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The Happiness Trap: Stop Struggling, Start Living Paperback – 26 Jun. 2008
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- Print length271 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRobinson Publishing
- Publication date26 Jun. 2008
- Dimensions12.7 x 2.2 x 19.7 cm
- ISBN-109781845298258
- ISBN-13978-1845298258
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Ten To Zen, Solve For Happy, The Happiness Trap 3 Books Collection SetPaperback£14.20 deliveryGet it as soon as Monday, Oct 21Only 5 left in stock.


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Review
'A practical antidote to the self-help industry's unhelpful obsession with trying to change yourself' - Sainsbury's Magazine
'Eminently practical and readable. This book reveals that when calibrating one's life according to acceptance and valued action, happiness is a pleasant sideshow in the larger carnival of an engaged and purposeful existence' - Zindel Segal, PhD, author of The Mindful Way through Depression
'An exciting alternative to the usual approach of so many self-help books. Harris explains how we can work with ourselves as we are, rather than aggressively trying to alter ourselves. I'm impressed by the simple and effective methods of ACT' - David Richo, PhD, author of The Five Things We Cannot Change
Book Description
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : 184529825X
- Publisher : Robinson Publishing (26 Jun. 2008)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 271 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9781845298258
- ISBN-13 : 978-1845298258
- Dimensions : 12.7 x 2.2 x 19.7 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 46,015 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 187 in Family & Lifestyle Nursing
- 248 in Family & Lifestyle Depression
- 298 in Stress
- Customer reviews:
About the author

Dr Russ Harris is world-renowned trainer in ACT, a therapist and a coach, with a background in medicine (as a general practitioner). He has run hundreds of workshops, providing training over fifty thousand health professionals around the world. He is the author of several bestselling ACT-based textbooks and self-help books. The Happiness Trap is an international bestseller, with over a million copies sold worldwide and editions published in over thirty languages.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book worthwhile and well-thought-out. They say it provides understandable and practical advice on how to train minds to avoid getting attached. Readers describe the book as easy to read, straightforward, and simplistic. Opinions are mixed on the realistic aspect, with some finding it honest and interesting, while others say it's underrated and rubbish.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book easy to read, worthwhile, and well-thought-out. They say it offers superb approaches to dealing with unwanted feelings. Readers also describe the author as engaging and straight-forward.
"...All in all this is an excellent book that I would highly recommend to anyone who is quite analytical and wants to understand more about the mind,..." Read more
"...Part 1 of the book sets for an interesting journey...." Read more
"...Again both are proving to be really good books...." Read more
"...Also great to share snippets with teens - re-educate the thought process so help them find the little joys in their day." Read more
Customers find the book provides understandable and practical advice on how to train our minds to avoid getting attached to thoughts. They say it's useful and answers a lot of questions. Readers also mention the tricks and exercises in the book work. They say it can help anyone with negative thought patterns and teach them how to handle their feelings.
"...Buddhism provided a lot of clarity in life for me as well as extremely useful 'habits' that have improved my quality of life greatly...." Read more
"...Part 3 is inspirational, a super synthesis of the best coaching contents...." Read more
"...I personally find the religious philosophy elements helpful for giving the concepts and practices context and bringing a more connected feeling to..." Read more
"...Hope you find this review useful. Give this book a try, it's life-changing but only you will know when your ready to commit to the change." Read more
Customers find the book very easy to read and follow. They say it's well-written, intelligent, and straightforward. Readers also mention the book explains clearly and in common language.
"...a case of not rushing yourself, downloaded on kindle is The book is easy to read, simple clear instructions but work slow to absorb and practice the..." Read more
"An easy to read guide to viewing happiness and contentment in a different way, I found this really uplifting in a simple, thought provoking way...." Read more
"...The author writes in a very engaging and straight forward way and he relates some of his own experience which in fact is the same for most of us...." Read more
"...The way he writes is brilliant because you can understand every word but the main brilliance of this book, is the fact he unearths what we all live..." Read more
Customers find the book user-friendly and say it works well in practice.
"...It worked well for me and I found it an easy read unlike some other books i've read within the same category...." Read more
"...Simple logical and effective." Read more
"Didn’t do it for me" Read more
"...i love the ACT approach..it's very user friendly and works very well in practice..I've tried different approaches but this one is just so simple and..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the book. Some mention it's worthwhile, honest, and interesting, with good practical advice. Others say it's underrated, dull, and repetitive.
"...To me this book is much more realistic in its scope...." Read more
"Dull and repetitive" Read more
"...I found it very readable and interesting, with real life cases and some good practical advice...." Read more
"...many self-help books this approach has been the most understanding, realistic and useful book I have come across...." Read more
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Top reviews from United Kingdom
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I spent 5 years in the military and at the age of 25 left and realised that I didn't really know how to live a happy life. I'd had the job and money but still felt 'unfulfilled', what next.
I travelled for 3 years and spent 2 of those years learning about and incorporating Buddhism into my life.
Buddhism provided a lot of clarity in life for me as well as extremely useful 'habits' that have improved my quality of life greatly.
