Happy This Year!: The Secret to Getting Happy Once and for All Paperback – April 9, 2013

Many of us who have gone to School, or simply have natural intelligence know that deplorable feeling that arises when we discover we had bought a book that was supposed to contain good intellectual or technical advice only to discover that we are smarter than the author, and that, in effect, we had contracted for the help of a fool. And, yes, "Happy This Year" is such a book, and Will Bowen is such an author. And, oh no, this is not some hasty judgment, as I stuck it through the entire book, and it never gets better, and then I did an On Line search of Will Bowen, and guess what, he came to Name and Fame by being on the Opra Show, which must be some kind of conclusive proof of how stupid and shallow he is, as Opra seemed to make it something of a rule in her career to only bring people on the show whom she could easily understand herself, and if anybody spoke in too much detail or complexity, well, she thought that they were just `rambling', and if they `rambled', well, it must because they are the one's who are stupid (yes, the `Stupid Paradox'... Stanford, or some University, did a study once and discovered that when Stupid People do not understand what Smart People are saying, a good 20% of the stupid people will blame it on the failure of the Smart People to adequately explain themselves, that they `ramble', that is, that it is the Smart People who are really the stupid ones. And if there was anything wrong with that study, I think it is that the 20% figure is much too small.) Anyway, Opra was very comfortable with Will Bowen, who would not have been able to intellectually intimidate a fly.Oh the book was so stupid, so where do I begin. First, the tone. Just the language and meter is stupid. And the stupid things he says - for instance, he will speak of wishing wells and say that that is where the expression `wishing well' came from. Well, duh! But then in other cases he will come up with foggy references of one time particulars and say the same thing, that that was where such an expression came from, with their not really being such a commensurate expression at all, except in his own mind. It is like he has a formula - `that is where the expression came from' and he simply needs to trot it out whether it applies or not.Oh, and then there are major evidences of Poor Discernment. Like all New Age Idiots he is rather mesmerized with Native Americans who obviously think it is funny to simply tell White Americans anything with a straight face, and then laugh about such gullibility in believing them later... well, actually I don't want to appear to minimize the great skill that the Native American's are using, to guess so well what the White People want to hear and then deliver it so well wrapped up in ribbon and bow, and it is so much better than burning down our farmhouses and killing us in our sleep, that we should not begrudge them this one avenue for enjoyment and income. Anyway, Will Bowen heard of a Tribal Institution regarding "Sacred Clowns" and became enamored of the concept. The way he describes it is that these benevolent Sacred Clowns would poke a little bit of fun at people who seem to worry unnecessarily about unimportant things and so put them back on the Proper Path again, and then we are told that they would all sit around at night expressing complete gratitude for the wonderful Sacred Clowns and their great Wisdom in seeing when everyone else goes astray and then setting them right again. Yeah Right?! Hmmmm, honestly!? Now let's think about Adolescent Peer Group Behavior and Bullying. Everyone in an Adolescent Peer Group must `fit in'. If they don't, then they are ridiculed or bullied by the Peer Group Alphas (the leaders) until they do conform and fit in, or they are ostracized from the Group. What this one Tribal Tradition did, in effect, was to Institutionalize Adolescent Peer Group Behavior even for the Adult Community - to hound non-conforming adults to enforce tribal conformity. Now, Will was just told about the "Sacred Clowns" - the old Tribal Enforcers, but we can imagine where the most damage is done. When the Tribal Authorities single out certain people for ridicule, we don't need much imagination before it occurs to us that the kids would get in on the act too. Non-conformists would be followed around by hooting and gearing children, and be forced to suffer under showers to pelting rocks and stones. And Will Bowen thinks all this is just lovely, well, of course not, but he never bothered to think about what he had really been told, to look at and discern the reality that must exist behind the surface of stupid flowery words. Yes, what an Idiot.Oh there was a curious chapter in which Will Bowen speaks of a huge faction in his church who just virulently hated him and wished he would quit, and apparently the congregation did not have voice on any kind of Council so they could fire him themselves, and that the Reverend Mr.Bowen had apparently been imposed upon them by some heedless Central Church Body, and so their only recourse was to repeatedly stage protests against him, to send letters to his home expressing their displeasure, and to tell him to his face at every opportunity that they did not like him and wished he would find a new Congregation to make suffer. But in this entire chapter, Will Bowen never thought it was important to mention why so many people hated him so extremely, as though their reasons would not be part of the issue at all. We were left thinking only that these people were being gratuitously mean. But for me the Chapter had been so, well, revealing, in the sense of, `oh good, I'm not the only one who just plain simply hates this guy".Well, I can't detail out the entire book, but I can tell of the general drift of it all, and that is that we are all supposed to wish to be happy and then to pretend to be happy, and then to cut ourselves off from anything unhappy - News, Politics, Media Culture, Music, Co-Workers, Friends, Acquaintances and probably even Family, that aren't of the apparently the same Happiness Cult. He does not say so in so many words, as words are not really his gift, but he might as well say "The Truth Will Make You Sad". If one must choose between Truth and Self Delusion, well, we have an entire year to make the Proper Choice and be "Happy".So, I can't really recommend Will Bowen's book. If you want a good book to help you increase your emotional baseline in the positive direction, well look to Martin Seligman and his Positive Psychology books. Seligman had been... maybe still is, the President of the American Society of Psychologists, or something like that. And he is honest about happiness and optimism, for instance, that while Optimists are indeed happier, it is the Pessimists who are most likely to see the onset of bad situations and then who are most likely to come up with workable solutions. He also grounds the Psychology of Happiness in Maslow's Theory of Ascendant Needs - that there are material, social and family needs that are required to be met before a person can really concentrate on being `Happy', and then Seligman helps us out by a full discussion of what it really means to be Happy anyway, not like Will Bowen who just seems to recommend we all just wall ourselves into a Web of Self Delusion and keep a silly grin on our faces. Seligman seems to think it has something to do with being a fulfilled, worthy and actualized person. Well, the Old Grump! What about `Wishes really do make Dreams come True'? Well, dreams are great but sooner or later we got to wake up and smell the coffee, listen to a REAL Doctor, like Seligman, and decide that happiness is a Journey and we got to take every step of it ourselves, and not just get to the end by pretending to suddenly just be there. And it would be a more solid happiness. Will Bowen does not discuss it, but what happens to Happiness by Self Delusion when the World simply can no longer be kept out - when Family obtrudes, Careers are lost, Wars, Famines, etc. Well, one would think the Silly Forms of Happiness would simply just collapse, where Seligman's `fulfilled, worthy and actualized' people, who may well lose their grins, may still be able to cope, bear up, stay strong and support Civilization for simply just another day.

