The Happiness Files
The Happiness Files: Insights on Work and Life
Imagine if your life were a startup. How would you lead it and shape it to be most successful?
That’s the question behind The Happiness Files, a rich selection of enlightening and instructive essays by Arthur C. Brooks, known worldwide for his inspiring yet practical wisdom and advice in his weekly column for The Atlantic and in his bestselling books, From Strength to Strength and Build the Life You Want (coauthored with Oprah Winfrey).
The simple answer, as Brooks wisely explains, is to manage your life in a way that leads to truly valuable rewards: love, enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning—in other words, happiness.
Available August 14, 2025. Preorder your copy today, and read on to learn more about bulk and customization options for your organization, as well as new workshops and keynotes to complement and reinforce the concepts in The Happiness Files.
What's Inside The Happiness Files?
Building on his popular Harvard Business School course Leadership and Happiness, Brooks begins each essay with sharp observations and behavioral science research that shed light on how happiness really works, then offers experiential wisdom and practical advice. Beautifully written, the essays range from ancient philosophy to literature, pop culture, and the contemporary world of work. They explore topics and challenges such as “Procrastinate This, Not That,” “Why Success Can Feel So Bitter,” and “Five Pillars of a Good Life.”
Readers will find the chapters of the book helpfully grouped by theme:
- On Managing Yourself
- On Jobs, Money, and Building Your Career
- On Communicating and Connecting with Others
- On Balancing Work, Life, and Relationships
- On How You Define Success
We all need more happiness in our work and in our lives. In The Happiness Files you’ll find enlightenment, inspiration, and useful guidance for leading a happier, more successful, and more fulfilling life and career.
The Happiness Files Keynotes and Executive Workshops
Apply the lessons of The Happiness Files at your organization to increase revenues, optimize workplace engagement, and increase retention and productivity. Arthur and his team are available for in person keynotes and workshops to complement and reinforce the concepts in The Happiness Files. Topics are aligned with the sections of the book, and can be done as single keynotes, workshops of various lengths, or a combination of the two. Reach out today to learn more about how to customize a program for your team.
"This journey makes me all the more gratified to see The Happiness Files out in the world—a world that urgently needs the ideas, the research, and the inspiration in this book. I can’t wait to see its positive impact."
—Jeff Kehoe, Executive Editor, HBR Press
Align Your Brand with The Happiness Files
A variety of customization options are available through Harvard Business Review Press to transform a thoughtful gift into a lasting symbol of your commitment to creating a happier world. Available in hardcover, paperback, and e-books for:
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Premiums at events and conferences
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Incentives for completing surveys
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Strengthening investor relations
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Gifts to reward and thank your best customers and employees
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Client or employee book clubs
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Leadership programs
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Onboarding new employees
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Talent and skill development
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Workshops, classes, and retreats
For more information about custom editions and/or bulk orders of The Happiness Files, please contact Lindsey Dietrich at lindsey.dietrich@hbr.org or (617) 783-7571.
