The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin is a Yale Law School graduate, that quits being a lawyer to become an author because it makes her happy. She is from the mid-west but currently lives in New York with her two kids, husband and should by all means be happy. Thus she begins the happiness project, a year long endeavor into understanding, seeking, and possibly obtaining happiness.

At first I think, who is this person to attempt to improve her happiness, look at all she already has. However, who else should be seeking happiness? Poor people are worried about food and shelter. Maslow's hierarchy of needs suggests humans fill their basic needs first. Only after securing, food, shelter, security, etc...then can we really begin to tackle the extras, like happiness, and hobbies, and philosophy. Once on board with this concept I was able to buy on more to her Happiness project.

During her project she begins a blog...an inspiration to begin this one actually... and here it seems Ms. Rubin begins mining her blog for book filler. I avoid reading the comments on news articles, and YouTube as they are too low brow. Oh who am I kidding, I love it, it's like watching a Jerry Springer episode, the detestable elements of humanity congenial in a putrefaction that somehow becomes decadent to enjoy, but only in small servings. However, without that train wreck je ne sais quoi, what's the point. As I am sure my personal blogging project will soon attest. Everyone has an opinion and most of them are uninformed, and wrong. Which makes it so much more 'bla' when we are presented with comment after comment on her blog. We get it, people are onboard with your project, you don't have to sell me, I am already reading the book.

I found several ideas in her project really insightful, and overall would recommend it to someone that enjoys writing. As she is a writer herself, her ideas for happiness mostly lean in that vein. If you are not a writer, or are anti happiness, then this is not a book for you.