Honest & Heartfelt

 

BOOK REVIEW:

 

Your Happier Life Toolbox

How a Data-Driven Dad Cracked the Code on Happiness

(And How You Can Too)

By Billy Marshall 

 

Today's blog post is a rare opportunity to shine a light on a book that may very well change how you think about life, love and the choices we make. I know it changed mine!

My review reflects my own opinions, and I want to thank the author, Billy Marshall, for gifting me with an ecopy of Your Happier Life Toolbox. 

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars from me 

 

I'll begin my review with a quote from the book:

 

"Becoming happier is a journey we can all start today."

 

Simple, yet packs a punch. There's no urgency for immediacy; there's no unattainable expectation of utopia. 

Just real and reachable reassurance for everyone.

 

That brings me to:

What I loved about this book:

What it promises, is a becoming, a starting, of journeying toward a better way of living. 

I like that. I really like that messaging.

The way Marshall has set out his research is consistent throughout the book which makes it easily digestible. 

Each chapter follows the same outline: 

• science backed research, 
• personal experience, 
• steps to take,  
• a short introduction into how the chapter leads perfectly into the next.

It's a winning formula with a natural pattern for learning and growth. 

The information scaffolds understanding which leads to the next level of insight until we reach a point of knowing how our mind works - spoiler - turns out it doesn't work in mysterious ways after all.

 

What this book does is 'reclaim your brain's incredible capacity for deep thought, genuine connection...'

 

Why I would recommend this book:

Again, I will let the quotes do the talking:

 

'Rest without guilt, play without justification, and enjoy your life while you're living it.'

 

It is my honest recommendation that we could all do with a book that highlights the reality of how life is meant to be lived.

And by all, I mean anyone who is involved in community, family, relationships and even personal growth. The author covers all these aspects and more.

His relationship inspiration is so tender with his own trip-ups used as examples of how to better manage difficult situations. 

I saw myself in a myriad of his examples and part-cringed, part-sighed-with-relief at the humanness we all share and the hope we all strive for; betterment in all areas of our lives.

 

What I didn't love about the book:

There wasn't anything I didn't love about the book except for my own feelings of being a little overawed at some stages, because it was so jam-packed with valuable information. This was easily corrected as I just slowed down my reading pace and took my time to absorb what I needed to.

Because there is so much value in the prose, it needs to be taken in small doses. That's it, that's the sum total of my so-called gripe!

 Highly recommended. It is a book you will come back to again and again.

 You can find more information at the following link: Your Happier Life:

 Until next time, keep smiling 😊