The Happiness Trap (Second Edition): How to Stop Struggling and Start Living

I am a middle-aged white male with a typical job, and I lead a typical life. I don't know if my opinion will persuade anyone to pick up this book. To be honest, I am not terribly concerned about that. I suppose I am writing this primarily as a thank you to the author. The book changed my life forever--in a good way. It brought together many things that have interested me for many years and made sense of them. It took the things I loved most about Zen Buddhism and framed them in a largely scientific context. In this scientific characterization, the power of these concepts is magnified and they are much more accessible to westerners. The writing seems compatible with ideas presented in formal epistemology. The recommended actions and ideas seem at home in the mind of an epistemic skeptic. More than just the book, ACT itself deserves much praise. To me, ACT seems a natural extension of evolutionary psychology. They fit together so seemlessly, at least in my opinion. For those in whom ACT is destined to resonate, the book is definitely a life changer. I thought he brilliantly and patiently encouraged the reader to participate in the many exercises presented in the text. The exercises are not embellishments or superficial ornaments. They are essential challenges to help one become immersed in the theory, help one reach competency in daily life. The exercises are extremely on target and extremely well balanced and measured. One of my favorite things is that when you finish the book, perhaps having left some of the exercises undone, it instantly becomes an incredible reference for the world view it describes. You can go back and finish the exercises. You can flip to a random page and study it. You can systematical refresh yourself on some pre-selected topic. In short, you can become and remain very, very familiar with the material. I am a little sheepish to admit this, but this is the best book I have ever read. I don't mean that it outdances the prose of Tolstoy (etc.). I mean in terms of pure impact on my life. I am sure the book would not effect everyone in this way. As we all know, life is a problem with many solutions (or something along those lines). Some of us might like an entirely different intellectual framework from which to view and interact with the world around us. For them, this book will probably seem ordinary, or worse. But, as for myself, I have found a magnificent text to aid me in the days ahead. My only betrayal of its role is that I know I will always be on the hunt, to some extent, for an even better formulation. Until I find one, I am set.

I think the psychotherapists/psychiatrists world hit a milestone with ACT. Clearly, ACT is different from what was proposed until now, and has in my opinion the best approach to all kind of mood disorders. Basically, you defuse unhelpful thoughts, accept negatives emotions and feelings, and live your life according to your defined values in a mindful way in order to attain your goals. This is a whole package for living a better life, and as you notice it won't dig in your past to try to solve your present problems: it just wants to optimize how you leave your life NOW. About the book: This book is a condensed, easy to read, and the perfect choice for someone starting to learn about ACT. Contrarily to many books on the subjects, this book is not for therapists, so a perfect choice for the non professional. Some reproach I can make to this book: - I would have appreciated defusion strategies to disengage from obsessive neutral thoughts: example when we are caught in a pure neutral cognitive process such as a choice to make between A and B that is draining our energy and we can't stop thinking about. -Author decided to rename some of the 6 core principles of ACT. First I think the replacements choices are not pertinent, second it creates confusion when you read other ACT resources. -This is not a remark that concerns only this book but maybe all the ACT approach: ACT never engages in process of creating positive emotions and such, or trying to change your mood and feelings, it rather defuses and accepts. This is a very fine approach, but some recent research on the brain neuroplasticity shows that you can literally rewire the brain to experience positive emotion almost at will which has a very positive effect on mind and body. This aspect is completely left behind by ACT, yet it might be worth considering.

If I could recommend just one "self-help" book to purchase, read and follow-through with the assignments it recommends, it would be this book! I have literally inched my way through it, reading it slowly over the past couple of months, stopping to actually do the activities recommended, and for me it has been a godsend, as I deal with the range of emotions that have emerged as I deal with breast cancer. I am a chronic starter/non-finisher of books but this one was so worth my while, taking the ACT process step-by-step. It has helped me calm anxiety, re-focus on my values and begin the process of listening to my deeper self about what I really want to DO moving forward from this experience. Whether you are dealing with depression, anxiety, worry, fear, dissatisfaction with your life in general or specific, or an unexpected life crisis, the exercises and activities recommended here will help you ACT your way into a more fulfilling life starting now. As the author points out again and again, happiness is a trap when we chase it for its own sake vs. experiencing it as a by-product of a life lived based on values-based goals. Along the way, the practical steps anyone can use to conquer and move beyond some of the most debilitating emotional states are explained, outlined for immediate practice/application. It is a book based on doing, not simply explaining or more psychological understanding. Should you buy it? No, not if you're looking for a quick fix, magic wand. Yes, absolutely if you're ready to make a change for the positive, one action step at a time! By the way, it was recommended by my therapist and I will be forever grateful to her for leading me to it!

