Want to Be Happier at Home? 7 Reasons to Read My New Book

Gretchen Rubin

My new book, Happier at Home, comes out in less than a week, zoikes. So brace yourself, here comes some promotion!You've been warned.

If you read this blog, I hope you'll consider reading Happier at Home. "Um, why should I buy your book," some people have asked (or if they didn't ask out loud, they probably thought), "when I can read the blog for free?" Other people have asked, "I read The Happiness Project; is this book more of the same?" Here are some reasons to read Happier at Home:

1. One smart friend who has read both said she thought the blog was process, the book was conclusion. The ideas in the book are presented in a more distilled, thoughtful way, and the book framework allows me to tell longer stories and explain more complicated ideas.

2. The Happiness Project is broad and lays out general principles; Happier at Home goes deeper into the one particular area of life that, at least for me, is the foundation of happiness. My sister, in fact, says she likes Happier at Home better than The Happiness Project. (And there are more words of wisdom from my sister the sage! You can't get enough of that.)

3. If you've been enjoying the blog, and you'd like to share it with a friend, you can give the book as a gift. You can't give the blog as a gift. Or if a friend was a fan of The Happiness Project, you can give Happier at Home.

4. As a writer, my specialty is endings. If I do say so myself, I'm really good at writing an ending. And this ending is the best ending I've ever written. Even better than the ending to my college application essay or Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill.

5. In a book, you can more easily take notes about what applies to you and your happiness project. Underlining, highlighting, and taking notes in the margin allow you to engage with the material.

6. In Happier at Home, I write about many episodes and ideas about happiness at home that I've never mentioned elsewhere. Also, I include photos from my own home (which I took myself).

7. Many of my readers have written that they want to buy Happier at Home to show their support-a "thank you" for everything I do for free. Which I very much appreciate.

Bonus: Have you ever wondered whether writers really do use writing devices like motifs, the way they talk about in English class? Well, I do! The book has a very explicit motif. I always include them, but this one is much more obvious (to me) than I usually use. I'm curious to see if other people notice it. To me, it seems blaringly obvious, but after all, I put it there. If you read the book, see if you can identify it.

If I've convinced you, and you're so inclined, pre-orders gives a big boost to a book by creating buzz among booksellers and readers. So buy now! Holiday gifts for friends and the whole family!

As a thank-you for people who pre-order, I created a fun one-page guide on "Patron Saints." You can request it here. (Well, truth be told, you can get it even if you don't pre-order.)

If you're thinking, "Yes! I'm intrigued! But, Gretchen, how can I learn more about Happier at Home?" you're in luck. You can…

- read an excerpt from the chapter on "Time"

- listen to a clip from the audio-book

- watch the one-minute video trailer on "Ten ways to be happier at home"

- come to an event

- request the one-page book-group discussion guide

- watch the Behind-the-Scenes video ( spoiler alert, I reveal the motif there)

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