This is a very readable and seemingly scientifically sound book about the attributes of happiness. I particularly enjoyed the early part of this book, particularly where it discussed how outward thinking is more correlated with happiness than inward thinking and how our western culture's obsession with the self and our pursuit of pleasure (only one aspect of happiness) was making it more difficult for us to be happy with ourselves and our lives.

Some of the key ways of acquiring happiness are well-known and just common sense, but I learned much more from the book. Toward the end, particularly the section on education, I felt that Martin was really driving his point home, and repetitively so. It reminded me of when I had to write 2000-word essays with only 1000 words of substance. The relevant points could still have been made in a more condensed book, but overall it makes for a great read.