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Have you read a good book lately? In my recent search for happiness, I have read multiple books on the subject to inspire, educate, and redirect my efforts toward the pursuit of happiness. Within this pursuit is also a lingering idea that we need money to be happy. Maybe it’s a belief or fear, but it’s so intricately wound with how we spend our time that it runs parallel or for me, hand in hand, with the question “Am I happy”?
A classic that I picked up on a friendly recommendation after breaking up with my ex of 4 years. A book about change and how to deal with its inevitability. It made an impression on me as I applied it to my happiness and learned not to attach to someone or something because ultimately they/that cannot make us happy. It gave me a more positive outlook on the future and taught me to manage my expectations.
Amazon link to book here: Who Moved My Cheese?
Know as the “father of Positive Psychology”, Martin E. P. Seligman wrote this book about happiness and how to find it. I find, especially in the wellness or self-help genre, that most books are about their own experiences without facts or scientific studies to support their opinions. Not enough research is being done to support their methods; therefore they become complete pseudoscience and difficult to read, understand, and apply. Authentic Happiness; however, is the complete guide to science-based knowledge on what we know happiness is with quizzes to find out what happiness is for you and how best to apply this knowledge to your life.
Amazon link to book here: Authentic Happiness
Having grown up relatively poor I read this book at a young age to frame my perspective on money. Creating my own beliefs about money, instead of inheriting them from my family, was a huge benefit in driving me to pursue a wealthy life and start investing at a young age ( I bought a house with a downpayment in cash when I was 20). This doesn’t mean that I haven’t had $0 in my bank account since, but Robert T. Kiyosaki gave me an idea of how to approach money and have a positive relationship with it.
Amazon link to book here: Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Another book that will give you a good reference on how to approach money especially if you want to invest it. Morgan Housel’s book is a highly regarded book that explores how emotions, biases, and personal experiences shape people’s financial behaviors and decisions. Unlike traditional finance books that focus on technical strategies, Housel’s approach centers on the psychological factors behind money management, investment, and wealth-building. As I write this the day of the 2024 election, his mention at the end of the book on Trump in the 2020 edition gave me some clarity.
“You can scoff at linking the rise of Trump to income inequality alone. And you should. These things are always layers of complexity deep. But it’s a key part of what drives people to think, “I don’t live in a world I expected. That pisses me off. So screw this. And screw you! I’m going to fight for something totally different, because this -whatever it is-isn’t working”.
goodreads link to the book here: The Psychology of Money (also recommended in Audible)
Ending this article with a lighter read, a novel by Rebecca F. Kuang. As a Taiwanese who takes pride in their heritage and also being a public figure on the internet, this book was a good read as it touches on cultural appropriation and cancel culture. I read it cover to cover in a few days as every good novel should read. Enjoy!
Yellowface International Edition on Amazon: Yellowface
*This article is written personally by Liv. If you find it insightful, please copy the link & share it with friends. Sharing is caring 💞
a positive practice for when life is difficult
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