Best Books on Happiness: 25 Top Happiness Books (2020)

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Looking for the best books on happiness? You’re in the right place!

From books on the science of happiness to books about joy, gratitude and positivity to books about how to be happy you’ll find everything you need to find satisfaction, create more contentment and lead a happier, more fulfilled life in the books on this page.

Note: If you know exactly what’s making you unhappy then don’t forget to check out TAoL‘s other book recommendations for top reading lists on topics like health, mindfulness, relationships, learning, productivity, mindset, wealth and more.

The 25 Best Books On Happiness

Why these books and not others? The best books on happiness below are the top picks from my master database, ranked by a combination of Goodreads rating, the number of Goodreads reviews and first publication date. The goal is to give a good balance of what’s most loved, what’s most popular and what’s delivered timelessly relevant advice.

Think something’s missing? Leave a comment or email me and I’ll add it to the next round of updates. I honestly love hearing from you so please, do get in touch!

1. The Art of Happiness (1998), Dalai Lama XIV (Summary)
   336 pages. Rated 4.2 over 89,900 reviews on Goodreads.
2. The Power of Positive Thinking (1952), Norman Vincent Peale (Summary)
   128 pages. Rated 4.2 over 81,600 reviews on Goodreads.
3. On the Shortness of Life (-49), Seneca (Summary)
   106 pages. Rated 4.2 over 17,300 reviews on Goodreads.
4. The Art of Living (125), Epictetus
   The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
   128 pages. Rated 4.2 over 13,800 reviews on Goodreads.
5. The Happiness Hypothesis (2005), Jonathan Haidt (Summary)
   Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom
   297 pages. Rated 4.1 over 23,900 reviews on Goodreads.
6. The Happiness Advantage (2010), Shawn Achor (Summary)
   The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work
   272 pages. Rated 4.2 over 23,900 reviews on Goodreads.
7. Learned Optimism (1990), Martin E.P. Seligman (Summary)
   How to Change Your Mind and Your Life
   319 pages. Rated 4.0 over 15,600 reviews on Goodreads.
8. The Conquest of Happiness (1930), Bertrand Russell
   183 pages. Rated 4.0 over 9,700 reviews on Goodreads.
9. A Guide to the Good Life (2008), William B. Irvine (Summary)
   The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy
   326 pages. Rated 4.2 over 14,000 reviews on Goodreads.
10. Happiness (2003), Matthieu Ricard (Summary)
    A Guide to Developing Life’s Most Important Skill
    304 pages. Rated 4.1 over 5,200 reviews on Goodreads.
11. The Happiness Trap (2007), Russ Harris
    How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT
    240 pages. Rated 4.1 over 7,500 reviews on Goodreads.
12. Stumbling on Happiness (2006), Daniel Todd Gilbert (Summary)
    263 pages. Rated 3.8 over 51,400 reviews on Goodreads.
13. Authentic Happiness (2002), Martin E.P. Seligman
    Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment
    336 pages. Rated 4.0 over 9,500 reviews on Goodreads.
14. A Short Guide to a Happy Life (2000), Anna Quindlen
    50 pages. Rated 4.0 over 7,800 reviews on Goodreads.
15. The Book of Joy (2016), Dalai Lama XIV (Summary)
    Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
    354 pages. Rated 4.4 over 31,700 reviews on Goodreads.
16. Year of Yes (2015), Shonda Rhimes (Summary)
    352 pages. Rated 4.1 over 60,600 reviews on Goodreads.
17. The How of Happiness (2007), Sonja Lyubomirsky
    A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want
    384 pages. Rated 4.0 over 7,000 reviews on Goodreads.
18. The Geography of Bliss (2008), Eric Weiner (Summary)
    One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World
    335 pages. Rated 3.8 over 31,000 reviews on Goodreads.
19. 10% Happier (2014), Dan Harris (Summary)
    How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works
    256 pages. Rated 3.9 over 77,000 reviews on Goodreads.
20. The Happiness Project (2009), Gretchen Rubin (Summary)
    Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun
    301 pages. Rated 3.6 over 140,200 reviews on Goodreads.
21. Happier (2007), Tal Ben-Shahar (Summary)
    Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment
    192 pages. Rated 3.9 over 5,800 reviews on Goodreads.
22. Before Happiness (2013), Shawn Achor
    How Creating a Positive Reality First Amplifies Your Levels of Happiness and Success
    256 pages. Rated 4.0 over 2,500 reviews on Goodreads.
23. Stoicism and the Art of Happiness (2013), Donald J. Robertson
    256 pages. Rated 4.1 over 1,000 reviews on Goodreads.
24. Flourish (2011), Martin E.P. Seligman (Summary)
    A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being
    349 pages. Rated 3.9 over 4,900 reviews on Goodreads.
25. The Little Book of Hygge (2016), Meik Wiking (Summary)
    The Danish Way to Live Well
    289 pages. Rated 3.7 over 61,500 reviews on Goodreads.

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Arthur Worsley

Arthur is a thinker and writer who helps people who want more from their lives learn to be more productive, find more balance and live life more meaningfully. Want to know more? Take this 2-minute quiz to discover your Productivity Quotient (PQ) and learn how to get BIG things done. Take the Quiz →