You Can Be Happy No Matter What: Five Principles for Keeping Life in Perspective (Paperback)

by Ph.D. Richard Carlson (Author), Dr. Wayne Dyer (Foreword) "Human beings are thinking creatures..." (more)
Key Phrases: more positive feeling state, own thought system, healthy psychological functioning (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A most important book that shows us in practical terms how to remove the blocks to the awareness of our natural state, happiness." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
In this audio edition of You Can Be Happy No Matter What, Dr. Carlson reveals a profound breakthrough in human psychology. He shows that happiness has nothing to do with forces beyond our control, and, in fact, our natural state is contentment. With this simple and practical guide, Dr. Carlson shows us how to be happy now, before we solve our problems.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: New World Library; 2nd edition (June 9, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577310640
• ISBN-13: 978-1577310648
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #148,415 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( D ) > Dyer, Wayne
  #20 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Authors, A-Z > Carlson, Richard
  #50 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Experimental Psychology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is Self Help at Its BEST!, August 21, 1999

By A Customer

Ever felt like depression and negativitity were swamping all the happiness out of your life? Then read this book before you turn to Prozac. When I first found this book, back in 1997, I instantly recognized myself in Dr. Carlson's descriptions of the way thoughts can play through one's head and cause you to act in reactionary, emotional ways when one is experiencing what he calls a "low mood." He teaches readers, though, through a step by step process, how to return once again, to a state of "healthy psychological functioning." This book is NOT another "positive thinking" book. No, it is one of the most profound little books you'll ever pick up. It teaches you how to recognize "low moods" and to avoid action during low moods. It shows how to return to "normal functioning." After reading the book version several times a year for the last couple of years, I recently bought a two-tape audio version of this book, which is read by the author, and allows me to review the book's key principles whenever I feel a low mood setting in for too long. Not just a book. A great mental health tool.

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good advice, but..., September 19, 2005

By	Miss Jane "book girl" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

I have to agree with all of the reviewers below: This book has some valuable insights. And because I am not unfamiliar with the concepts (see my review of "Napkin Notes on the Art of Living") I was interested to read a different presentation of similar material. Yes, we control our thoughts, our thoughts affect our moods, and feelings are a good indicator of when our thought process has derailed -- ie we're not living in the moment. And with a lot of patience and practice, we can navigate even the hardest things in life with more grace. But there were times while reading that my little voice said "This guy is making it sound way too easy... OR he's way too happy..." He insists that ignoring your low moods or negative feelings isn't "denial" but "deferral" of dealing with those feelings until you're in a better frame of mind, but often we aren't given that luxury. I worked really hard to maintain respect when, in two or three lines, he described how he was able to cope when a dear friend died in a car crash on the way to standing up to his wedding. Was it really as easy as he makes it sound? Human beings are complex, and often overwhelmed by feelings. So while this is good advice for many of life's ups and downs, I suspect the more complicated scenarios will require a bit more.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Depressed? Anxious? Try healthy psychological functioning!!!, November 27, 1997

By A Customer

This was the first of several books I read from Dr. Carlson, and I know it was a very instrumental part of my recovery process overcoming depression. I can't remember when I was so excited to read a book (except perhaps, when I read his book, "Shortcut Through Therapy"). I've read it three times, and bought four copies for other people who were also amazed at how much control they actually had over their own happiness!

The beauty of this book is it's simplicity. It combines principles and applications that are not difficult to understand and, with practice, almost effortless to implement. This book benefited me because I believed, that I had little or no control over my thoughts, feelings, moods, circumstances or happiness.

As I reflect after reading the book, I find that I have been feeling better longer. I still have low moods, but I don't sink as low, stay as long or hurt as bad as I used to. I'm still in therapy, and an end is in sight. My shrinks have substantially lenthened the time between visits, and reduced my meds considerably.

Thank you Dr. Carlson, for your helping hand when it was needed most.