Sometimes the words of others can truly make a difference to our happiness. It’s a well-known fact that spending time with positive people helps to lift our mood. And the same rules apply to what we read. There is a whole host of books designed to help boost happiness and wellbeing. Here are 10 of the best…
1. The Art of Happiness – By The Dalai Lama
Who better to share their thoughts on happiness and wellbeing than The Dalai Lama? The Art of Happiness offers practical advice on how we can overcome everyday problems to achieve lasting happiness. The aim of the book is to bring the Dalai Lama’s beliefs into the contemporary world.
Priced at £7.99 | Buy the book
2. The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well – By Meik Wiking
As Denmark is largely considered the happiest country in the world, it seemed only fair to include The Little Book of Hygge in our list. The word ‘Hygge’ has been translated in many different ways, but the only way to truly know what it feels like is to experience it for yourself.
Priced at £6.99 | Buy the book
3. Happiness Is… – By Lisa Swerling
Described as ‘the new happiness book’, Happiness is… sees Ralph Lazar and Lisa Swirling join forces for an uplifting collection of illustrations, which document 500 things to be happy about. So whether that’s a warm bath, a delivery of flowers, or a good cup of tea, it seems there are many routes to achieving a state of bliss.
Priced at £7.99 | Buy the book
4. Walking on Sunshine – By Rachel Kelly
Author Rachel Kelly shares her strategies for staying calm and happy, after overcoming depression. Some of the steps are related to specific events, whilst others are tips to be applied to our everyday lives. Perfect as a reference book for whenever you need a quick pick-me-up.
Priced at £7.49 | Buy the book
5. The Book of Happiness: Quotations and Ideas to Bring Joy into Your Life – By Lizzie Cornwall
From uplifting quotes, to practical tips and advice, this little book should put a smile on your face. Designed as a reference point for happiness inspiration, it’s best read each morning to help get you off to a positive start.
Priced at £5.99 | Buy the book
6. The Pursuit of Happiness: And Why It's Making Us Anxious – By Ruth Whippman
After moving to California, Ruth Whippman noticed that the constant pursuit of happiness was making people miserable. In response, she wrote this honest insight into what the concept of happiness truly means.
Priced at £13.48 | Buy the book
7. The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking – By Oliver Burkeman
If meditation isn’t for you, then this book by Oliver Burkeman might be up your street. He argues that ‘positive thinking’ and ‘relentless optimism’ are not the solutions to our happiness dilemma, but are in fact fuelling frustration. He instead believes that by embracing our faults, we can achieve happiness through “the power of negative thinking.”
Priced from £9.98 | Buy the book
8. Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness and Creativity - By David Lynch
For fans of David Lynch, this autobiography and self-help guide offers readers a dabble in the world of Transcendental Meditiation, which the director began practising in the 1970s. Writing about his approach to filmmaking and creative arts, it’s an inspirational read for anyone in the creative industries.
Priced at £12.08 | Buy the book
9. Into the Heart of Mindfulness: Finding a Way of Well-being - By Ed Halliwell
After suffering from anxiety and depression, Ed Halliwell tried many different routes to overcome his negative state. He eventually found that meditation helped where other ‘cures’ had not. And it went on to transform his life. In Into the Heart of Mindfulness, Ed offers practical advice to help us change our habits for a happier existence.
Priced at £12.78 | Buy the book
10. This is Happening: Redesigning mindfulness for our very modern lives – By Rohan Gunatillake
Rohan Gunatillake argues that to lead a more mindful and happy life, we must learn to switch off. He offers tips on bringing awareness and kindness to each day, alongside over 60 practical exercises to help readers get started straight away.
Priced at £9.74 | Buy the book