JourneyOnline
Lion Hudson, 2009
RRP $16.95
Reviewed by Sally Algate, a member of The Gap Uniting Church
The 8 Secrets of Happiness delivers what its title suggests – eight ways of achieving a happier life.
But first it explores the idea of what happiness is. It concludes that, “Happiness is not a goal so much as an outcome of particular ways of living” which “enable us to connect the physical with the spiritual in creative, life-enhancing ways”.
This well-researched book includes numerous, wide ranging references from the work of modern psychologists to ancient Greek and Asian philosophers as well as many examples from popular culture.
Christian teachings are also in there, but are often referred to as being from an ‘older Western tradition’.
I suspect this wording is used so the book will not be labelled as a ‘Christian book’ so it will have wider appeal.
The authors seem at pains to conceal their own Christian mission work and are simply referred to as authors and speakers on spirituality.
Even so The 8 Secrets of Happiness can’t help but reveal its true character through its many references to Christian ways.
I can’t say whether the book contains all of the ways to find happiness but it certainly covers the main ones such as counting your blessings, practising acts of kindness, savouring life’s joys and learning to forgive.
In looking at each of its eight ‘secrets’, it works through what the secret means, the ways it can be achieved and provides examples of how these strategies can be put into practice.
It also acknowledges that we can’t expect constant happiness, that sometimes “life sucks” with the final chapter providing strategies for coping with stress and hardship.
The search for happiness has long been part of the human condition and this easy to read book is packed with good advice on how a person’s life can indeed be filled with happiness.
