Customer Reviews

Being Happy!

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book is great, it is about understanding yourself, being able to laugh at yourself, becoming more prosperous and being able to forgive yourself. It also discusses understanding natures laws so we can better deal with our own natures. What i like in the book aswell as the information is the comics in the books, they are terrifis, entertaining and very humorous. Now time for the run down on each chapter.

CHAPTER 1: This chapter deals self image, health and pain. Fact from chapter: The nicer you treat yourself the nicer others treat you.

CHAPTER 2: This chapter deals with depression, happiness and humor. Fact from chapter: Did you know that laughter is the best medicine.

CHAPTER 3: This chapter deals with thoughts, power of words and gratitude. Fact from chapter: Did you know that imagination is more important then knowledge.

CHAPTER 4: This chapter seems to deal with taking risks, setting goals and commitment. Fact from chapter: Did you know you only get back what you put out.

CHAPTER 5: This chapter deals with nature, learning from children and changes. Fact from chapter: Did you know the player in sport who usually gets hurt the most is the one who is moving the least.

CHAPTER 6: This chapter only has only one content called "here is where you begin."It deals with how what ever you are today may influence you to be the same in the next 10 to 20 years.

Overall this is a great book, though i recomend that you be no younger than 13 to get this because im 13 and there is some stuff in the book i can't relate to which was why i gave it 4 stars, but any way hope this helped. THANKYOU FOR READING-peace

I love this book! It is cheerful and has a great message. The advice the author shares is common-sense advice that we all know we should be following, but often we get off-track and too negative. Each chapter is short and to-the-point, with lots of cartoon illustrations. I have underlined almost the entire book, because each page offers more great advice. For instance, the first page I flipped to says this: "A person embarking on a day's march would be foolish to carry enough provisions for a lifetime. Is it not strange, then, that many people carry around all their worries for the next 20 years and wonder why life is so difficult?" The author has several other books out there, but this is his best.

I first wrote my thoughts on Being Happy in Sept 98 on this website (Angelfire_26). I can't quite remember whether that was when I first bought Being Happy or not. But 2 yrs later it has been flipped through, highlighted, lent to friends, mailed back to me, read again and again and again.

This book has become an integral part of my belief system, not because it preaches or drums thoughts into your mind... but because it is all COMMON SENSE and POSTIVE THINKING. You will say 'My Gosh that's RIGHT' throughout the whole book and you will make a concerted effort to remember everything you've read because it is all so clever! I would read and then forget all about the book until a situation came up where suddenly I would quote Andrew Matthews to a friend having a hard time.. or I would give myself this pep talk when I was nervous or stressed, courtesy of Andrew Matthews. Whether you think so or not at first - you do remember the concepts in this book and you draw upon them as you need to. I was always on the lookout for personal development books in an effort to 'improve' myself and become more aware of myself. I have not found one which compares.

In lower times of my life I go back to this book and after flipping though I say 'oh that's right', and I feel like I'm on track again. This is a very talented writer who isn't out to preach or dictate. He is out to help us all reach a level of happiness that is SO achievable once we realise the small things that get in our way. And it's only US that get in our way. I cannot say enough to let people know how fabulous all 3 of these books are. Recently I was thinking 'I wonder when Andrew Matthews will bring out another book? - I wish he would!' And then i thought 'What on earth could he cover now? What hasn't he already covered?'.. I'm satisifed! : )

I defy anyone to read this book and/or the 2 others and tell me they got nothing from the experience. It's impossible - and yes I'm that confident.

I am greatful that a co-worker recommended this book to me when she did. I was at a very low point in my life, and was probably close to making a rash decision that I would regret later. This book has taught me that I am not defective, and that I have more control over me and the events in my life than I thought. To some this book may be a rude awakening, but it is an awakening well worth it. I would recommend it to everyone, not just those at a low-point in their lives. I know this is a book I will be reading again and again, and each time I will take something else away with me as a lesson learned.

