An outstanding novel about a young Russian woman's life in exile after the Russian Revolution. The Book of Happiness is one of the outstanding novels the great Russian writer Nina Berberova wrote during the years she lived in Paris, and the most autobiographical. "All Berberova's characters live raw, unfurnished lives, in poverty, on the edge of cities, with little sense of belongingexcept in moments of epiphanyto their time and in life itself" (The Observer). Such a character is Vera, the protagonist of The Book of Happiness. At the novel's opening, Vera is summoned to the scene of a suicide, that of her childhood companion, Sam Adler, whose family left Russia in the early days of the revolution and whom Vera has not seen in many years. His death reduces Vera to a flood of tears and memories of the times before Sam's departure, and thoughts about how her life has gone sinceher move to Paris where she lives tied to a brilliant but demanding invalid husband. Berberova spins the story with a wonderful unsentimental poignancy, making it a beautiful testament to the indestructibility of happiness.

The joy experienced in creative work alone is real happiness, and all things else you might regard as such will surely, if you trust them, betray and rob you of true happiness, as much as one can find it in this life. Bear in mind that even here and now -- indeed, while you are reading this -- you find yourself in the very midst of eternal life. And what you cannot here and now accomplish for yourself, no "God above" shall in your place create for you in all eternity. By virtue of creating happiness in your own life, you tangibly increase the sum of happiness experienced on this earth. And thereby you accomplish more for mankind as a whole than by attempting to establish in your outer world the most beguiling of utopian theories.

"The knowledge and wisdom of 100 happiness professors from around the world. " It may be surprising to learn the amount of scientific research conducted on happiness and that there is a World Database of Happiness, a cumulative and continuous register of that research. In fact, the United States ranks higher than average in happiness, though not as high as the Nordic countries, including the happiest of nations, Denmark. So perhaps there is a lot to be learned about happiness and how to achieve it. "The World Book of Happiness" is a fascinating compilation of brief essays by 100 of the most prominent experts in positive psychology working in 50 countries. Writing from their own areas of expertise in language free of academic jargon, the contributors examine the principles of happiness, also known as subjective well-being, and how to achieve it. These expert recommendations are shown as "keys" to happiness. The book reveals many paths to happiness. From the founder of positive psychology, it is "other people matter." From Germany it is "pride, modesty and gratitude." In Malaysia it is "nourish the soul," and in Austria "fitness, friends and fun" bring happiness. And in Denmark, home to the happiest: "Believe in yourself." But what, too, of genetics, geography and health? The experts also consider these factors and recommend keys to happiness that address what we think we cannot control. Positive psychology may not be widely known, but the desire to be happy is universal. By transforming information into knowledge and knowledge into wisdom, "The World Book of Happiness" brings readers a hopeful and practical guide to that elusive state of being.

This is an anthology of short stories, carefully curated to bring comfort and happiness to those who are bedridden with illness. The editor, who was searching for stories to read to a sick child, realized that some stories can inadvertently bring sorrow to the reader. With this in mind, he sought out stories that are uplifting and joyful, believing that a healthy mental state can aid in physical recovery. The book features works from authors such as Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Charles Lamb.

This book is about the degree to which people take pleasure in life: in short 'happiness'. It tries to identify conditions that favor a positive appreciation of life. Thus it hopes to shed more light on a longstanding and intriguing ques tion and, possibly, to guide attempts to improve the human lot. During the preceding decades a growing number of investigations have dealt with this issue. As a result there is now a sizable body of data. Yet it is quite difficult to make sense of it. There is a muddle of theories, concepts and indicators, and many of the findings seem to be contradictory. This book attempts to bring some order into the field. The study draws on an inventory of empirical investigations which involved valid indicators of happiness; 245 studies are involved, which together yield some 4000 observations: for the main part correlational ones. These results are presented in full detail in the simultaneously published 'Databook of Happiness' (Veenhoven 1984). The present volume distils conclusions from that wealth of data. It tries to assess the reality value of the findings and the degree to which correlations reflect the conditions of happiness rather than the consequences of it. It then attempts to place the scattered findings in context. As such, this work is not a typical study of literature on happiness.

Happiness by Florine is a succinct analysis of the factors that can help make a person happy despite difficult situations or circumstances. This book doesn’t tell you what to do, it tells you how to do it. We often forget our roots while trying to survive in the rat race. We chase instant happiness through material possessions, the ideal job or spouse, a coveted promotion, or an exotic holiday. In the end, there is an emptiness that makes us search for new avenues for happiness. This book puts an end to our needless quest for nirvana. It reminds us that genuine love in its varied forms brings everlasting joy. It introduces us to the power of meditation and teachings of spiritual teachers. Excerpts from religious scriptures enlighten us on ways of attaining happiness from within.