The How of Happiness Audiobook By Sonja Lyubomirsky cover art

The How of Happiness

A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The How of Happiness

By: Sonja Lyubomirsky
Narrated by: Sonja Lyubomirsky
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.75

Buy for $15.75

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

You can change your personal capacity for happiness. Research psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky's pioneering concept of the 40% solution shows you how.©2008 Sonja Lyubomirsky (P)2008 Penguin Audiobooks Personal Success Psychology Mental Health Inspiring
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"Finally we have a self-help book from a reputable scientist whose advice is based on the best experimental data... The How of Happiness is smart, fun, and interesting - and unlike almost every other book on the same shelf, it also happens to be true." (Daniel Gilbert, Harvard University professor of psychology and author of Stumbling on Happiness)

"A guide to sustaining your newfound contentment." (Psychology Today)

"Lyubomirsky's central point is clear: a significant portion of what is called happiness . . . is up for grabs. Taking some pages out of the positive psychology playbook, she coaches readers on how to snag it." (The New York Review of Books)

Featured Article: How to Be Happier, According to These Smile-Inducing Audiobooks


"Happiness" seems like this abstract concept we keep reaching for but will never be able to actually grasp, right? Wrong—at least according to the following authors. Here is a list of the best audiobooks to help you find your pathway to happiness. Some are step-by-step guides; others are personal accounts of finding the way to a genuinely happy life. Whichever style you prefer, there's an audiobook about happiness that will fit your journey.

What listeners say about The How of Happiness

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    433
  • 4 Stars
    159
  • 3 Stars
    43
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    19
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    353
  • 4 Stars
    98
  • 3 Stars
    47
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    13
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    332
  • 4 Stars
    125
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    12

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Well worth reading and doing.

Well worth reading and doing. It's hard to say more. The science of positive emotions has been maturing over the years and we're starting to see a lot of great material coming out, like this book, which is helpful and grounded in good research. The research is what distinguishes this from so many self help books, since those are usually based on one's personal experience or maybe on a clinical practice. What we miss there is a clinical practice lacks is a control. That is, is what I'm doing any better than doing nothing at all. I've adopted some of the practices already and am adding them to my teaching.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well studies book

What I liked about this book is that it's very practical.
It is also supported with scientific studies and yet this is not presented in a long boring way.
Only info that is needed is presented in the book.

Good job.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Good Book!

Just what I need to read over and over! Great Scientific approach to happiness!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Worth the credit...

Coming from a scientific background and thinking in an analytical way I greatly appreciate all the statistical support for Sonja's work. I enjoy how she throws in personal accounts that further describe her findings by sharing her own doubts and stumblings. Sometimes I thought the 'hows' suggested were a little trite but I did participate in most of her questionnaires and tests with worthy positive results. Who knew?! I love the idea of a happiness set point and proof that 40% of one's happiness can be improved! Very encouraging! Many times I found myself saying "Hmmmm...there's an idea!"

Her narration was wonderful. She has a great voice for this subject matter!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Perspective!

It's nice to hear such a refreshing perspective on happiness by a Psychologist. Thank you Sonja!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

it made me happy :)

Great book with research supported methods of learning how to be happy. Such a simple idea! I really am happier now. The book is WORTH IT.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

pretty good information

didn't like the academic style. it was more engaging at higher speed to make the dull parts less relevant.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

How the web of happiness is weaved

What insight do you think you’ll apply from The How of Happiness?

Being able to find the best even in the horrendous is a practice I carry through my life; but when a truly traumatic event occurs that has bearing over extended periods of time - the dismal can set in and the fact that you can, in fact, find the best in everything becomes blurry. This was a very helpful reminder during a time when I was enduring a majorly traumatic event.

Any additional comments?

Religious individuals will like this book particularly as it is a strong proponent of people possessing some level of faith. I would have liked the author to have compared the success of religious individuals to those who: have large and strong family support, those believing (unfalteringly) in fate (but not god related) and dependents (those possessing a caretaker).

This book is interactive – if you are listening you may have to pause in order to complete evaluations (which are more complicated than yes/no) therefore I would not recommend using this book while in a vehicle in which you would be frustrated to have to pause it.

I promote the reading/listening of this book although, even with the good research that has been done by Dr. Lyubomirsky, it looks like there is a lot that isn’t covered. I recommend reading “The Willpower Instinct” to supplement. Both books are strong proponents of goals (which makes sense) though “The Willpower Instinct” can assist further when it actually comes to pursuit of them. “The How of Happiness” focuses on happiness being derived from the pursuit of goals, not necessarily achieving them while “The Willpower Instinct” aims to assist in the achievement and evolution of goals. Although it isn’t distinctly covered in “The How of Happiness” – the pursuit of goals being better or just as good as achieving them or not probably varies depending on the type of goal. If the goal is to get to Paris, sure…but if the goal is to lose weight/be healthier you might not be deriving a tremendous amount of happiness if you aren’t actually succeeding regarding the steps to this achievement.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

lots and lots of great tips

lots of great tips help me in coping with the loss of my daughter who born on my birthday.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book but

This was really a great book that I advise every one to listen to. it is truly one of the best books I've ever read.
my only note is the narration, I believe it could've been done better.
still 10/10 book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful