The Happiness Project

Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. "The days are long, but the years are short," she realized. "Time is passing, and I"m not focusing enough on the things that really matter." In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project. With humor and insight, she chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Rubin didn't have the option to uproot herself, nor did she really want to; instead she focused on improving her life as it was. Each month she tackled a new set of resolutions: give proofs of love, ask for help, find more fun, keep a gratitude notebook, forget about results. She immersed herself in principles set forth by all manner of experts, from Epicurus to Thoreau to Oprah to Martin Seligman to the Dalai Lama to see what worked for her--and what didn't. A cross between the Dalai Lama's The Art of Happiness and Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love, seamlessly buttressed by insights from sources as diverse as psychological scientists, novelists, poets and philosophers. Gretchen Rubin's book is one that readers will revisit again and again as they seek to fulfill their own dreams for happiness.

A great gift on it's own ... even better when paired with organic sweets and snacks from the options below. Don't forget to include your handwritten gift note!