However, once I returned to the UK I found myself feeling unhappy and unfulfilled once again. Reading Russ's book has helped me understand a lot of the why's to this and be able to do something about it.
I think most if not all of the answers and teachings I needed are within Buddhism, but sometimes navigating your way through something like Buddhism can be a slow and arduous task (especially without a teacher).
I found the Happiness trap plugged that gap very effectively for me. If I'm honest I felt like I was reading Buddhist literature for most of the book, but in a much easier way to understand for a western brain.
It's helped me be aware of thing I wasn't aware of before from Buddhism such as trying to avoid certain feelings and emotions and the challenges that was creating for me in my life.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the third part of the book about creating a meaningful life, especially the values part of the book.
All in all this is an excellent book that I would highly recommend to anyone who is quite analytical and wants to understand more about the mind, happiness and living a meaningful life.
In a quick summary, I'd explain the book as a combination of mindful awareness and practical living training.
I think books that are similar to or complement this book are:
- The Way of The Peaceful Warrior (more of a story format for someone who is struggling but doesn't want such practical step by step guidance yet)
- The Art Of Happiness
- Psycho Cybernetics
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 July 2021
I spent 5 years in the military and at the age of 25 left and realised that I didn't really know how to live a happy life. I'd had the job and money but still felt 'unfulfilled', what next.
I travelled for 3 years and spent 2 of those years learning about and incorporating Buddhism into my life.
Buddhism provided a lot of clarity in life for me as well as extremely useful 'habits' that have improved my quality of life greatly.
However, once I returned to the UK I found myself feeling unhappy and unfulfilled once again. Reading Russ's book has helped me understand a lot of the why's to this and be able to do something about it.
I think most if not all of the answers and teachings I needed are within Buddhism, but sometimes navigating your way through something like Buddhism can be a slow and arduous task (especially without a teacher).
I found the Happiness trap plugged that gap very effectively for me. If I'm honest I felt like I was reading Buddhist literature for most of the book, but in a much easier way to understand for a western brain.
It's helped me be aware of thing I wasn't aware of before from Buddhism such as trying to avoid certain feelings and emotions and the challenges that was creating for me in my life.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the third part of the book about creating a meaningful life, especially the values part of the book.
All in all this is an excellent book that I would highly recommend to anyone who is quite analytical and wants to understand more about the mind, happiness and living a meaningful life.
In a quick summary, I'd explain the book as a combination of mindful awareness and practical living training.
I think books that are similar to or complement this book are:
- The Way of The Peaceful Warrior (more of a story format for someone who is struggling but doesn't want such practical step by step guidance yet)
- The Art Of Happiness
- Psycho Cybernetics
I stumbled upon Dr Harris' work in a moment of real darkness in my life. 25 years old, graduated in a degree with honours and about to graduate from a masters, living on my own with wonderful friends in an amazing city of a foreign country, working in a qualified job that attracted awe and respect from parents and acquaintances alike. Yet, for some reason, I started to feel increasingly miserable and blue, and I did all I could to run away from these feelings, telling myself stories about how inappropriate it was that someone as lucky as me was feeling that way. As it happens, these emotions could not be reined in for long, so they finally burst in the form of heightened levels of anxiety and panic attacks. Feeling desperate, I reached out to my close friends for support, and I also sought some tools from self-help books in Amazon. And "The Happiness Trap" had very good reviews, so I thought of giving it a try.
Boy, I think I've never spent £7.14 more wisely. Part 1 of the book sets for an interesting journey. Part 2 simply blows your mind: anybody who has ever had trouble with an anxiety disorder or depression will connect with Dr Harris' layman stories and explanations as if he had started to write the book only after returning from an expedition into your own mind. It makes you understand the source of all of your suffering and be more at ease with your thoughts and feelings, as you learn to value them simply for what they are: words and pictures created by your mind. Part 3 is inspirational, a super synthesis of the best coaching contents.
I finished the book an hour ago with a stupid smile on my face and I felt the urge to write this review. And because this urge is indeed helpful in building a more meaningful life, for me and for others, I allowed myself to fuse with it (readers will understand my choice of vocabulary best).
In summary, if you feel a bit lost in life, you're struggling with depression or anxiety, or you simply want to grow internally and understand your mind better, this book is a MUST. And to top it up, it's designed as a reference book, so it'll always occupy a preferential spot in your bookcase. As Americans would say, a no-brainer!!
Top reviews from other countries
Dr. Harris emphasizes the importance of embracing a full spectrum of emotions, including happiness, sadness, and anxiety. #TheHappinessTrap is a practical guide that provides strategies for navigating complex thoughts and feelings, ultimately leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life.
If you're seeking actionable insights in self-help, this book is a must-read. #EmbraceEmotions #MentalWellness #PersonalGrowth
Reviewed in India on 14 October 2023
Dr. Harris emphasizes the importance of embracing a full spectrum of emotions, including happiness, sadness, and anxiety. #TheHappinessTrap is a practical guide that provides strategies for navigating complex thoughts and feelings, ultimately leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life.
If you're seeking actionable insights in self-help, this book is a must-read. #EmbraceEmotions #MentalWellness #PersonalGrowth