I wanted to read Gretchen Rubin’ second book Happier at Home. I’d seen her speak at the Word Domination Summit this past summer in Portland about her first book, The Happiness Project. Her mind captured my imagination because she seemed to think very differently from me. I don’t mean we differ on the kinds of conclusions we reach on topics so much; but the way she arrives at conclusions couldn’t be further from my methods which made reading this book difficult.
In person she was a little snarky which I liked but she seem very much able to embrace who she is rather than who she thinks she should be. I always find a mind like that to be intriguing, inviting, stimulating and engaging. The second time I saw her speak was a few months back at a Random House event announcing publication of Happier at Home.
Both times she was delightful as a speaker. But I have found that I cannot sit and read through this entire book about her mental process of “becoming” happier at home. She helped me see my thinking process better. She is a lawyer by training so organizationally she lays out a process for answering this question should guidance be what you need. I wanted it but I never would be so organized as to focus on one theme each month to effect change in my life. I am too impulsive.
Though I agree with Rubin that everyone can benefit from starting a happiness project, I would need to undertake her process with a group to work my way through her process. Obviously this is my problem and not a problem with Happier at Home. Having said that I would still recommend the book because I think she has done the work and can offer sound solutions. I would just have to figure out another way to process this information in order to use Happier at Home personally. I am thinking bite sizes: one chapter at a time as that issue presents itself in my life.
This post was inspired by Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin where she runs a nine month experiment to create happier surroundings. Join From Left to Write on January 6 we discuss Happier at Home. You can also chat live with Gretchen Rubin on January 7 on Facebook! As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
Anu Prestonia says
This book is not sounding like something that would pull me in. I guess the title is not what I imagined. I’ll keep reading ‘The Happiness Advantage’, since it’s really resonating with me.
Patricia A Patton says
The book has good information just written in a way that makes it difficult to read straight through. Cannot wait to hear what you are learning about happiness.
Nancy says
I am the kind of person that needs a little bit of structure and a routine, so it was helpful to me to see how she tackled a seemingly large project by breaking it down into bite-sized pieces. I always try to do too much at once and get overwhelmed!
That said, I got a lot of great ideas from the book! What was your favorite idea? I liked the ones about going “shelf by shelf” and creating little shrines around the house.
Patricia A Patton says
Hi Nancy. So nice of you to read this little review and for me to learn about your blog which I will surely be visiting. She does have good ideas. I will use it as a reference book. Thank you for visiting.
Thien-Kim says
I read this book in small bites too. For me it was because she gave us so much to think about. I would read 10-15 pages at a time and let my brain truly absorb what I just read and how I might apply those ideas to my life. Thanks for your first post as a FromLefttoWrite.com member!
Patricia A Patton says
I will definitely apply some of her lessons to my life, no doubt about it.
Frances Stanfield says
I purchased her first book and hate to say that I did not get all the way through it. Perhaps it was because her approach is so different and I’m not very patient. That’s my problem with wanting instant gratification. I couldn’t put my finger on my problem with her book until I read your post and it makes perfect sense. I definitely am going to dust it back off and flip back through it.
Thanks,
Frances
Patricia A Patton says
Frances. …we are sisters. I would have to use it as a reference book. I just dealt with possessions so that was useful. I am dealing with eliminating and down sizing but you have to serve it tome in a particular way. Here’s the deal with answering people’s questions. We were talking yesterday about trigger questions. In this case, I guess the trigger question is what can I do to feel better about feeling attached to my stuff, for example.
Patricia A Patton says
Frances she is a dynamic speaker and thinker. Try it in small bites. And because she thinks differently from me that is what I will do. Thanks for your visit.