Make Life Happier
23 Practical Ways to Feel Better, Find Meaning and Make a Difference
Published on 23. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-78512-474-7 (ISBN)
Description
This book offers 23 practical ways to make life happier. It's based on evidence from the latest scientific research combined with unique insights from the author plus proven ideas that he has helped thousands of people to adopt successfully in their everyday lives.
It goes much deeper than typical self-help advice, covering a wide range of themes which contribute to lifelong wellbeing. Crucially, the book combines actions you can do to improve your own happiness with actions that benefit others too. The first part covers self-care themes such as mindfulness, optimism, self-acceptance, goals and purpose. The second part covers relational themes, including listening, vulnerability, forgiveness and community.
"Make Life Happier" isn't just a book though, it's really an invitation. An invitation to join a global movement of people who are choosing to live differently. People who recognise that happiness is not just a personal quest, but a gift that can enrich our communities and our world. It's an invitation to help shift our values. From what we can get to what we can give. From seeking validation to finding connection. From just surviving to actively thriving.
Remember, this is about how to make life happier, rather than happy, recognising this is a journey and there's no perfect end-point. The most important thing to keep in mind right now is that your actions matter. You may not be able to change your circumstances, but you do have the potential to feel better, find meaning and make a difference. Whatever your situation is, you can do something.
It goes much deeper than typical self-help advice, covering a wide range of themes which contribute to lifelong wellbeing. Crucially, the book combines actions you can do to improve your own happiness with actions that benefit others too. The first part covers self-care themes such as mindfulness, optimism, self-acceptance, goals and purpose. The second part covers relational themes, including listening, vulnerability, forgiveness and community.
"Make Life Happier" isn't just a book though, it's really an invitation. An invitation to join a global movement of people who are choosing to live differently. People who recognise that happiness is not just a personal quest, but a gift that can enrich our communities and our world. It's an invitation to help shift our values. From what we can get to what we can give. From seeking validation to finding connection. From just surviving to actively thriving.
Remember, this is about how to make life happier, rather than happy, recognising this is a journey and there's no perfect end-point. The most important thing to keep in mind right now is that your actions matter. You may not be able to change your circumstances, but you do have the potential to feel better, find meaning and make a difference. Whatever your situation is, you can do something.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bonnier Books Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
508 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78512-474-7 (9781785124747)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Dr Mark Williamson is co-founder and Director of Action for Happiness, taking it from a concept on paper in 2010 to a thriving, global mass movement with over 600,000 members across 100+ countries.
Prior to Action for Happiness, Mark had a wide range of experience across commercial and non-profit organisations, from start-ups to large multinationals. He was Director of Innovation at the Carbon Trust and founder of online initiative What You Can Do. He spent nine years as a management consultant at Accenture and also worked for Hewlett Packard Labs and Orange. He has an MBA from IMD business school in Switzerland, where he received the President's Award. He has a PhD and first-class honours degree in Engineering from the University of Bristol. He is a member of the Institute of Directors, a Sainsbury Management Fellow, Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the RSA. In 2010 Mark gave up the corporate world and changed direction to focus on happiness and wellbeing. In 2022 he was awarded an additional Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his work with Action for Happiness.
Prior to Action for Happiness, Mark had a wide range of experience across commercial and non-profit organisations, from start-ups to large multinationals. He was Director of Innovation at the Carbon Trust and founder of online initiative What You Can Do. He spent nine years as a management consultant at Accenture and also worked for Hewlett Packard Labs and Orange. He has an MBA from IMD business school in Switzerland, where he received the President's Award. He has a PhD and first-class honours degree in Engineering from the University of Bristol. He is a member of the Institute of Directors, a Sainsbury Management Fellow, Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the RSA. In 2010 Mark gave up the corporate world and changed direction to focus on happiness and wellbeing. In 2022 he was awarded an additional Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his work with Action for Happiness.