Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Solve for Happy
- Engineer Your Path to Joy
- Narrated by: Mo Gawdat
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.00 for first 30 days
Solve for Happy
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
Solve for Happy is a startlingly original book about creating and maintaining happiness, written by a top Google executive with an engineer's training and fondness for thoroughly analyzing a problem.
In 2004 Mo Gawdat, a remarkable thinker whose gifts had landed him top positions in half a dozen companies and who - in his spare time - had created significant wealth, realized that he was desperately unhappy. A lifelong learner, he attacked the problem as an engineer would, examining all the provable facts and scrupulously following logic. When he was finished, he had discovered the equation for enduring happiness.
Ten years later that research saved him from despair when his college-age son, Ali - also intellectually gifted - died during routine surgery. In dealing with the loss, Mo found his mission: he would pull off the type of moonshot that he and his Google [X] colleagues were always aiming for - he would help 10 million people become happier by pouring his happiness principles into a book and spreading its message around the world.
One of Solve for Happy's key premises is that happiness is a default state. If we shape expectations to acknowledge the full range of possible events, unhappiness is on its way to being defeated. To steer clear of unhappiness traps, we must dispel the six illusions that cloud our thinking (e.g., the illusion of time, of control, and of fear); overcome the brain's seven deadly defects (e.g., the tendency to exaggerate, label, and filter); and embrace five ultimate truths (e.g., change is real, now is real, unconditional love is real).
By means of several highly original thought experiments, Mo helps listeners find enduring contentment by questioning some of the most fundamental aspects of their existence.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying photographs will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
More from the same
Love Books? You'll Love Audible.
Transform your day
Replace endless scrolling with endless listening. Chores can be fun.
Listen everywhere
You can’t turn pages while you drive—but you can press play.
Carry your entire Library
Your stories go where you go. Audiobooks don’t weigh a thing.
Listen and learn
Discover stories that can change your mind, your well-being, and your life.
Reach your reading goals
Download titles to listen offline, wherever you are in the world.
Find your niche
WIth thousands of titles to explore, there’s something for everyone.
What listeners say about Solve for Happy
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Chris
- 07-01-24
Some solid self-help advice, but some philosophical points that might be misleading or incompatible some people's beliefs
This is an interesting book. The author has an impressive and inspiring backstory, and the tragedy of loosing his son is truly moving. I wish all the best for the author, and am glad that this collection of self-help techniques and thought-experiments that he has gathered have proven useful to him and his family.
I personally found the author's definition of a happiness equation (essentially weighing one's interpretation of life's current circumstances against one's expectations) to be lucid and helpful. Happiness then, according to the author, is the default state, and so is acquired by avoiding suffering. Suffering is defined as unnecessarily repeating negative events and interpretations in one's head. Happiness, therefore, boils down, in a large part, to positive thoughts. This involves a positive interpretation of one's current situation, and taking the perspective of the big picture.
Also, his recommendations in the earlier chapters regarding training the brain to jump from a negative thought to a positive one, are helpful. His observation that the brain is a "controllable feature" (paraphrasing slightly) like our muscles, is insightful.
I have yet to finish the last sections of this book, but feel compelled to warn others that as the author strays into grander philosophical themes, there is the potential for philosophal misjudgements that can lead one astray. The main one I have in mind is the author's chapter (otherwise excellent) on proving to you what "you are not", i.e. you are not the little voice in your head, you are not your body, you are not your status or your name etc. This is also insightful, but I was disappointed that the author concluded that what one actually is is "the Observer". Taking a Buddhist viewpoint (which I believe has parallels to much of the concepts outlined in this book), it is potentially incorrect or misleading to identify with "the Observer". This is a partial, separate, bias and one-sided entity or concept. The ultimate nature of oneself is essentially a question of the ultimate nature of reality, I believe.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- E A Lomax
- 05-05-20
Changed my thinking about the dearh of my daughter
The last chapter helped me find some peace. This question said review optional but you've made me write 15 words in order to submit?
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- R R Lewis
- 02-06-17
Inspiring, touching and beautiful.
This book resonated with me in many ways. Starting today I will solve for happy. Highly recommended
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
- C.A
- 03-04-19
very good but missing attachments
very interesting and good book. for me the reason to start using audible and read books again. unfortunately there are some documents missing, charts, pdfs and so on that the author refers to.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul Field
- 02-07-18
Movingly direct guide to you
This has helped me see the layers and the inner happiness- I’ve already started to use the methods and I’ll definitely listen again to make sure I learn as much as I can - Thank you Mo!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bella_G
- 10-03-21
A wonderful book.
I enjoy listening to this audio book during meditation. Mo's calming voice and insights are extremely helpful to anyone searching for some personal growth.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- ShellyP
- 05-02-20
thought changing!!
Best book ever read!! couldn't stop listening to it. Give it a go now! 😊
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- N Muhammad
- 19-12-17
Brilliant,Touching and Life Affirming
This brilliant book resonated with me on so many levels. A beautiful marriage between Spirituality and Science. Thank you so much!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Matei Barbu
- 11-01-18
Emotional story
It's a very emotional story and I can only have full appreciation to the author for being brave enough to talk so positively in the face of what he went through. The advice is practical although it will probably take a couple of re reads to get to focus on all recommendations. Nonetheless great book
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Miss C Neighbour
- 09-02-23
Life changing, thought provoking.
I’ve listened to this book three times now and each time I find something new and remind myself of the lessons. Definitely worth the first listen (and the following two, and probably more). I’ve even bought a hard copy. Couldn’t recommend it enough.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!