The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living

"It took me a long time to get through this book. I had it sitting on the shelf amongst several other self-help titles, and when I reached certain portions of the book I found myself bored or disinterested in taking the kind of actions suggested, so I moved to another title. I later realized that by doing so I was exercising my own 'control strategies' as Russ puts it, which really didn't do anything to help me live a rich and fulfilling life.

Aware of this trend, I decided to read the book right to the end without worrying too much about doing the exercises. I just completed it the other day, and have now rid myself of most self-help books and products, dedicated rather to something that works - acceptance, mindfulness, and living according to my values. I had bought into the values of others, and with the help of Russ and others am now slowly moving towards my own values. At the same time, I have a set of tools to help me deal with the anxiety that is keeping me from living a fulfilling life. "
~ Written on 2008-08-01

"My jargon/headache-free gateway to the delights of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) was The Happiness Trap by Dr Russ Harris. Before reading The Happiness Trap, I knew of ACT as some framework to do with values and mindfulness but the language was all a bit foreign to me and I wasn't enticed to delve into it. I read The Happiness Trap in one sitting, disobeying all the suggestions to not rush, because I couldn't put it down. There are these irresistible little carrots dangling at the end of each chapter, snippets about what's coming next, making it compulsively readable. By the time I got to the end I had thoroughly defaced it, underlining all the good bits, all the bits that resonated with me and articulated the suspicions I had about traditional Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and an agenda of control. Reading it I laughed, I cried, I changed. I felt awakened and freed. And I was hungry to know more. It would be no exaggeration to say I could divide my life professionally and personally into Before The Happiness Trap and After The Happiness Trap. Moreover it prepared me for and eased me into the more technical writing about ACT and Relational Frame Theory (RFT) on which ACT is based. An extra special thing about The Happiness Trap is the use of a conversational and interactive writing style. It was as though I was engaging with a therapist through the pages of the book, a therapist who walked me with kindness and gentleness and empathy through the processes and techniques and having some fun along the way. The Happiness Trap is the recommended reading for clients at my psychology practice as I am confident that anyone who is literate can absorb its contents, `get' ACT first time around and be empowered to create their own ACT toolkit for living well."
~ Written on 2008-06-30

"Russ Harris distills complex concepts into easy language to help one thrive more in life. I found this book incredibly helpful for my life and very readable. I read it in one sitting. I have spent many years reading different books on psychology, philosophy and spirituality and this is one of the best. The more I truely live what he has written in this book, the happier and more engaged in life I am. "
~ Written on 2008-06-28

"As a practitioner utilising the ACT model with her clients I have found this book to be exceptionally helpful, not only with addressing my own personal behaviours but also with strategies to employ with clients. Like others, I have several ACT texts but this is the one that I draw upon the most because of it's simplicity of explanations for the lay person. This is a book that anyone with general literacy levels can pick up and run with, and provided they follow the simple steps outlined in the book, can make changes quickly and effectively toward a more rich, fulfilling, and meaningful life. I recommend this book to all therapists and to anyone looking to step out of the "struggle" and into their lives."
~ Written on 2008-06-16

"The Happiness Trap is written in the `self help' style so anyone can pick it up, but with three texts on ACT under my belt, this is the one I refer to most when working with clients. I've read it twice and find it invaluable."
~ Written on 2008-06-13