The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT

If I could recommend just one "self-help" book to purchase, read and follow-through with the assignments it recommends, it would be this book! I have literally inched my way through it, reading it slowly over the past couple of months, stopping to actually do the activities recommended, and for me it has been a godsend, as I deal with the range of emotions that have emerged as I deal with breast cancer. I am a chronic starter/non-finisher of books but this one was so worth my while, taking the ACT process step-by-step. It has helped me calm anxiety, re-focus on my values and begin the process of listening to my deeper self about what I really want to DO moving forward from this experience. Whether you are dealing with depression, anxiety, worry, fear, dissatisfaction with your life in general or specific, or an unexpected life crisis, the exercises and activities recommended here will help you ACT your way into a more fulfilling life starting now. As the author points out again and again, happiness is a trap when we chase it for its own sake vs. experiencing it as a by-product of a life lived based on values-based goals. Along the way, the practical steps anyone can use to conquer and move beyond some of the most debilitating emotional states are explained, outlined for immediate practice/application. It is a book based on doing, not simply explaining or more psychological understanding. Should you buy it? No, not if you're looking for a quick fix, magic wand. Yes, absolutely if you're ready to make a change for the positive, one action step at a time! By the way, it was recommended by my therapist and I will be forever grateful to her for leading me to it!

I don't know how to efficiently put words to the impact this book has had. Harris has a very personable way of presenting information that is both entertaining, but relatable and encouraging. He gives you the tools and makes you feel like the control is back in your hands. I would recommend this to anyone in any stage of their mental health journey. Thank you so much Dr. Harris!

Dr. Russ Harris has created a monumental work in the self-help and personal development field. If you only use one tenth of the tools and techniques in this book, you will have received many, many times more in value than you paid for this truly remarkable book. There is SO MUCH great content and practical advice here to enrich the lives of readers. The research and readability are exceptional. If this book was recommended to you, then I encourage you to pick it up today and begin reading. I am certain you will not be disappointed. Thank you, Dr. Harris, for this wonderful and enduring gift.

I purchased the eBook version of The Happiness Trap and found it to be a clear, practical guide to applying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in everyday life. Russ Harris explains concepts like mindfulness, values-based living, and psychological flexibility in a way that’s easy to follow without feeling overly clinical. One of the strongest features of this book is the hands-on activities woven throughout—such as mindfulness exercises, values clarification worksheets, and thought-defusion techniques. These aren’t just “read and forget” tips; they’re designed for you to pause, reflect, and write down your own answers. Because of that, I recommend reading it when you’re not driving and have a notebook handy to work through the exercises and jot down personal insights. The eBook format makes it easy to highlight key passages and revisit them later. If I had one small critique, it’s that some sections felt a bit repetitive—but that also helped reinforce the main ideas. Overall, this is a great resource for anyone looking to manage stress, anxiety, or unhelpful thought patterns in a practical, actionable way. The more you engage with the activities, the more value you’ll get from it.

As a person who is always overthinking, who has accused my own brain of constantly being “mean to me”, I asked my therapist to recommend a book. I don’t know why, because I’ve never gotten through any book like this before, and I’ve tried many, but I can say this is the most life-changing book I’ve ever read. I have never felt so completely understood. This book is extremely practical and easy to understand. Actually doing the suggested exercises helped a lot. I feel like this is a book that shouldn’t be rushed. It is good, in my opinion, to let each of the ideas “marinate” for awhile! The author encourages it, too. The author periodically reminds the reader not to expect change overnight. Although completely reframing the way you think does take time, I have felt immediate relief from this book. It has helped me also to keep notes in the margins for quick review from time to time. Stop overthinking whether or not to buy this book, or “what if there’s a better book out there?” You won’t regret it!

Got this because my therapist recommended it to me. I loved this book! Especially after doing ACT therapy and values work before purchasing. I don't usually like self help books, but really enjoyed this one. I highly recommend this book if you're interested/currently doing ACT therapy or values work. Its easy to read and even had me laughing sometimes. Such a beautiful book.

This book was recommended to me because ACT is often described as helpful for people in constrained circumstances like debilitating chronic illness—accepting reality, allowing difficult emotions, not getting caught up in stories about what one “should” be able to do, and orienting toward values rather than accomplishments. The first half of the book largely lived up to that promise and showed thoughtful awareness of how this approach might apply in limiting conditions, including prisons, refugee camps, and terminal illness. In the second half, however, the focus shifts away from that framing and becomes largely about goal-setting for people who have full physical freedom, with values serving more as a motivational overlay than as the core focus. This may be more broadly marketable, but it wasn’t what I had hoped for or been led to expect by the first part of the book.

As someone who has experienced long term anxiety and struggles with overthinking, I wish I would have read this book many years ago. Yes, some of the activities feel silly, but I promise you, trust the process, and you will reap the benefits. This book has been so much help (in addition to therapy) in reducing my anxiety and overthinking so I am more productive at work, maintain healthier relationships, and live a more fulfilling life