expectations
Lucado, Max
Paper Book
These are tough times. Amid global isolation, economic downturn, and social unrest, could you use a dose of happy right about now Learn the secret to lasting joy that will endure through any season of life. In How Happiness Happens, Max Lucado shares the unexpected path...

248.4 Lucado 2019

Untangled : walking the eightfold path to clarity, courage, and compassion
Paley Ellison, Koshin
Paper Book
This accessible guide for walking Buddhism's eightfold path is the perfect way to combat loneliness, disconnection, and depression-true happiness is not as unattainable as it may seem. Loneliness is on the rise, with detrimental effects on our mental,...

294.342 Paley Ellison 2022

The art of happiness : a handbook for living
Bstan-ʼdzin-rgya-mtsho, Dalai Lama XIV
Paper Book
"Nearly every time you see him, he's laughing, or at least smiling. And he makes everyone else around him feel like smiling. He's the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, a Nobel Prize winner, and an increasingly popular speaker and statesman. What's more, he'll tell you that...

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 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

Happiness is a choice you make : lessons from a year among the oldest old
Leland, John
Paper Book
ANew York TimesBestseller! An extraordinary look at what it means to grow old and a heartening guide to well-being,Happiness Isa Choice You Makeweaves together the stories and wisdom of six New Yorkers who number among the "oldest old"-- those eighty-five and...

305.26 Leland 2018

Happy city : transforming our lives through urban design
Montgomery, Charles
Paper Book
A globe-trotting, eye-opening exploration of how cities can--and do--make us happier people Charles Montgomery's Happy City will revolutionize the way we think about urban life. After decades of unchecked sprawl, more people than ever are moving back to the city...

307.1216 M766 2013

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 Blue Zones challenge : a 4-week plan for a longer, better life
Buettner, Dan
Paper Book
Get started on the path to a longer, healthier, happier life with this quick start to building your own Blue Zones lifestyle. Dan Buettner, founder of the Blue Zones and author of the New York Times number one best-selling Blue Zones Kitchen, offers the challenge of a lifetime- Build a...

613 Buettner 2021

Breathe in, breathe out : restore your health, reset your mind and find happiness through breathwork
Sandeman, Stuart
Paper Book
The internationally bestselling practical guide on how to breathe for better sleep, stress management, improved self esteem, and to care for your mental health. It's time to get your breath back. Since tragic loss brought him to breathwork,...

613.192 Sandeman 2022

Yoga life : habits, poses, and breathwork to channel joy amidst the chaos
Larkin, Brett
Paper Book
"Brett translates the magic of ancient yoga for those who need it most." --James Nestor, New York Times bestselling author of Breath Overwhelmed? Overscheduled? Want to access the benefits of yoga, but can't seem to make it to the mat?<...

613.7046 Larkin 2023

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

Being well with chronic illness : a guide to finding joy & resilience with your diagnosis
Hill, Kat (Advocate)
Paper Book
More than 40% of the US population are affected by chronic diseases. Being Well is a guide book for every single one of those people suffering with chronic illness looking to live full lives characterized by joy, resilience, and wellness. Meeting by chance after their Parkinson's diagnosis, the...

616.044 Hill 2022

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

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

Design a healthy home : 100 ways to transform your space for physical and mental wellbeing
Heath, Oliver
Paper Book
With indoor air pollution at its worst, and many of us spending more time in our own homes, this interior design guide will help you create calm, social, and comfortable spaces. Let leading sustainability architect, Oliver Heath, give you all the practical solutions you need to...

747 Heath 2021

My hygge home : how to make home your happy place
Wiking, Meik
Paper Book
An inspiring book from Meik Wiking, the New York Times bestselling author of The Little Book of Hygge, about how to use space, light, and Danish design to transform your home to fit your needs. ​Inspired by Danish design and traditions, Meik...

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: it improves our health and well-being and can decrease our stress. 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 world and...

747.98 Langan 2022

A pocketful of happiness : a memoir
Grant, Richard E.
Paper Book
Academy Award-nominated actor Richard E. Grant's "genuine and compelling" (The New York Times), "moving and entertaining" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) memoir about finding happiness in even the darkest of days. Richard E. Grant emigrated from Swaziland to...

791.43 Grant, Richard Grant 2023

You should sit down for this : a memoir about wine, life, and cookies
Mowry, Tamera
Paper Book
A lighthearted and supremely entertaining memoir, You Should Sit Down for This is like spending the afternoon sharing tea, fresh baked cookies, and conversation with Tamera Mowry-Housley, the fun-loving, wisdom-sharing girlfriend we all need in our lives (always ready to top off your wine!). Most...

791.43 Mowry Mowry 2022

In the form of a question : the joys and rewards of a curious life
Schneider, Amy
Paper Book
"Warm and funny." --The New York Times * "Refreshingly no-holds-barred." --USA TODAY * "Delightful." --San Francisco Chronicle An inspirational, witty, and bold memoir from the most successful woman ever to compete on Jeopardy!--an exploration of...

791.45 Schneider Schneider 2023

Happy accidents
Lynch, Jane
Paper Book
In the summer of 1974, a fourteen-year-old girl in Dolton, Illinois, had a dream. A dream to become an actress, like her idols Ron Howard and Vicki Lawrence. But it was a long way from the South Side of Chicago to Hollywood, and it didn't help that she'd recently dropped out of the school play,...

792.028 L991 2011

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 book of (more) delights
Gay, Ross
Paper Book
From bestselling author of The Book of Delights and award-winning poet, a book of lyrical mini-essays celebrating the everyday that will inspire readers to rediscover the joys in the world around us. In Ross Gay's new collection of small, daily wonders,...

814.6 Gay, Ross 2023

How to be hap-hap-happy like me
Markoe, Merrill.
Paper Book

817.54 M342h

Bring your baggage and don't pack light : essays
Ellis, Helen
Paper Book
The bestselling author of American Housewife and Southern Lady Code returns with an "inspiring, hilarious, straight-to-the-point" (Entertainment Weekly) collection of essays on friendship among grown-ass women. "Ellis' prose is filled with so many laugh...

817.6 Ellis, Helen 2021

The happiest man on Earth : the beautiful life of an Auschwitz survivor
Jaku, Eddie
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller In this uplifting memoir in the vein of The Last Lecture and Man's Search for Meaning, a Holocaust survivor pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story, sharing his wisdom, and living his best possible life. Born in Leipzig, Germany, into 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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