Product Description

Popular ideas about happiness are misleading, inaccurate, and are directly contributing to our current epidemic of stress, anxiety and depression. And unfortunately, popular psychological approaches are making it even worse. In this controversial, but empowering self-help book, Dr Russ Harries, reveals how millions of people are unwittingly caught in the 'The Happiness Trap', where the more they strive for happiness the more they suffer in the long term. He then provides an effective means to escape through a groundbreaking new approach based on mindfulness skills Mindfulness is a mental state of awareness, openness, and focus.Mindfulness skills are easy to learn and will rapidly and effectively help you to reduce stress, enhance performance, manage emotions, improve health, increase vitality, and generally change your life for the better. The book provides scientifically proven techniques to: reduce stress and worry; rise above fear, doubt and insecurity; break self-defeating habits; improve performance and find fulfilment in your work; build more satisfying relationships; and, create a rich, full and meaningful life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9333 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

About the Author
Dr Russ Harris was born in Liverpool, England. After graduating in medicine from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, he emigrated to Australia. As a family doctor, he became increasingly interested in the psychological aspects of medical illness (and increasingly less interested in writing prescriptions). In his eclectic career, he has been a stand-up comedian, sex therapist, filmmaker, novelist, and workshop presenter. He now practices as a psychological health physician in Melbourne.

Customer Reviews

A Lucid Concise Description of ACT
I have number of books on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) but this is the most lucid and easy to read. It gets straight to the point and explains ACT very clearly. I am still pleased I have my other books as I like to read about ACT in great detail but this book has really answered a lot of questions for me. It also also brings in concepts that I must of missed in my other books.

Russ Harris presses quite strongly that ACT was not inflenced in any way by Buddhism. ACT came completely from western scientific research and has more powerful methods for developing mindfuleness. It needed to do this as ACT is a therapy not a spiritual journey and needs to work fairly quickly. But there are many similarities between ACT and Buddhism validating both traditions. ACT has no religeous or metaphysical components, it is hard cutting edge science designed to improve the lives of people.

Well done Russ for an excellent concise book on ACT.

ACT made available to wider audience.
The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris is a very accessible explanation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I find that other books on the subject tend to be academic and over intellectual. They take a lot of concentation to read and some of the concepts are difficult to grasp. However, if you read this book you will realise that Russ Harris obviously has a gift for effectively communicating difficult concepts in a user friendly way. He tells readers about the practical application of ACT in his personal experience as well as examples of helping clients through their difficulties. The information in the book is certainly thought provoking, challenging and potentially life changing. If you are looking for a beginners guide to ACT and you are not particularly academically minded, then this could be the book for you.

Excellent - easy read and practical
Great book easy to read and offering lots of practical methods to help you.

What I also liked is that the author says if a specific technique doesnt work for you don't worry just try another technique - rather than the so often self help author saying you MUST do it this way and you MUST follow all my steps!

Really good book: Easy to apply and will definitely reread in the future to keep me using the tecgniques which i have found useful!!