Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Book Titles that Include the Word “Happy” (and My Assessment of Whether or Not the Book is Good for Lifting One's Mood)

Books that definitely taught me lots and lots about being happier:



The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben

The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger

The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Sonja Lyubomirsky

The Blue Zones of Happiness: A Blueprint for a Better Life by Dan Buettner

How to Live: What the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community by Judith Valente



Books for just a quick daily dose of happiness:


Better Than Chocolate: 50 Proven Ways to Feel Happier by Siimon Reynolds

100 Simple Secrets of Happy People by David Niven

Be Happy: A Little Book to Help You Live a Happy Life by Monica Sheehan

Happy Habits: 50 Science-Backed Rituals to Adopt (or Stop) to Boost Health and Happiness by Karen Salmonsohn


Books that did not make me feel happier:

Whatever Makes You Happy by Lisa Grunwald (Fiction about an unhappy middle-aged woman)

The Happiness Code by Amy Herrick (Fiction about an unhappy family)

Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin (Fiction about, yes, another unhappy group of people)





Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.  
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38 comments:

  1. Ruby Rose and the Big Little Angels 3July 7, 2026 at 1:49 AM

    Thank you, my mood could use lifting

    ReplyDelete
  2. BonnieReadsAndWritesJuly 7, 2026 at 6:28 AM

    I haven't read these, but that's a great word for the challenge. My word was Time. Here's my TTT: https://bonniereadsandwrites.com/2026/07/07/top-ten-tuesday-books-with-the-word-time-in-the-title/#comment-11991

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  3. Karis DeHavenJuly 7, 2026 at 7:04 AM

    Nothing is better than chocolate ;)
    What's your favorite out of all these books (the actual happy ones, not the depressing fiction lol)?
    Here is my TTT! https://thissideofstoryland.blogspot.com/2026/07/top-ten-tuesday-books-with-house-in.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzJuly 7, 2026 at 9:25 AM

      I especially like The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness because it is based on the findings from a long term science project.

      Delete
    2. Karis DeHavenJuly 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM

      Thank you! I have added it to my TBR :) A bonus is that it will fulfill the 2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge prompt "one or more balloons"!

      Delete
  4. crackercrumblifeJuly 7, 2026 at 7:55 AM

    I loved your assessments!

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  5. LydiaJuly 7, 2026 at 8:01 AM

    I think it’s great that you included notes about which books did and didn’t help you feel happier. Thank you for that.

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  6. JeanieJuly 7, 2026 at 8:23 AM

    I love Laurie Colwin but agree so much about Happy All the Time. They're just sad people.

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  7. Shelleyrae @ Book’d OutJuly 7, 2026 at 8:36 AM

    Thanks for the recommendations Deb!
    Happy Tuesday!

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  8. Cheryl MalandrinosJuly 7, 2026 at 8:48 AM

    Such a great choice for a word, Deb! Thanks for sharing these happy vibes.

    https://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2026/07/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-book-titles.html

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  9. Stephen @ Reading FreelyJuly 7, 2026 at 8:52 AM

    I enjoyed the Valente title!

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  10. dinipandareadsJuly 7, 2026 at 9:12 AM

    Yay for Happy :) Great choice!

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  11. Olivia BeckJuly 7, 2026 at 9:35 AM

    Great word choice! It’s fun that you included books that did not make you feel happy.

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  12. David M. Gascoigne,July 7, 2026 at 10:33 AM

    Books are generally a very happy space for me.

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  13. YvonneJuly 7, 2026 at 10:52 AM

    These look really good. Books are my happy place.

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  14. AymeeJuly 7, 2026 at 10:56 AM

    These sound like fantastic resources! Everyone could use a bit of happiness in their lives.

    Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  15. HopewellJuly 7, 2026 at 10:59 AM

    We need happiness in our insane world!!! The Happiness Project was a surpisingly good read. Some of Laurie Colwin's books haven't aged well. Meik Wiking little books on Hygge are also great for this topic if you want to read more. Listening to his voice is one of the most soothing things ever. Here's my link: https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2026/07/07/summer-books-for-2026/

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  16. CindyJuly 7, 2026 at 12:48 PM

    Great topic choice for today. Have a good week!

