Review of The Pursuit of Happiness

[Vanessa Alobo]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Pursuit of Happiness" by Paul Lucas Scott.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The Pursuit of Happiness is a breath of fresh air in the self-help genre. Lucas Scott wrote a well-researched and honest book that needs to be on every bookshelf. You won’t be getting any fluff from The Pursuit of Happiness. It contains well-research information that can be helpful to anyone.

“One of the most common misconceptions about happiness is that it can be achieved through external factors such as wealth, success, or material possessions.”

The above quote (found on page 10) should be discussed more in public squares. It squashes the popular misconception that the wealthier and more successful you are, the happier you will be.

Each section of the book ends with exercise or reflection sections. My favorite reflection section is found at the end of Chapter 2: Problems and Solutions. I was challenged to be more self-aware, take inventory of my relationships, and reflect on my finances. These reflections show that there is more to life than chasing materialism. Although one’s source of happiness is largely subjective, for the most part, there are objective truths that we can all agree on. The author covers these truths in the section, “The Mythical Search for Happiness,” under Chapter 1.

I admire Lucas Scott’s vulnerability in this book. He doesn’t shy away from admitting that he, too, has fallen into the trap of chasing materialism in the pursuit of happiness. Lucas reveals how it took him years to realize that true happiness comes from within and that chasing external validation is a never-ending cycle.

I was glad that the book included topics about happiness I’ve never heard covered. Engaging in Flow Exercises (a topic discussed in Chapter 5: Happiness Booster) is an example of such a topic.

I give the book a rating of four out of five. There was much fantastic research in the book that made it credible. I liked that Lucas Scott gave readers easy-to-follow, practical tips on how to pursue happiness. The subtitle of the book, “Practical Steps to a Joyful Existence,” is the perfect summary of what the book is about. However, the book mentioned very little about deriving happiness/joy from one’s faith. This was disappointing because the majority of people are religious and derive their greatest source of joy from their faith. As a Christian, I felt this would have been an important point that deserved a whole chapter.

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The Pursuit of Happiness
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