Happy This Year by Will BowenThis book might be easily summarized by saying that a positive attitude is the key tohappiness. The author essentially admits as much, but then goes on to tell the reader how tomaintain such an attitude. Indeed, maintaining a positive attitude is much easier said than done. Idon’t agree with everything in the book–no surprise- but there is a lot that is helpful, includingsome quotes scattered throughout the work. I sometimes get overly enamored with catchyphasing.Here’s one of those quotes:“Happiness lies in the consciousness we have of it, and by no means in the way the futurekeeps its promises.” George SandIn attaining the positive attitude necessary for happiness, the author notes that we mustunderstand that happiness moves from our thoughts, speech and actions, and ultimately imprintsitself upon our habits, our character and our destiny. We need to habituate practices that tend tomake us happy. He also notes that happiness is not unbridled joy, but a sense of contentment andwell-being that pervades our lives. Joy represents the “symphonic crescendos of life”. Happinessis our overriding sense of contentment.He addresses the well discussed issue that money doesn’t bring happiness, althoughrecognizing that some level of prosperity may be necessary. He punctuates this oft quotedreality with an interesting example of an anecdotal experiment with a group of monkeys. They alllived in relative harmony until a single toy was interjected into the group. There was immediatecompetition for the toy. The monkey who acquired it would become nervous that another wouldtake it away, while the monkeys without the toy would become envious. He extrapolates this tothe conclusion that comparing ourselves to others always leaves us discontented, regardless ofhow much we have. Again, this is not some striking revelation, but putting it into examples andexploring it gives it credence that might actually convince us not to use comparative materialwealth as a benchmark of happiness. Once money becomes such benchmark, you can never haveenough. He also points out that as we acquire things, the fear of losing, or in fact loosing some ofthem creates more negative contentment than the positive effect of acquiring the same amount. Aquote from Vin Scully puts it in perspective: “Losing feels worse than winning feels good.’ Thisis almost exactly how I discussed trials in my later years–“The highs from winning were not asgreat as the lows from losing.”Although the book is not religious, the author does speak to “spirituality as a bridgebetween money and happiness”. However his spirituality is not the same as religion, but arealization of the oneness and interconnectedness of all earthly things and people. When we tryto address and serve this commonality, we will often receive rewards far more valuable thanmaterial goods. Once money becomes overly important, there can never be enough.But how do we focus on positive matters that add to our happiness. The author couldhave, but did not use the Nike slogan–“Just do it”. A positive attitude is self generated. We all

