Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon a Project, Read Samuel Johnson, and My Other Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life

I loved this book! The way of thinking that Gretchen Rubin promotes in this book is both very helpful and extremely refreshing, and the style in which it is written is clever and amusing. It was so refreshing to hear someone say "I just want to enjoy what I have more." The idea that you don't need to be miserable to want increase your happiness was a revelation! I needed to hear someone say that. For me, it doesn't matter one bit who Ms. Rubin is married to, where she lives or how much disposable income she has, which seemed to bother the reviewer above. Her insights are applicable to many situations and socio-economic levels...she is not advocating that everyone set up a shrine to scent in their home...she is merely pointing out out this was something that helped her to be happier. I think her relationship tidbits were better than any books specifically about relationships and definitely more fun to read! I loved her categorizations of "abstainers" and "moderators", "over-buyers" and "under-buyers". The best thing about this book was that it made me think a lot about myself...and realize a few things about myself that i never had, and what changes might make me happier.

Gretchen Rubin may be the most honest self help writer I have ever encountered. Really, she's a memoirist of the daily effort to live a better life. Or, as she would put it 'choose the bigger life.' Here you won't find any exotic escape into Tuscany or anywhere else but 'home.' You won't find Gretchen rappelling out of helicopters--gosh, she dislikes driving a car! Nor will you find her throwing effortless dinner parties for two dozen. Nope, you'll actually find her standing outside the bathroom door yelling at her five-year-old.She's fighting the good fight for those she loves, and against the tide of stuff and hard-to-govern details of behavior that make us each who we are. On the one hand, she's brainy, high-achieving, and fearless about exploring her beloved New York City. On the other hand, she's afraid to drive, and admits to having a battle with snappishness and nagging. She acknowledges that many of the problems she wrestles are problems she is lucky to have--yet reminds us that the constant struggle to be a better person and make the world we live in a better place is a worthy enterprise.How refreshing not to be sold a line that my life really can easily be transformed utterly in ten easy steps--but that it can be made better, little by little, through the steadfast exercise of loving, conscious choices.I'm not at the same age and stage of life as Rubin--I wish that she had been writing when I was struggling to be a better mother to young sons. But she brings back great memories of the struggle, helps me to forgive myself for my imperfections, and assures me she's going to help many a parent to learn about de-conflicting the household and promoting small joyous moments. And her life lessons have a lot of utility for me, and I would suspect for many people outside her 'demographic.'Like one of her primary spiritual guides, St. Therese of Lisieux, she recognizes the power of small actions. Rubin's 'Little Way' is not the way of the saint, it's the way of a person living a life in the secular world with a family and friends and possessions. The depth of thought and intelligence she's willing to give to this enterprise of daily life sets her apart. I'm grateful for this book and for the ongoing, probing discussions she carries on in her blog. Good work!

Gretchen Rubin's first book, The Happiness Project, focused on her efforts to build a more fulfilled, joyful life. So naturally some readers may wonder: why a second book on happiness? But this time around she takes some of the principles from The Happiness Project and narrows it down. This doesn't mean the information is "watered down" in any way. Instead, as Rubin writes (taking a quote from William Morris), "The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life." And one of those details is life at home.The book was spurred by a sudden yearning not to take daily family and home life for granted. Yes, she'd learned how to be more joyful in general but what about taking some of the same principles - and adding new ones - to the elements that truly mattered for her family and home? So she decided to create a year's worth of resolutions, focusing on a different one each month (but there are only 9 chapters so some resolutions must have taken longer than a month to achieve)The topics covered were: possessions, marriage, parenthood, interior design, time, body, family, neighborhood, and living in the present. Rubin realized that major changes had to come primarily from within herself, not by expecting her family to change in the same ways she did. Otherwise, everything could backfire and she'd become a nagging control freak. A guiding motto was "First, do no harm."The parts of the book which resonated most with me were the sections on appreciating present joys as well as interior design. I have trouble slowing down and appreciating the daily gifts of life, large and small. Instead, I think about what still needs to be accomplished. But Rubin helped me to step back and refocus. I now make space for quiet moments and deep appreciation for all that I have.Then there is the part of the book on interior design - but not in the conventional sense, not room decor. Rubin's idea of interior design was to renovate herself, her spirit, her perspective. She decided to resist the impulse to take her happiness completely from her husband and children. Yes, she cared about their joy but she also knew that she had to "dig deep" to create her own built-in happiness. That way, her positive outlook was more likely to contribute to her family's happiness - as well as her own.There is far too much to cover in a reasonably brief review but I want to stress that this book went beyond the type of self-help books which contain general platitudes. There is specific and detailed information about how Rubin approached each resolution. There is also a section called "Your Happiness Project" at the back of the book. This is useful as a starting point for readers who want to start a Happiness Project of their own. Instead of instructing readers exactly what to do, Rubin offers a set of questions and beliefs. Examples of questions include: what makes you feel good? What makes you feel bad? Is there any way you don't feel right about your life (job, city, family situation, etc? I found much helpful info here.

Full of lots of ideas to help anyone have a happier home life. Definitely enjoyed it and found it very helpful. Loved her idea that now is now. And our ordinary lives/homes are where we can find happiness. Very practical and easy to read.

Love the book! Gives an energy boost right when you need it! Made me and my husband definitely happier at home.

De mis escritoras favoritas, que placer es leer sus libros, nunca los quiero terminar de leer.Definitivamente BUY ITToo much inspo❤️

Donne de bonnes idées pour améliorer la qualité de vie. Tout le monde est différent, et il ne s'agit bien sûr pas de tout adopter à la lettre, mais plusieurs de ses idées me plaisent beaucoup.

I've read this book because I'm also in search of happiness. This made me realise that I already have all the ingredients to be happy. All I need to do is to acknowledge them. This is one of the best books I've read... It's very easy to read and you realise little things that you possess to make the most significant people in your life happier. Thank you Gretchen. I'm looking forward to read your next book and your collaboration with your sister.