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Are you working on creating your best life or your dolce vita? While defining your what your best life looks like will take time and self-reflection, you can certainly embark upon a journey towards a happier and more fulfilling life with small steps everyday. In that vein, I have found books to be critical tools to learn about what works for others, how to level set and assign priority to what matters to you and to learn useful techniques to allow you to take steps in the right direction. Here are my best books about happiness to inspire and motivate you. So, grab a cup of tea (or a glass of Prosecco), find a comfy spot, and pick up a great life-changing read!
The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama
The Art of Happiness is a classic, and one of the first I picked up on my journey to understanding happiness. This book offers practical advice and insights on how to find inner peace and joy from the Dalai Lama himself. Written in his soothing tone, The Dalai Lama shares his wisdom and teachings on how to cultivate happiness and overcome obstacles. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to create a more fulfilling life. I mean, if anyone knows how to create happiness and a great life, it’s got to be the peaceful icon – the Dalai Lama – right?!
Check out The Art of Happiness here.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin has authored several books now. Her first (after some historical books) is The Happiness Project where she shares her personal journey of finding happiness and offers practical tips and strategies for readers to do the same. The book is filled with relatable anecdotes and actionable steps that can help you create a happier life. It’s a guidebook to creating your best life by enjoying the simpler things. She followed up with the book Happier at Home, which was written pre-COVID pandemic but honestly could have benefited so many people during that period as she shares her tips on creating a happier, calmer home environment. Both are great, easy-to-implement reads!
Check out the Happiness Project here. Check out Happier at Home here.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Elizabeth Gilbert is probably best known for her incredible soul-searching journey in Eat, Pray, Love, reinvented on screen by the amazing Julia Roberts. Big Magic is Gilbert’s 2015 book about creativity and how to live a creative life. She shares her own experiences and insights on creativity and encourages readers to pursue their passions and live a fulfilling life. I’d put this in the category of a great inspirational book for anyone looking to live a more creative and fulfilling life or anyone (slash literally all of us) looking to shake away fear and embrace wonder. Woah, big magic indeed.
Check out Big Magic here.
Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
If you don’t know Hal Elrod, what you need to know is he is one of the most inspirational, “regular” dudes of all time. Hal has been through SO MUCH TRAUMA (spoiler alert: crippling accident, financial loss and cancer), that you cannot help but gain some inspiration from his story alone. Then, Miracle Morning sets out a morning routine Hal uses himself to start his day off on the right foot. Although the book is designed as a practical tool to help you start your day with intention and focus, setting you up for a happier and more productive day, it packs in loads of inspiration which I guarantee will get you motivated to make some steps towards living your best life. There are a series of the Miracle Morning books, but start with the O.G., it’s the best.
Check out Miracle Morning here.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a book that challenges readers to re-think their approach to life. I hesitated to throw this one in to my list of the best books about happiness since it starts with what many could perceive as a negative outlook, but don’t worry, the message comes through in the end (I promise). Mark Manson offers a refreshing perspective on how to find happiness and fulfillment by focusing on what really matters in life. This book is a great read for anyone looking to let go of negativity and live a more authentic life. In the age of 24/7 news and constant inundation with social media this is, like, all of us.
Check out The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck here.
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma
Robin Sharma’s The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is a book that offers a fable about a successful lawyer who gives up his life to seek enlightenment. I read this book after law school and it inspired me to take up meditation at a Buddhist meditation centre for a while (seriously). Robin Sharma shares his wisdom and insights on how to live a more fulfilling life and find true happiness through this very interesting take on a self-help book. On our way to creating our dolce vita, understanding where meaning and purpose exists in our life is key. This book will help you self-reflect and motivate steps toward a more fulfilling existence.
Check out The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari here.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist is another book that uses a fable to send a message to readers about something profound (egad, I love these fables!). The book tells the story of a shepherd boy who embarks on a journey to follow his dreams and finds treasure and meaning along the way. Paulo Coelho shares his wisdom and insights on how to pursue your dreams and create a fulfilling life. This book has long been thought of as a great read for those looking for motivation to pursue their passions, so it’s not to be missed.
Check out The Alchemist here.
Ikigai by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia
If you haven’t heard of the Japanese concept of Ikigai, you need to read this book. Ikigai explains the secret behind the Japanese concept for finding purpose and meaning in life and, as such, leading a long life. It’s simple, it’s powerful, you will LOVE IT. Though you won’t often see this book quoted as one of the best books about happiness, it gets to the core of what you need to live a happy life. Another inspirational read which will get you thinking about your purpose in life and how to fulfil your goals to live a happier and fulfilling life.
Check out Ikigai here.
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
This book isn’t traditionally on a best books for happiness list, but I approach “happiness” abstractly. The 4-Hour Workweek is actually a practical perspective on a different way to approach work and life with the ultimate goal of achieving financial freedom. It’s not just about how Tim Ferriss “works” very little, automates a lot and spends his days sipping margaritas on a yacht somewhere (although I’m sure he does sometimes), it’s a toolbox of insights and strategies on how to live a more efficient and productive life by focusing on what really matters. Ferriss’ energy and creativity in creating time saving tools so he can get to the things he really values was inspiring to me, so the book makes the list. See for yourself!
Check out The 4-Hour Workweek here.
I Don’t Have Time to Read!
I hear you, reading is powerful but many people don’t feel they have time to take in a book (or two, or seven, or a hundred). I’ll take a page from Hal Elrod’s Miracle Morning to guarantee you that you too can benefit from reading these inspirational books. All you need to do is set aside some time for reading every morning before you do anything. What? In the morning, when I have a million things to do, you say?! Are you serious?! Yes, I am. Small steps make for great results. Can you get up 15-minutes earlier to take in a few pages or listen to an audiobook? Yes, I know you can. If you are committed to your future self and creating your best life, you most certainly can. 15 minutes a day is enough to read several books a year and gain all these critical insights without sacrificing a ton of time.
Simply reading a book isn’t always enough to get the most out of it, I know. So, you can take 10 minutes to read, 3 to jot down some notes with an ol’ paper and pencil and you’ve got 2 minutes to spare! In no time, you will have amassed a wealth of information, all with 15 minutes a day.
Conclusion
That’s all folks – my best books about happiness to offer inspiration on your journey to your dolce vita. Creating your best, happy life is a marathon, not a sprint, so it’s important to take small steps every day to get there. Whether you choose to pick up a book 15-minutes a day, listen to an audiobook, or to pursue another path to inspire you, know that you have the power to take control of your life and to create the happiness that you deserve. Happy reading!