Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine

Derren Brown

Sep 2016 · Random House

About this ebook

The Sunday Times Bestseller

'Really brilliant and just crammed with wisdom and insight. It will genuinely make a difference to me and the way I think about myself.' Stephen Fry

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Everyone says they want to be happy. But that's much more easily said than done. What does being happy actually mean? And how do you even know when you feel it?

In Happy Derren Brown explores changing concepts of happiness - from the surprisingly modern wisdom of the Stoics and Epicureans in classical times right up until today, when the self-help industry has attempted to claim happiness as its own. He shows how many of self-help's suggested routes to happiness and success - such as positive thinking, self-belief and setting goals - can be disastrous to follow and, indeed, actually cause anxiety.

Happy aims to reclaim happiness and to enable us to appreciate the good things in life, in all their transient glory. By taking control of the stories we tell ourselves, by remembering that 'everything's fine' even when it might not feel that way, we can allow ourselves to flourish and to live more happily.

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What readers are saying:
***** 'Immensely positive and life-affirming'
***** 'This is the blue print to a good life'
***** 'Thought provoking and potentially life-changing.'

Ratings and reviews

Dearie me. One of the good rules I find for life is not taking Alain de Botton seriously, because he's an overprivilged airhead who has never written a meaningful sentence in his life. This book refers to him A LOT. And not in a derogatory way. I like a lot of Derrren Brown's stuff but this is weak and unfocused.

I thought this book was excellent. It was well-researched and thought out, with lots of references to other books that might interest the reader. It leans heavily on Stoic philosophy but other philosophies are addressed as well. Like another reader said it is kinda wordy, so you'll probably need your dictionary but it is well worth the extra work.

Very well researched and thought-provoking, but a bit wordy. I look forward to re-reading parts of this book again and again.

About the author

Derren began his UK television career in December 2000 with a series of specials called Mind Control. Since redefining the genre of magic for intelligent, modern audiences, he has become synonymous with the art of psychological manipulation. His TV shows have become must-see events. Amongst a varied and notorious career, Derren has played Russian Roulette on live television, convinced middle-managers to commit an armed robbery in the street, led the nation in a séance, stuck viewers to their sofas, successfully predicted the National Lottery, motivated a shy man to land a packed passenger plane at 30,000 feet, exposed psychic and faith-healing charlatans, and hypnotised a man to assassinate Stephen Fry. On top of this he tours the UK every year with a sell-out stage show.

He has published four books: Tricks of the Mind, Confessions of a Conjuror, Happy and a book of his caricatures, Portraits.