Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert (2007, Paperback, Reprint)

Stumbling on Happiness was recommended to me by a friend who thoroughly enjoyed it. I found it to be average because I have read similar books for graduate school. For someone who does not read psychology books, human learning books, etc. on a regular basis would probably find it more enjoyable and refreshing. I did enjoy the author's humor and frankness.

As someone who is fascinated with the latest research into brain and cognitive sciences and how we humans process information and emotions, I found this book to be an excellent read. Although it doesn't touch on brain research, it does very effectively cover the subject of human perceptions--or misperceptions. It is NOT a book about how to be happy. Instead, it discusses our inability to understand or predict what will actually make us happy, thus the title; Stumbling ON Happiness refers to the mental errors we make when pondering the subject of happiness.

Though it is not instructional in the ways of happiness, by eliminating the false targets it helps us become a little clearer in our pursuit.

The author writes for the layman with a wonderful, quirky sense of humor.

This book is basically a collection of studies about people's perceptions of their own happiness. It's an interesting book.