Summary

Scientists and academics have spent entire careers investigating what makes people happy. But hidden in obscure scholarly journals and reports their research is all too often inaccessible to ordinary people. At last, social scientist and psychologist David Niven distils the scientific gobbledygook of over a thousand of the most compelling and important studies on happiness into easy-to-digest nuggets of advice. Each of the hundred practices, attitudes and habits for creating happiness is illustrated with a clear example and illuminated by a straightforward explanation of the science behind it to show you how to transform a ho-hum existence into a full and happy life. Believe In Yourself: Across all ages and all groups, a solid belief in one's own abilities increases satisfaction by about 40 per cent, and makes us happier both in our home lives and our work lives. Turn Off The TV: Watching too much TV can triple our hunger for more possessions, while reducing our personal contentment by about 5 per cent for every hour a day we watch. Don't Forget To Have Fun: Having fun is one of the five central factors in leading a satisfied life. feel happy on a daily basis and 36 per cent more likely to feel comfortable with their age and stage in life.