Two years ago, my blogging friend, Deb Nance, of Readerbuzz, began a study of “Happiness.” Because I studied the word “gratitude the following year, she gave me her books she had bought to help me decide if happiness followed gratitude or vice versa. Our combined studies caused us to agree that gratitude doesn’t follow happiness; gratitude causes happiness. This is a brief review of one of the books she gave me:

This is a scientific study of happiness filled with stats, case studies, and many graphs and charts. My non-linear-thinking mind was not thrilled with this book; it was a hard read for me. However, those of you who exult in science-based, argumentative reading would LOVE this book. Malcolm Gladwell (one of my favorite non-fiction authors) recommends it thusly, “If you have even the slightest curiosity about the human condition, you ought to read it.” The back cover gives a better summary than I could ever write:

“In this brilliant, witty, and accessible book, renowned Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert describes the foibles of imagination and illusions of foresight that cause each of us to misconceive our tomorrows and misestimate our satisfactions…”

I found myself skimming the book, ignoring the stats and tables and charts, and reading the wonderful anecdotes. It was a powerful argument presented in a style I would have loved to receive from my Advanced Writing students at UHCL. I was thoroughly convinced by the author’s many mini-arguments and appreciated his insights and mostly readable prose.

GIVEAWAY: For a gently used copy of this book (It has been through Deb and my hands, now.) make a comment below telling why you should receive this book. Limited to USA followers only…sorry!