Book Review: The Happiness Advantage By Shawn Achor

To say I’m in love with Shawn Achor is an understatement. Honestly, it’s a toss-up between being in love with him or his research. (For the sake of this review, we’ll stick to the research... reluctantly.)

This book is fantastic.

It should be required reading for every man, woman, and child.
Happiness isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we cultivate from within.

If you’re curious but not ready to commit to the book, do yourself a favor and watch Shawn Achor’s TED Talk. It’s hilarious, insightful, and only about 12 minutes long.

Key Takeaways (aka: Notes I Took for Me, But You Can Steal Them)

Achor outlines 7 core principles of positive psychology, backed by research, real-life stories, and plenty of humor. Many may sound familiar—but the way he explains them just clicks. Here’s a quick breakdown:

The Happiness Advantage
A happy brain is a productive brain. It’s more engaged, motivated, and resilient—which gives you a competitive edge in life.

The Fulcrum and the Lever
With the right mindset (your fulcrum), you can shift your experience of the world and "lift" yourself out of challenges.

The Tetris Effect
What you focus on, you find. Train your brain to notice patterns of positivity rather than negativity.

Falling Up
Adversity can be a launching pad. Learn to use setbacks as springboards to grow stronger.

The Zorro Circle
Start small. Focus on manageable goals to build confidence and slowly expand your control.

The 20-Second Rule
Make good habits easier by just 20 seconds—and bad habits harder by the same. That small friction makes all the difference.

Social Investment
This one hit me hardest. In times of stress, we tend to pull away from people—but investing in social connection is exactly what helps us thrive.

My Personal Reflection

That last principle—Social Investment—really struck me. I’ve thought about moving several times for very valid reasons, but it always comes back to this:
Would I really leave behind my circle? The one that makes me feel loved, supported, seen?

Too many women uproot their lives after falling in love or chasing opportunity, only to return, craving the comfort of their community. Book Club reminded me of that. This group of women—this sisterhood—is the investment I didn’t know I was making, but it has changed my life.

Note to self: don’t toss that away just because you’re overwhelmed.
Settle in. Stay connected. This is the real advantage.