Happy Habits: A Happier, Healthier Life One Minute at a Time

Improving one’s well-being starts with steady, consistent progress, contends psychologist Ben-Shahar (Happiness Studies) in this concise, accessible guide. The book is rooted in the author’s idea of Minimum Viable Interventions, or “activities that are as brief as possible and as long as necessary to bring about real, significant, and lasting change.” MVIs aim to close the gap that can exist “between theory and practice” by creating a low barrier to action, making them easier to accomplish and therefore build momentum and motivation. Among the interventions suggested are low-key meditation practices—essentially, setting a reminder on one’s phone to focus on the present—to boost spiritual health, and intentional listening strategies to improve relationship satisfaction. Ben-Shahar’s no-nonsense approach and ability to translate essential truths into simple, effective tools will be especially valuable for readers who feel frustrated with more theoretical self-help books. This one-sitting guide effectively reveals how small steps can spur major change. (Dec.)