The truth that everyone deserves to be happy had become lost on me. Took a chance on this book. Being down has become unbearable. I learned some skills and techniques for changing my mindset. I was buoyed by the ideas and concepts from many learned people (referenced) about why and how to be happy... to 'think' happy. The book jolted me into action (maybe more than anything because I was ready/desperate) for change. Those closest to me needed me to get back on my feet. It is filled with practical advice and encouragement, and actions, to find and sustain a 'happiness' mind-set. Simple and profound notions. Just what I needed get back to being responsible for my own happiness and the resulting effect on those I most love. Why not 5 stars? Because some of the practical advice was sophomoric for my taste.

THE CONCRETE STEPS IN THIS BOOK HAVE ENABLED ME TO RID MYSELF OF DOWNWARD SPIRALING THOUGHTS. INFORMATION IS GIVEN THAT PROMOTE YOUR INNER SELF TO BRING INTO A MORE PERMANENT STATUS OF HAPPINESS IN LIFE. I LIKE THE WISE DISTINCTION BETWEEN ELATION WITH TEMPORARY HIGHS AS COMPARED TO A CONTENTMENT AND SET POINT OF HAPPINESS. IT IS A CHOICE A PERSON MAKES TO ACHIEVE HAPPINESS. WE CAN ALL DO IT NO MATTER WHAT.

Happiness is not a destination. It's a journey. It starts with your mindset. Not when you get that job, not when you make more money, not when you meet someone. Right here, where you are right now.

Uma verdadeira aula de como se alcançar a felicidade! Minha leitura diária! Leio todos os dias pela manhã um trecho do livro!

Stopped listening after author started talking about the Devine lord as the most significant answer to happiness even quoting the bible. Not for me.

First of all I never thought I'd write a review like this, but this book deserves it. I'm not sure I've read a book that's been so informative in quite a while. Even the intro is packed full of quotes, ideas and approaches to keep you thinking. It's brilliantly easy to read with a good mix of famous quotes, experiences from the authors life, science and ideas that are placed into such a context they are very easy to understand and apply. The book is also really very practical with easy to do exercises (though nothing too wacky) that do seem to make a difference. I'm only half way through and notice a massive difference in my level of happiness already! For me, I picked this book up not because I was unhappy, I just felt like there was something missing. The book frames this perfectly and explains it as our base level of happiness that we return to (seems mine was just quite low) - it then sets out to show you how to increase that. So far it's doing a brilliant job! Perhaps it was the timing of which this book landed on my kindle (I was beginning to think I should study happiness at which point Amazon emails me with a link to this book) or perhaps its just a reflection of the writers ability to convey his ideas (I'm guessing a bit of both). I like everything about this book: the personal stories, the ideas, the way its written how easy it is to read and how well read the author obviously is on the topic. Overall this book is jam packed full of stories, ideas, facts, exercises and more that have made an impact for me and will continue to. It's that good I'll be buying a hard copy for the book shelf! Highly recommended. Great job Mr Bowen.

I've read this book in little chunks - there's only so much self-help advice I can take in one go, but I have to admit that a lot of the advice has been quite useful. Bowen writes in an affable sort of way, and it's all very positive stuff. Yes, happiness it very much a state of being that starts with us, and I have found I've taken a few of his ideas and tried to use them on an everyday basis. Some of it isn't my thing - like chanting "I'm the greatest" to my image in the mirror - and I prefer to quietly contemplate rather than use a happiness buddy, but I think if everybody had even a fraction of Bowen's upbeat optimism, the world would be a much more cheerful place.

My husband says that I have so many self help books that I could start a library. He's probably right but this is the best one I have ever read. The practices to do each day are easy and not 'weird' like some I have come across. I read the book 3 weeks ago and continue daily to do my practices, not perfect every day but I try and can honestly say I do feel happier. I love the praying, I am not religious and you don't need to be to pray but somehow it is comforting and I do it each night and sometimes when I wake in the morning. If you have been or are suffering from stress, anxiety or depression I recommend this book to you. Don't buy the kindle version as the actual book is better as you can keep referring back. Buy it !!!