THE HAPPINESS JOURNAL

A guide to finding contentment by looking inward.

Hung’s debut comprises blog posts written over the course of the past 10 years. By sharing his “thoughts and feelings” on his “ongoing journey to happiness,” he hopes to “inspire everyone to have a positive, well-rounded, peaceful, meaningful, fulfilled, energetic, and intense life.” The posts (which can be read in any order and have been capably translated from Vietnamese by the author) cover multiple topics—suffering, joy, sadness. Many are brief musings, with Hung writing a few sentences on the power of nature, barriers to happiness, or finding peace in being alone by “being in touch with your body and mind.” Longer essays reflect on what he learned climbing Yen Tu, a Vietnamese mountain and holy site, and the importance of living ethically. Much of the thoughtful, Buddhist-influenced book considers the ways self-reflection and looking inward can lead to happiness. The mind-body connection and the relationship between physical health and joy are also discussed. In the middle section, the focus shifts to work. Hung (the founder of a technology company) believes that an unhappy work environment is like hell while a positive environment is like heaven. The advice in this section tends toward the prosaic. Run-of-the-mill tips (which seem borrowed from typical career advice) cover how to handle criticism, become a better public speaker, and set goals. The author doesn’t steer the reader onto a clear path toward happiness; rather, he recommends mindfulness, gently pushing people to pause and evaluate their life choices. The mind is like a stormy lake’s surface, he writes, “surging with crashing waves caused by negative thoughts and feelings.” To “realize the deeper meanings” below the tumult, you must make your mind still. Throughout, his words offer encouragement and insight: “We and not anyone else are responsible for our own lives.”

Incisive observations on happiness drawn from Eastern philosophy.