Road Test: Road Map to Pleasantville

Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment By Tal Ben-Shahar (McGraw-Hill)

Ben-Shahar has taken his positive psychology course—the most popular offering at Harvard—and put it in book form. The premise is that we can train ourselves to be happy. Could Happier help me make room for enjoyment amidst deadlines and jam-packed agendas? I tested its tips.

Create Rituals.

I begin to routinely write in my journal at night. Since I'm used to dedicating these hours to work, I often feel tense when I crawl into bed, but I find the new introspection calming.

Reflect on What You're Grateful For.

I try listing what I'm thankful for each morning. Focusing on the positive reminds me that life is more than a series of stressful events and makes the maddening moments more bearable.

Consider Happiness the "Ultimate Currency."

My daily activities—worrying and errands—aren't making me rich with pleasure. So I add meditation to my life, and (try to) subtract guilt for lack of productivity. The meditation helps, but the guilt will take more work.

Build Meaningful Relationships.

I spend more time with my computer than with my close crew, so I determine to prioritize my friends. Yup, they make far better companions than electronics do.

Help Yourself by Helping Others.

I notice a deaf man having difficulty with a saleswoman. I use sign language to help him find a knee brace so he can bike again. Brace in hand, he's so thrilled that he hugs us both. My bad day gets better.

The Bottom Line: The book helped this rat-racer, and it has guidelines for other personality types too. Yes, some of it is common sense, but Happier functions as a sustained workbook that a brief overview cannot replace.