I’m a big fan of Derren Brown so I was quite excited when I saw he had a new book. In this review I’ll be sharing a few of my thoughts on Happy as a book to enjoy and inspire.
Derren Brown – Happy : Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine
Most people will recognise Derren Brown’s name as the man of magic and mystery, who seamlessly blends entertainment with psychology to wow us in his performances. He’s an incredibly smart, personable and creative guy, though not as many will be aware he’s also written a book that almost transcends the self-help boundary (though not quite, as you’ll find out).
On a side note : I actually bumped in to Derren Brown once after attending a literature festival. He was getting a coffee and nobody seemed to recognise him, so I quietly ran up to him to say hello; he was absolutely lovely, he shook my hand, I told him he was incredible and fumbled over my words, and it made my day!
In his book Happy, he outlines various theories, studies and words of wisdom when it comes to the nature of happiness. It tends to be something we feel we need to strive for, work towards and achieve, which is further complicated when factoring in limitations, life changes and all the emotions we face around chronic illness.
Derren’s analysis of happiness is a breath of fresh air, opening up new ways of thinking about this elusive concept. I also love how he puts modern self-help and aspirations of happiness in their place. He combines wit with comedy and lightness, research, reflection and common sense suggestions, resulting in an entertaining yet educational and interesting read.
It’s not a quick read, nor it simple to pick up and flick through. There are big words and heavy thought-provoking elements to get your head around, so it’s one for reading if you’re interested in digging a little deeper. I found it to be an engaging and provocative book that was incredibly well written and well planned out. There were various bits and pieces I recognised in terms of his own shows when he gave examples and numerous psychological studies I remembered, but also plenty that challenged my views and taught me something new.
If you want something to get your teeth into, whilst quenching your curiosity over what Derren Brown could bring to the table when it comes to happiness, then I’d definitely recommend it.
Even after the book has been out for a while, I hadn’t seen it reduced anywhere so this is why I wanted to post about it now. It’s currently on sale! Woohoo (if only I hadn’t already bought it…)
Find Derren Brown’s Happy Book
You can pick up a copy of this latest Derren Brown Happy book on Amazon UK as a paperback or Kindle ebook.
Or find it on Amazon US : Amazon paperback and Amazon Kindle
Caz ♥
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12 comments
Great post this, a fantastic read
Thanks – couldn’t resist posting about it when I saw how cheap the book is at the moment!
This book looks really interesting. I would love to give it a go but may wait until I get the chance to give it the concentration it deserves. Glad you have found it so helpful.
It’s definitely an interesting read. I think you do need some concentration for it, but at the same time you can just pick through and read chapters here and there, which I like about it. x
This looks good i may have to pick it up. He’s right- we always tend to “Search” and “strive” for happiness, when really we should focus on our little every day things to bring us gratitude and happiness….
Definitely, Shannon. It’s good to have a reminder of that, which is why I’m keeping hold of my copy to flick through from time to time in the future. It’s definitely an interesting read! I hope you like it if you do pick up a copy while it’s still on sale. Thanks for the comment 🙂
I’ve been meaning to read this book for such a long time, and after reading your review, it’s totally caught my attention. The only problem is that my TBR list is SO long… another one won’t hurt though, right?
Olivia – The Northernist x
I’ve just checked and it’s still one sale, so now’s definitely the time to add it to your TBR list (you can never have too many, it means more books to look forward to!) Thanks so much for stopping by to read & comment Olivia 🙂
Sounds like a really good read ?
It is, definitely an interesting one! I hope you get the chance to read it at some point. Thanks for the comment Emma 🙂
I’ve been considering purchasing this for a while, so just did thanks!
He has a fantastic mind and I have enjoyed seeing his shows live and reading his previous book. I too bumped into him and didn’t know what to say, he was a gent.
Look forward to reading this. Thanks for reviewing it!
You’ve actually been to a live show? I’m not jealous… not jealous at all…! Hahah that’s fantastic you’ve also bumped into him, he really is quite the gentleman. Hope you enjoy the book! 🙂
Caz x