Actually has really helped with how I view depression and anxiety. I haven’t finished it yet but I’ve been practicing the techniques in the book and can honestly say they are helping.

As someone who has experienced long term anxiety and struggles with overthinking, I wish I would have read this book many years ago. Yes, some of the activities feel silly, but I promise you, trust the process, and you will reap the benefits. This book has been so much help (in addition to therapy) in reducing my anxiety and overthinking so I am more productive at work, maintain healthier relationships, and live a more fulfilling life

If you aren't familiar with ACT (Acceptance Committment Therapy)the concepts in this book will be mind blowing, in a good way. I didn't know anything about ACT, but I've read every other self help book ever written (ok, that's a slight exaggeration)and thought it sounded interesting and was I ever right. After reading all those self help books, I am still dealing with the same ol' issues. I am confident that ACT will provide the answers I am looking for. One of the goals of ACT is to help us disengage from the mental struggles we are in, by teaching us not how to change or resist our difficult thoughts and feelings but to accept them (that's the A in ACT). This may not sound revolutionary, but for me, who has been trying unsuccessfully to change the same self defeating thoughts for years, this is big, really big, a breakthrough. I read the book through once and am now going back and doing all the exercises again. I am not kidding when I say this book had more impact on me, more quickly, than any other self help book I've read. It is crucial that you do all the exercises. Just like reading a book about aerobic exercise doesn't do anything to help you get in shape, reading this book without doing the exercises won't help you at all. But if you are willing and open to the concepts and do the work, ACT could help you live a better life. I read Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy first and found that to be more academic and harder to understand. I strongly recommend reading "The Happiness Trap.." first because it makes ACT more understandable and accessible, but once you have a good grasp of ACT, "Get Out of Your Mind..." is a terrific book too.

The book was a little anti cognitive behavioral therapy. While it doesn’t cure anyone it is healthy and helpful to find a positive in a negative. i don’t think i got through it though so i may just be talking

I've read many books in my journey of personal growth and this is by far the most impactful. As an analytical person, it is very easy to get caught up in the struggle of wanting the discomforts of life to stop. I'm glad this book supplies the tools to help us endure them in a healthy way to achieve the things that mean the most to us in life. I highly recommend this book for anyone trying to navigate life in general and need the tools to help them get the life they desire.

An excellent treatise on the Happiness Trap!! The entire book goes through logical stages!! It builds up, with beautiful pnemonics and real life personalities!! We are all reformed personalities, when we contemplate the simple teachings in this book!! We strongly recommend this book, in whichever field, or profession we are!! - - Prof SAM Ahuja, Bangalore, India

Diese Buch hat mich sehr inspiriert!

Excellent book, recommended by a counsellor and it really helps to put your life in perspective and think about to your values.

This book is a life changer. I bought it about a year ago and it changed how I think about life. I bought this as a 'pay-it-forward' for a friend who is having a hard time. I could have given my copy to my friend but this is such a great book I wanted to reward Dr Russ Harris with two purchases - he is a genius. For the price of a few coffees, the benefits are way beyond expectations.

The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris is an excellent introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and I would highly recommend it to anyone struggling with anxiety, difficult emotions or negative thought patterns. What makes this book so refreshing is that it doesn't promise a life free from unhappiness. Instead, it challenges the idea that we must constantly fight, suppress or eliminate uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. The explanations are straightforward, relatable and supported by practical exercises that encourage you to recognise unhelpful thinking patterns, accept difficult emotions and focus on what genuinely matters in your life. One of the most valuable lessons is understanding that our thoughts are not necessarily facts, and we don't have to act on every thought that enters our minds. It's not about pretending everything is wonderful. It's about learning to live a meaningful life even when things are difficult. A thought-provoking, compassionate and genuinely useful book. Five stars and highly recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