Secrets of a Satisfying Life: Discover the Habits of Happy People

by David D. Ireland

Research shows that only 20 percent of Americans consider themselves to be happy. What about the other 80 percent? Perhaps they are too busy. Maybe they are afraid to take risks. Whatever their reasons, these people have one thing in common: the desire to have a satisfying life. This book provides advice for attaining happiness and satisfaction.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801065461
• ISBN13: 9780801065460
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Baker Books
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Balances daily living with the hope of abundant life

Thanks to this wonderful book, every reader can know the secrets of a satisfying life! With a writing style that is both conversational and informative, these pages have the potential to change lives. After carefully researching the thought patterns and actions of happy people, author David Ireland discovered certain habits that formed a common denominator. This book sums up his observations and offers a practical plan for a powerful new life experience. While most of these insights aren't startling or innovative, the author's quiet enthusiasm provides the necessary emotional support and encouragement for readers. His ideas are arranged in short, orderly segments with each point being addressed clearly and backed up with real-life stories and quotes. Bible verses strengthen each principle and bring the focus back to God's perspective. The author has clearly taken the pulse of contemporary culture. His words reveal a sound understanding of the frustrations that most people experience, which forms a solid connection to his audience. His discoveries about happiness come largely from psychologists and behavioral scientists. Scattered throughout these pages are many anecdotes depicting the life-changing principles he presents. The combination of all these elements makes the book interesting and gives it the potential to help people find a measure of true happiness in their lives. Although the author uses many secular sources to back up his teaching, he does return to the Bible as the final authority. Simply and sincerely written, Secrets of a Satisfying Life balances daily living with the hope of abundant life. - Joyce Handzo, Christian Book Previews.com

A helpful guide full of practical wisdom for daily life

Dr. David Ireland --- pastor of a 5,000-member Christ Church in Montclair, New Jersey, radio/television personality and prolific author --- understands how to communicate effectively. Ireland uses common sense truisms to get his points across, and he does so with life-changing punctuations. In his text, SECRETS OF A SATISFYING LIFE, readers might wonder what new could be said on this tried topic, but skeptics be warned: Ireland's book is both substantial in content and refreshingly stimulating in scope. Detailing the "roadmap" to happiness in the opening chapter, the author cites the three goals readers should aim to achieve by studying these principles: 1) Discover the habits of happiness; 2) Learn how to practice the habits of happiness; and 3) Learn to laugh at yourself. Ireland looks closely at statistical evidence that reveals those lifestyle choices of individuals who consider themselves very happy. Bottom line: the happiest people are those who help others. In the wake of "happy" people, researchers have discovered similar characteristics shared by those who demonstrate consistent satisfaction with their lives. Included is the essential quality of developing a realistic perspective on life. The way in which life is seen and interpreted makes all the difference, so one must continually reevaluate personal perspective to ensure accuracy. While good/bad experiences/events happen to everyone, it is those who learn mastery in achieving a healthy perspective who live most "happily." Ireland recommends asking the following questions when difficulties arise: 1) Am I responding impulsively? 2) Is this the worst thing that can happen to me? 3) What do I want my future to look like? and 4) How can I establish a strategy for happiness as part of the overall solution? He suggests this rule in response to any difficulty, warning that "bad news cannot be responded to impulsively...and a levelheaded response will help maintain a positive state of mind." Further, Ireland notes that individuals must not make the mistake of equating positive thinking with happiness. Rather, "habits of happy people are deliberate responses that have successfully proven to meet their personal emotional needs." Ireland makes the telling statement that when one looks for the happy man, one will find him not in search of happiness. Instead, the happy man will be found building, writing, educating, growing; in other words, he will be making conscious choices on a moment-by-moment basis to enrich his life and the lives of those around him. Ireland also discusses, chapter by chapter, the enduring specific happy habits of satisfied individuals, learning how to be content, understanding the value of a hopeful outlook, realizing one's dreams, the odd pairing of happiness and busyness, developing happy relationships, and underscoring the need for forgiveness and the need for laughter. With practical wisdom for daily life, Ireland exposes the myths and hindrances to experiencing a r

A good read!

What makes a person happy? Is there a secret to happiness that can be taught? David Ireland believes there is, and that by studying happy people and the healthy things they do, we can discover a prescription for happiness. In Secrets of a Satisfying Life: discover the habits of happy people, Ireland outlines the three main points of his premise: discover the habits of happiness; learn how to practice the habits of happiness; and learn to laugh at yourself. Habits of happy people are the deliberate responses that have been successfully proven to meet one's needs. Secrets of a Satisfying Life goes on to outline how developing these responses and overcoming the distractions of the past keeps us moving toward the discovery of our life's purpose. Written in the traditional style of the self-help genre, Ireland continually breaks his thesis into bite-size chunks and regularly restates his main points, all while including plenty of examples and quotes from experts. Its construction makes it suitable for study in an adult Sunday School class. While Ireland definitely tries to make this book relevant to non-Christians through his extensive use of modern metaphors, discussing concepts that border on new-age philosophies and by giving examples using icons of modern culture (Madonna, Venus and Serena Williams), the work assumes a Biblical belief system in its readership. Many concepts here will benefit the general public, however readers who are not espoused Christians may find the worthwhile core message difficult to find. The result may be that Ireland finds a reduction of sales in the secondary market (non-religious), as the preponderance of New Testament scripture may eliminate the appeal of this work to the broader audience of spiritual seekers. This limitation dilutes the message that Ireland is trying to send, that we can ALL use these methods. In the end, what shines through most clearly is Ireland's belief that hope, "a sense of reach that inspires and motivates, is what breeds happiness." Armchair Interviews says: Secrets of a Satisfying Life says that life is filled with the mundane, and it is by finding satisfaction there that we will be able to enjoy it and find our life's purpose.