I can't believe how low the price is! It's definitely a good buy at the $$.$$ list price. This delightful and upbeat book is one of my favourites. Concepts are simple but not unrealistic. They make good sense. Short chapters come in handy when free time is a premium cost. When life becomes discouraging, I read a few pages of this book and can smile again.

In a nutshell: Being Happy! is a book that tells you how to be happy. The catch: the book's pages aren't coated with 'happy powder', it puts the onus on you, the reader to CHOOSE to be happy.

The bulk of the content in Andrew Matthew's book is dedicated to finding out why a hypothetical reader my not be happy and what he or she can do about it. Example: Perhaps you are annoyed that when money comes into your bank account, rather than accumulate it seems to disappear. The book advises anyone with this problem that it is purely mental; you must change your way of thinking - what if it was a banking error though! :)

The big issues are CHANGE and RISK and LEARNING FROM MISTAKES.... these are all of paramount importance when it comes to success... though a lot of people fail to have the decipline to go through with it... this is another issue tackled by the book.

The only problems I found with Being Happy! are the chapters don't appear to have much continuity and the messages, although simple have trouble sticking once you've put the book down.

Nevertheless, it's a great pick-me-up for those down-times and has some very useful advise on just about every aspect of happiness and self fulfilment.

I finished Being Happy this afternoon, and I've been trying to figure out why it made such an impact on me.

It's filled with motivational stories that everyone has heard before, like about Edison failing 1000 times before he succeeded, how we can learn imagination from children, and how the people who thought about free throws improved just as much as the people who practiced. I've heard all those stories before, so the greatness of the book isn't that.

Maybe it's the organization of the book. The book is organized into five chapters: Patterns, Live Now!, Toward the Direction of Our Dominant Thoughts, Goals, and Nature. I thought this was a very good analysis of the components of happiness.

Maybe it's the author's command of the subject material. I could tell that the author really enjoyed being happy and that he's a good example of how to be happy. He also presents the material without being preachy, without being self-aggrandizing, or without making too much of a sales pitch for his training company. (He does have a training company, but the book only references it once.)

So, I think I'll continue to be perplexed for a while about why I liked this book so much. All I know is it made a positive impact on me, and I feel happier and more confident after reading it.

The first time i read it was some 9 years back. It had a tremondous impact on my life as in total. Things around me started to change after reading this book. I was more confident, more compatible with others & yes, became more compassionate too.At that time i didn't own this book,suddenly i had this urge to own the book and tried all over India but couldn't find one. Then some 4 years later my brother when he had been to the US bought it for me. Even now i often go through the contents after having read it umpteen times. Basically the contents are the same things which we have known all our lives, but in our busy schedule seem to have forgotten 'em. This book is a wonderful rejuvinator of THE evasive knowledge within us. A MUST read for all those who have a confidence deficiency.

I picked up this book at a low point in my life, and it literally changed my way of thinking. This book can only be described as simply wonderful, and easy to understand. With his brand of humour, Andrew Matthews has a way of putting things into perspective, without sounding "preachy". Definitely a book that you can use again and again! I've also read "Making Friends" and "Follow Your Heart" - all 3 are must-reads! God Bless Andrew Matthews!

This would definitely be one of the best books I have ever read in this category. I bought this book on a day when I was feeling very low and sad. I sincerely believe in doing things that make you happy when you are sad, and one of those things for me is get into a bookstore and fill my library. This attitude is one of the advice that Andrew Mathews has suggested in his book. The chapter on setting goals and fulfilling it is fantastic. The cartoons depicting each chapter and topics are amusing and makes reading much more interesting. From my point of view and observation in this world I find that lot of people have a negative attitude even before they start working towards what they want in life, be it happiness, a goal, etc etc. This book is a must for such people. Andrew has pointed very well that we have to believe that we can do it and then set about doing anything in life. Think positive and believe you can do it even before you start anything. This book helped me in changing my attitude towards life, my marriage (in which i am very happy), and most important my belief in myself. Today I am working towards reducing my weight by swimming everyday. Thanks to Andrew Mathews for raising my spirit of life.