Imagine if your life were a startup (business).
How would you lead it and shape it to be most successful?
That's the question behind The Happiness Files, a rich selection of enlightening and instructive essays by Arthur C. Brooks, known worldwide for his inspiring yet practical wisdom and advice in his weekly column for The Atlantic and in his bestselling books, From Strength to Strength and Build the Life You Want (coauthored with Oprah Winfrey).
The simple answer, as Brooks wisely explains, is to manage your life in a way that leads to truly valuable rewards: love, enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning—in other words, happiness.
The Happiness Files: Insights on Work and Life… by Arthur C. Brooks · Audiobook preview - YouTube
first 30 minutes on audio book
New Book by Arthur C. Brooks Offers a Blueprint for a Happier Life
The book is structured thematically, with essays grouped into key areas of life. These sections include guidance on self-management, navigating jobs and careers, fostering strong communication and connections with others, and finding a healthy balance between work and personal life.[1][2][4] Brooks also delves into how individuals define success for themselves.[1]
"The Happiness Files" blends a variety of sources to illustrate its points, ranging from ancient philosophy and literature to modern pop culture and the contemporary workplace.[2] Each essay begins with sharp observations grounded in behavioral science research to explain the mechanics of happiness, followed by practical advice and experiential wisdom.[1][2] Readers can expect to find explorations of topics such as effective procrastination, the potential for success to feel hollow, and the foundational pillars of a good life.[1][2][3] This collection aims to provide enlightenment, inspiration, and actionable guidance for leading a more successful and fulfilling life and career.[2][3]
Sourceshelp
AI contents summary & illustration
Your Life is Your Startup (manage self as a Business)Succeed at Failure Value Your Time Beat Burnout Procrastinate Smartly The Power of "No" Worry Less Practice Restraint Understand Money Anxiety
Change Jobs Happily Trust Your Gut Give Quietly Spend for Happiness Navigate Midlife Achieve Great Things
Handle Criticism Give Good Compliments Fix Meetings Value In-Person Connection Curse Mindfully Speak Your Truth
Pillars of a Good Life Listen to Influence Parent with Love, Not Worry Identify Frenemies See Beyond First Impressions Navigate Love's Challenges Practical Happiness Tips
Redefine Success (The Ultimate Goal)
The Emptiness of Achievement Let Go of Trophies Embrace Healthy Risk Use Intelligence Wisely Question the Top Job Pursue Happiness, Not Just Success
Original Contents
Introduction: Happiness and Your Start-up Life
Part One: On Managing Yourself
How to Succeed at Failure: Sometimes you just can’t win. Make the most of it. Stop Spending Time on Things You Hate: Your time on Earth is precious and limited. Here’s how to waste it. Feeling Burned Out? Here’s What to Do: The way to break the cycle is by creating meaningful boundaries between work and life. Procrastinate This, Not That: Do your chores now. Put the creative work off for a day. Overwhelmed? Just Say “No”: The science of how to stop saying “yes” to everything. How to Worry Less and Be Happier: Start by simply writing down what’s bothering you. Why a Bit of Restraint Can Do You a Lot of Good: If authenticity leads to acting out, it won’t bring you happiness. Your Money Worries Might Be Hiding Something Deeper: Once you’ve met your basic needs, riches won’t help you feel better about yourself.
Part Two: On Jobs, Money, and Building Your Career
The Happiest Way to Change Jobs: How to rock your work rather than let the work rule you. Why You Should Trust Your Gut: Careful, deliberate reasoning can get you only so far in good decision making. Give Your Money. Give Your Time. Don’t Tell Anyone: You can find deep, lasting happiness in a good deed that no one knows you did. How to Buy Happiness: The way you spend your money makes all the difference to your well-being. The Two Choices That Keep a Midlife Crisis at Bay: Middle age is an opportunity to find transcendence. Schopenhauer’s Advice on How to Achieve Great Things: Three rules that can supercharge your effort, inspired by the 19th-century philosopher.
Part Three: On Communicating and Connecting with Others
How to Take—and Give—Criticism Well: Bad reviews feel terrible, but accepting (and using) them will lighten your load. How to Give a Great Compliment: Beware of pro forma praise—and recognize true acts of kindness instead. Meetings Are Miserable: One of the most straightforward paths to happiness is fighting the meeting scourge. The Trouble with Zooming Forever: It may be convenient, but it will never make us as happy as real human interaction. The Case for Mindful Cursing: Swearing can make you happier, as long as you do it for the right reasons. How to Speak Truth Without Fear: And avoid alienating everyone you know.
Part Four: On Balancing Work, Life, and Relationships
Jung’s Five Pillars of a Good Life: The great Swiss psychoanalyst left us a surprisingly practical guide to being happier. How to Influence People—and Make Friends: The key to persuasion is listening sincerely to what people have to say. Why You Should Stop Worrying About Your Parenting: You have less effect on them than you think—but your love will make them happy. How to Know Your Frenemy: That person who poses as your ally but isn’t? They make you sick, literally. Don’t Be Deceived by First Impressions: We need to move beyond our evolutionary tendency to form snap judgments. What to Do If the Course of True Love Is Not Running Smoothly: Be prepared for failure, and learn from it, to realize ultimate bliss. 10 Practical Ways to Improve Happiness: You need advice that goes beyond “Be Danish.”
Part Five: On How You Define Success
Why Success Can Feel So Bitter: Achieving a goal and achieving happiness are entirely different. Why You Might Want to Toss Out Your Trophies: Are your mementos of personal triumph making you feel like a has-been? The Magic of a Little Danger: To get happier, be brave—not reckless. How Smart People Can Stop Being Miserable: Intelligence can make you happier, but only if you see it as more than a tool to get ahead. Think Twice Before Taking the Top Job: Getting the corner office might mean sacrificing a little happiness. If You Want Success, Pursue Happiness: Chasing achievement to get happier is a fool’s errand.
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