Happiness TM Paperback – 15 Feb. 2003

Happiness™ is a caustic look at the vacuous world of the self-help book. Set in the very near future, say 10 minutes from now. Happiness tells the story of Edwin De Valu and how he publishes the first self-help book that actually works. The book ‘What I learned on the mountain’ becomes a run away success, changing the lives virtually everyone who reads it.As people become self-actualised, centred and aware the economy and the whole United States begin to unravel around them. Both a hilarious romp, and an examination of what really defines happiness, this book is worth its’ weight in chicken soup for anyone who ever had a cynical thought.

I just love this book, I laughed so much with it, also makes a great point

Read this book for my bookclub. Found it quite easy to get into, although the others apparently didn't. The characters aren't particularly likeable, but quite 'real' which made the book more enjoyable. Somewhere in the middle where the whole world is getting 'happy' I started getting a little irritated thinking that it was getting a bit silly and unbelievable, but the strength of the writing style kept me reading. Also it's one of those books where I found myself admiring the writer's knowledge and ideas. On the whole I enjoyed Happiness and it ends really well. So many times I've read amazing books - to be let down by the last few pages. Will Ferguson planned the ending to his book well. :)

This is the best book that I've read in a long time

Although it starts off well, Will Ferguson's book loses momentum along the way. This biting satire into the self-help world starts to get lost in too much repetition and becomes more laboured. The characters aren't developed beyond stereotypes and after a point, you cease caring what atually becomes of them. That said, it is an entertaining read and it's good to see a writer taking a shot at some of the self-help dross that gets served up today!

Just so funny. Be prepared to have a dictionary at hand. This will make you laugh out loud and expand your vocabulary.

Whilst an easy and enjoyable enough read, this supposed biting satire on the publishing industry and the self-help genre in particular is neither biting nor satirical. It is a laboured in-joke written from within the system, and reads exactly like a novel written by an editor; it's narrative never in danger of making a striking simile or cogent observation before the schizophrenic narrator criticises its composition. Its humour is obvious, and the promising premise never explored with much determination nor feeling.

One of my favourite books. Funny, great story. Especially if you're familiar with the world of self help. Well recommended.

Brilliantly funny!

This is a witty novel about the end of the world: but not in the way you would think. A self-help book actually helps... thereby removing all of the world's problems! It's snarky, witty, hilarious, and the characters are ones you can identify with, because their life is sucky at times too. I can't really express how dearly I love this book, and everyone I have recommended it to or let borrow it to read has loved it as well. The story is just a great one, and I've read and reread it countless times.

I purchased this book from Amazon.com and never regretted the purchase.Having lived in Canada for fifteen happy years, I appreciated the dry humor.Since I have had the experience of editing a bit myself,I could relate to the pressure, the power, the humility, and the joy involved in the process of editing. Will Ferguson mixes humor with love, pain, cynicism, and wisdom. Keep writing, Will! We need your gifts in our world today.

This book has an incredibly interesting story idea that I think could have made a great book, however that didn't happen in this book. Ultimately there's just too much filler in this book. At the very beginning I was thinking to myself get to the point already and at the end I was thinking when is this thing going to be over. So I found my interest waning at times in this book. At other times it's incredibly fascinating. It also has a point, while making fun of self-help I believe the author is giving his own prescription for what makes a good life in these pages.I want my review to be too negative this was actually a good book that had potential. The writing was just too choppy and not compelling enough to keep me interested in between major events in the storyline. However I I do definitely recommend this book. It's an easy read and thus worth the time.

Easy to read and amusing although the ending was a bit anticlimactic for me. You will need an open mind.