Happiness

Happiness begins with a charming courtship between hopelessly attracted opposites: Heather, a world-roaming California girl, and Brian, an intellectual, homebody writer, kind and slyly funny, but loath to leave his Upper West Side studio. Their magical interlude ends, full stop, when Heather becomes pregnant, Brian is sure he loves her, only he doesn't want kids. Heather returns to California to deliver their daughter alone, buoyed by family and friends....

The iconic performing artist provides spiritual tools and advice for self-empowerment and fulfillment while examining the role of her enduring Buddhist faith in helping her overcome poverty, loss, and other personal and professional obstacles.

"The Danes are famously the happiest people in the world, and hygge is a cornerstone of their way of life. Hygge (pronounce Hoo-ga) loosely translates as a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. You know hygge when you feel it. It is when you are cuddled up on the sofa with a loved one, or sharing comfort food with your closest friends. It is those crisp blue mornings when the light through your window is just right. It is about gratitude...

"A psychologist and respected dog trainer shares the secrets to a happy pooch. Did you know that seemingly noiseless electronics may be upsetting your dog? Or that letting her sniff the breeze is one of the best gifts you can give her? Wag bridges the gap between human and canine by demystifying the inner lives of dogs to share evidence-based advice for making them happy. Acclaimed blogger Zazie Todd distills the latest canine science and shares recommendations...

The 'Danish coziness' philosophy is fast becoming the new 'French living' in terms of aspirational lifestyle books and blogs. There are countless viral articles comparing the happiness levels of Americans versus Danes. Their homes are more homey; their people are more cheerful. It's an attitude that defies definition, but there is a name for this slow-moving, stress-free mindset: hygge (pronounced "hoo-ga"). Hygge values the idea of cherishing yourself:...

The therapeutic benefits of living with and tending plants are well known--they offer a connection to the natural world that nurtures our mental and physical health. In Living Wild, Hilton Carter shows how to create a lush, stylish space with flourishing plants that bring life to your home and happiness to your life. He discusses interior design choices--choosing the right color scheme, textures, and materials to showcase gorgeous greenery--then takes...

Entrepreneur and one-time rapper (under the name Jesse Jaymes) Jesse Itzler's life is bold and risky until he realizes he's ready for a major change. He decides to take up residence with the New Skete monks, a Russian Orthodox religious order in upstate New York. What he learns about the monks-- and himself-- is the focus of this memoir.

According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai, a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world's longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. García and Miralles interviewed the residents of the village, and reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and how bring satisfaction...

"Notre Dame Philosophy professors Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko have gone deep with that work in their wildly popular and influential undergraduate course GOD AND THE GOOD LIFE, in which they wrestle with the big questions about how to live and what makes life meaningful. Now they invite us into the classroom to tackle such issues as what justifies your beliefs, whether you should practice a religion, and what sacrifices you should make for others--as...

"The roadmap for finding purpose, meaning, and success as we age, from bestselling author, Harvard professor, and the Atlantic's happiness columnist Arthur Brooks. Many of us assume that the more successful we are, the less susceptible we become to the sense of professional and social irrelevance that often accompanies aging. But the truth is, the greater our achievements and our attachment to them, the more we notice our decline, and the more painful...