Happier - Tal Ben-Shahar - McGraw-Hill Education

Introduction

Based on Harvard University?s most popular course? featured in the New York Times and Boston Globe
The new field of "positive psychology" is taking over the academic world; more than 100 new classes have popped up on campuses across the country
Happiness is also a hot-button topic on the self-help bookshelf, with titles such as Authentic Happiness, Stumbling on Happiness, and Flow selling hundreds of thousands of copies
Contains practical exercises backed by scientific studies

About the book

Can You Learn to Be Happy?

YES . . . according to the teacher of Harvard University?s most popular and life-changing course. One out of every five Harvard students has lined up to hear Tal Ben-Shahar?s insightful and inspiring lectures on that ever-elusive state: HAPPINESS.

HOW?
Grounded in the revolutionary ?positive psychology? movement, Ben-Shahar ingeniously combines scientific studies, scholarly research, self-help advice, and spiritual enlightenment. He weaves them together into a set of principles that you can apply to your daily life. Once you open your heart and mind to Happier ?s thoughts, you will feel more fulfilled, more connected . . . and, yes, HAPPIER.

?Dr. Ben-Shahar, one of the most popular teachers in Harvard?s recent history, has written a personal, informed, and highly enjoyable primer on how to become happier. It would be wise to take his advice.?
--Ellen J. Langer, author of Mindfulness and On Becoming an Artist

?This fine book shimmers with a rare brand of good sense that is imbedded in scientific knowledge about how to increase happiness. It is easy to see how this is the backbone of the most popular course at Harvard today."
--Martin E. P. Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness

About the author

Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., is one of Harvard University?s most popular lecturers. He has been profiled on NPR and featured on CNN, CBS, and in the New York Times and the Boston Globe. His classes attract 1,400 students per semester--approximately 20 percent of all Harvard graduates. Ben-Shahar graduated from Harvard with a degree in philosophy and psychology. For the last ten years, he has been teaching personal and organizational excellence, leadership, ethics, and self-esteem. For more information, visit www.talbenshahar.com

Table of contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Part 1: What is Happiness?

1. The Question of Happiness

2. Reconciling Present and Future

3. Happiness Explained

4. The Ultimate Currency

5. Setting Goals

Part 2: Happiness Applied

6. Happiness in Education

7. Happiness in the Workplace

8. Happiness in Relationships

Part 3: Meditations on Happiness

9. First Meditation: Self-Interest and Benevolence

10. Second Meditation: Happiness Boosters

11. Third Meditation: Beyond the Temporary High

12. Fourth Meditation: Letting Our Light Shine

13. Fifth Meditation: Imagine

14. Sixth Mediatation: Take Your Time

15. Seventh Meditation: The Happiness Revolution

Conclusion: Here and Now

Notes

References

Index