Jackson Free Press

I am generally not one for reading self-help books, but I loved this one. The book cover for "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" (Harper, 2009, $25.99) and its subtitle grabbed my attention. I read the synopsis on the inside flaps and decided to give this book a chance. After reading its "Twelve Commandments" and the "Secrets of Adulthood," I was convinced that this book was going to play a major part in finding more happiness.

One thing that I loved about the book was that its author, Gretchen Rubin, actually went through every single step of the happiness project and struggled with most of those steps. I enjoyed her testimonies about her "ah ha" moments. After each chapter, she included blog posts from people sharing their experiences through their own happiness project.

The book's chapters correlate with the months of the year, and each month presents a step you must accomplish to complete your happiness project in a year. January is boost energy month, for example; February is about remembering love, and March is titled "Aim Higher," and it addresses work. Of course, you can begin your happiness project during any month of the year.

I don't want to give away too much because you deserve to give yourself the satisfaction of reading this book. "The Happiness Project" comes across as a story, but by the end of each chapter, you will have learned a lesson.

One of the most impressive parts of the book is Rubin's "Suggestions for Further Reading" at the end. I strongly recommend "The Happiness Project" to people who want to change their life but don't want to read boring, sappy self-help books.