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weddywoo's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting introduction to Alder's ideas. I disagree with a significant portion of his network of thoughts on how we all interact and what needs to be in place for it all to work for the individual let alone the whole lot of us.
laurinsreadthat's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. While some of the concepts may have blown over my head a little I really enjoyed this look / viewpoint on human beings and why we are the way we are / what we can do to help get ourselves to 'true contentment' or 'happiness'
You're left with so many percolating questions which I think is the best way to finish a book of this nature, it also is well written and easy to follow which is helpful too.
You're left with so many percolating questions which I think is the best way to finish a book of this nature, it also is well written and easy to follow which is helpful too.
chuna's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
3.0
‘the courage to be happy’ is a book in dialogue format between a youth and a philosopher that explores ideas rooted in adlerian psychology. It challenges the reader to focus on living authentically and embracing personal responsibility, even when the world feels unkind or unfair.
key takeaways:
- happiness is not about external factors (success, approval, material gains) but an inner commitment to live meaningfully.
- it stresses the importance of courage—the courage to live in alignment with your values, even if others disapprove. It’s not about isolating yourself but about forming “horizontal relationships” where everyone is equal rather than hierarchical, where approval becomes a currency.
- adlerian psychology rejects the idea that we are bound by trauma or past experiences. instead, it claims that the meaning we assign to those experiences is what limits us, and we have the power to change that meaning.
- live in the now; stop focusing on the past or future goals!
- the key to being free from fear of judgment/societal expectations is to have courage; be yourself, be cringe, do what you want in spite of your fears.
overall, this book was a good read, but the message felt overly familiar. i’ve encountered similar ideas in various forms across different platforms, and it started to feel repetitive. bc of this, i hit a bit of a slump and was bored at times. that said, it’s a great introduction to self-help, especially for anyone struggling with anxiety or people-pleasing tendencies. one thing to note: I didn’t realize this was a continuation of the Courage to be disliked (whoops!), so I’d recommend reading them together for a more sound experience.
k_mthg's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Conversation felt a bit forced at times