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  17. Kathryn TJuly 7, 2026 at 1:41 PM

    What a great idea for titles, I have only read Gretchen Ruben's book but I do like books like this.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!July 7, 2026 at 2:28 PM

    Better Than Chocolate?? What can be better than chocolate at improving ones mood?
    Here's my TTT for the week: https://readbakecreate.com/christmas-can-be-found-in-book-titles/

    ReplyDelete
  19. Linda's Relaxing LairJuly 7, 2026 at 2:46 PM

    Happiness is so important! You are amazing, Deb! I always enjoy your posts and seeing what books you are reading or have read!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anne@HeadFullofBooksJuly 7, 2026 at 3:19 PM

    Thank you for your evaluation. That is helpful.

    My list: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2026/07/ttt-world-is-getting-hotter-books-on.html

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousJuly 7, 2026 at 3:33 PM

    Oscar Wilde”s “The Happy Prince” comes to my mind.Retro, I guess.
    best…. mae at maefood.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Jessica @ a GREAT readJuly 7, 2026 at 3:50 PM

    Nice word choice! And great title picks too! These are all new to me ones! I definitely wouldn't get far with this word in a title! Lol.


    Here's my Tuesday Post

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Mary KirklandJuly 7, 2026 at 5:04 PM

    I think you did an excellent job on this one.

    ReplyDelete
  24. messymimiJuly 7, 2026 at 5:58 PM

    I would not mind tackling the good ones, one at a time, starting with the science based one. Maybe it’s at the library.

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  25. Lisa notes...July 7, 2026 at 8:11 PM

    The only one I've read of these is The Happiness Project, and it did make me happier. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Laurie CJuly 7, 2026 at 9:52 PM

    Aww, I'm sad that you didn't like the Laurie Colwin book! I haven't read it in years and years, but Laurie Colwin is one of my favorite authors from when I was young. I liked Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project, although as with most self-help books I read, I never did my own happiness project! I read the follow-up book, too, but that one didn't stick with me as well.

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  27. MargJuly 8, 2026 at 4:16 AM

    The irony of Happy All the Time not having that affect at all!

    ReplyDelete
  28. HazeJuly 8, 2026 at 10:15 AM

    I love these!! Thank you for doing this important work, I need to be more intentional about being happier and I love that you're always sharing positive stuff. I'm already a fan of your weekly good things, and your topic of choice for this week's TTT is perfect!

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  29. KayJuly 8, 2026 at 10:32 AM

    Nice word to choose and thanks for the short thoughts on them. I don't like reading about unhappy people either. Stay cool! Ha!

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  30. SusanJuly 8, 2026 at 10:49 AM

    Love it! We can all use more happy in our lives.

    Happy (ha!) TTT (on a Wednesday)!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Lark @ The Bookwyrm's HoardJuly 8, 2026 at 1:55 PM

    Great word choice! I see several in your first grouping that I wasn't aware of, and should probably take a look at.

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  32. CLMJuly 9, 2026 at 7:03 AM

    I'm glad you included the ones that didn't make you happy! No point in being overly sacharine!

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  33. Katherine PJuly 9, 2026 at 1:39 PM

    Love this! I learned so much from The Happiness Project and will have to check out the others you mention. I will be skipping that last section!

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  34. Dorothy BordersJuly 9, 2026 at 1:46 PM

    Interesting. I've never thought of choosing books to read based on a word in the title but maybe I should. If so, "happy" would definitely be a good word to choose.

    ReplyDelete
  35. JeanieJuly 10, 2026 at 2:20 PM

    I fear my only connection with Candide has been through the Bernstein musical version. I probably should give it a try!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Joy's Book BlogJuly 11, 2026 at 4:12 PM

    I'm adding The Good Life to my TBR -- thanks!

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear your thoughts.

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