Gretchen Rubin has created an ecosystem of happiness

With The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin has created more than a book: she has created an ecosystem of happiness. She spent a year blogging on happiness. Blog comments were incorporated into the book. The blog continues with rich insights about the truths that she learned. You can find her blog at http://happiness-project.com.

As if a book and a blog were not enough, Gretchen has generously created a tool set to help you apply The Happiness Project principles into your life. It can be found at http://happinessprojecttoolbox.com . There you can write your own set of happiness Resolutions or join with other people in a Group Resolution. You can write a list of Personal Commandments and share your Secrets of Adulthood. You can make your own lists (I recorded my bucket list) or share your insights through Happiness Hacks or the Inspiration Board. Even more fun than recording your own thoughts, you can read what others have written. If it is true that none of us is as smart as all of us, there is a lot to be learned from the other people who are sharing their journey at http://happinessprojecttoolbox.com.

I first learned of Gretchen Rubin when I heard her interview on NPR. After checking into her web site, I picked up the book and (as cliche as this may be to say) found myself unwilling to put it down. Gretchen is a great story teller. She makes you feel as if you are observing her life from inside of her family.

All in all, I would recommend The Happiness Project, not just for the wonderful story telling, or the amazing insights, but for the total happiness ecosystem that Gretchen has so generously created.