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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Some good things to think about and practice. Some things seemed to me like just cheering you on fluff that didn't do too much for me, but it did bring up some good points and observations that I will remember.
fast-paced
The author has a message that is upbeat and focuses on simple attitude changes and methods that can bring us more happiness in our day to day lives. Recommended for those who enjoy inspirational self-help type books.
hopeful
fast-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
The Happiness Equation is a very "pop-psychology" self-help book. The initial premise isn't bad - how do you live a happy life? Pasricha goes into a simplistic but not incorrect information explanation of how your perspective, outlook, and things you focus your time and energy on can affect your mood. I don't have any real gripe with his suggestions on exercises for improving your general happiness, or self confidence, nor the section on the importance of intrinsic goals vs external ones. I also enjoyed the scribble about actions that involve "thinking" vs "doing" or an intersection of both. Automating tasks that you consider low-priority but that take up a lot of time makes sense. A fair portion of the book is corny and cheesy but fairly quick. However, once we get about halfway through I start having serious issues with his perspectives.
1. To summarize he says: "everyone has the same number of hours in which to get things done." BZZZZ. WRONG. Someone working two jobs to make ends meet does not have the same amount of time as someone who is living off an inheritance. A single mother with two kids does not have the same amount of time as a couple who are well off and have a nanny. Wealth, in many cases, frees up time. I get that he's not going into societal issues in this book but pretending we all have the same opportunities is asinine.
1.a. Sub note. He has his week cut into three "buckets". 56 hours for sleep in a week, 56 hours of 9-5 job, and 56 hours in which to see friends and family and pursue his passions. Which leaves out the time spent on chores, shopping, cooking, child-rearing, household management, etc. He says he used his "free time" bucket to work on this project so I can only assume his poor wife used her "free" 56 hours doing everything else.
2. His weird obsession with a traditional 9-5 capitalistic job. He literally writes multiple times in this book that retirement is a death sentence that people should do absolutely everything to avoid. Apparently without a 9-5 job you have no way to structure your day (just buy yourself a planner, my guy), you will cease having relevance, you will no longer contribute to society (as apparently everything else you do in your life is of no use to anyone ever) and will cause you to drop dead.
It's such a wild way to conceptualize the idea of retirement. He says it means you have to immediately stop doing anything, instead of realizing that retirement is literally what you make of it. Some people relax, others write novels, some go to volunteer at charities... retirement is just the freedom to do what you want without slaving for a wage. His hard-on for capitalism as the only means of worth is not only very off-putting it directly contradicts his entire section on how you have to focus on intrinsic goals, not external ones. It is only through a full 40 hour work week that you can "earn" the right to use your free time, he says, which is very incorrect. I don't owe anyone labour in order to enjoy my life.
He also insists that without a job you will never leave your house and never have a social life. I have friends and family. I do not rely on my coworkers that I talk to via Teams to get social fulfillment. Why is this your standard for a successful social life?
Pasricha is the type of motivational/leadership speaker that gets called to give speeches at companies. His book has a lot of filler and fluff. I once counted a total of 6 quotes on one two page spread. There's a few gems surrounded by some terrible garbage and a mountain of other people's wise sayings, anecdotes, and trivial filler. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
1. To summarize he says: "everyone has the same number of hours in which to get things done." BZZZZ. WRONG. Someone working two jobs to make ends meet does not have the same amount of time as someone who is living off an inheritance. A single mother with two kids does not have the same amount of time as a couple who are well off and have a nanny. Wealth, in many cases, frees up time. I get that he's not going into societal issues in this book but pretending we all have the same opportunities is asinine.
1.a. Sub note. He has his week cut into three "buckets". 56 hours for sleep in a week, 56 hours of 9-5 job, and 56 hours in which to see friends and family and pursue his passions. Which leaves out the time spent on chores, shopping, cooking, child-rearing, household management, etc. He says he used his "free time" bucket to work on this project so I can only assume his poor wife used her "free" 56 hours doing everything else.
2. His weird obsession with a traditional 9-5 capitalistic job. He literally writes multiple times in this book that retirement is a death sentence that people should do absolutely everything to avoid. Apparently without a 9-5 job you have no way to structure your day (just buy yourself a planner, my guy), you will cease having relevance, you will no longer contribute to society (as apparently everything else you do in your life is of no use to anyone ever) and will cause you to drop dead.
It's such a wild way to conceptualize the idea of retirement. He says it means you have to immediately stop doing anything, instead of realizing that retirement is literally what you make of it. Some people relax, others write novels, some go to volunteer at charities... retirement is just the freedom to do what you want without slaving for a wage. His hard-on for capitalism as the only means of worth is not only very off-putting it directly contradicts his entire section on how you have to focus on intrinsic goals, not external ones. It is only through a full 40 hour work week that you can "earn" the right to use your free time, he says, which is very incorrect. I don't owe anyone labour in order to enjoy my life.
He also insists that without a job you will never leave your house and never have a social life. I have friends and family. I do not rely on my coworkers that I talk to via Teams to get social fulfillment. Why is this your standard for a successful social life?
Pasricha is the type of motivational/leadership speaker that gets called to give speeches at companies. His book has a lot of filler and fluff. I once counted a total of 6 quotes on one two page spread. There's a few gems surrounded by some terrible garbage and a mountain of other people's wise sayings, anecdotes, and trivial filler. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
I did not love Pastiche's first book but I enjoyed this one much more. This focused more on our thoughts and positive thinking in general which I believe is something I need to hear when I am in a depressive mood.
The author's tone is very cheery and there are some practical tips, especially for optimizing time. However he gives some simplistic and sometimes contradictory advice. For example, he says he would never make his passion his job, because it lessens enjoyment. Later in the book, he suggests using the "Saturday morning" test to find meaningful work - i.e. what do you do if you can do anything at all?
Also the fact he works for WalMart and his Harvard Business Bro-ness are kind of problematic and clouds some of his judgment. "Never retire" is a great adage for people who enjoy their work but makes light of the fact that for many people (possibly within his own company) retirement is impossible and working isn't exactly contributing to their happiness.
Also, he makes a big deal of admiring his superior's approach to email - doesn't send work emails or respond to them, because it would set a bad precedent and people contacting him "can figure it out" themselves and thus gain confidence. Sure, if you're that high up in your organization that no one will bat an eye, but for 99% of people, never responding to emails would probably get them fired. It seems like a strange oversight to use this guy as an example.
It is always good to be reminded of the importance of gratitude for all the good things in life and the concept of ikigai. But this book could have done with some heavy privilege-checking.
Also the fact he works for WalMart and his Harvard Business Bro-ness are kind of problematic and clouds some of his judgment. "Never retire" is a great adage for people who enjoy their work but makes light of the fact that for many people (possibly within his own company) retirement is impossible and working isn't exactly contributing to their happiness.
Also, he makes a big deal of admiring his superior's approach to email - doesn't send work emails or respond to them, because it would set a bad precedent and people contacting him "can figure it out" themselves and thus gain confidence. Sure, if you're that high up in your organization that no one will bat an eye, but for 99% of people, never responding to emails would probably get them fired. It seems like a strange oversight to use this guy as an example.
It is always good to be reminded of the importance of gratitude for all the good things in life and the concept of ikigai. But this book could have done with some heavy privilege-checking.
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced