In 'Solve for Happy', Mo Gawdat, a former Google executive, embarks on a personal quest to uncover the secrets of happiness following the tragic loss of his son. He combines logic and emotion, presenting a groundbreaking algorithm that reveals the formula for achieving enduring joy in life. Gawdat's insights challenge conventional beliefs about happiness, urging readers to rethink their perspective on life's challenges. This heartfelt exploration blends science with personal anecdotes, ultimately guiding readers toward a more fulfilling existence. Will you unlock the key to your own happiness?
By Mo Gawdat
Published: 2019
"Happiness is not something you pursue, it is something you create from within."
Solve for Happy is a startlingly original book about creating and maintaining happiness, written by a top Google executive with an engineer's training and fondness for thoroughly analyzing a problem. In 2001, Mo Gawdat, a remarkable thinker whose gifts had landed him top positions in half a dozen companies and who - in his spare time - had created significant wealth, realized that he was desperately unhappy. A lifelong learner, he attacked the problem as an engineer would, examining all the provable facts and scrupulously following logic. When he was finished, he had discovered the equation for enduring happiness.Ten years later, that research saved him from despair when his college-aged son, Ali - also intellectually gifted - died during routine surgery. In dealing with the loss, Mo found his mission: he would pull off the type of 'moonshot' that he and his Google [X] colleagues were always aiming for. He would help ten million people become happier by pouring his happiness principles into a book and spreading its message around the world.One of Solve for Happy's key premises is that happiness is a default state. If we shape expectations to acknowledge the full range of possible events, unhappiness is on its way to being defeated. To steer clear of unhappiness traps, we must dispel the six illusions that cloud our thinking (e.g., the illusion of time, of control, and of fear); overcome the brain's seven deadly defects (e.g., the tendency to exaggerate, label, and filter), and embrace five ultimate truths (e.g., change is real, now is real, unconditional love is real).By means of several highly original thought experiments, Mo helps readers find enduring contentment by questioning some of the most fundamental aspects of their existence.
Mo Gawdat is an entrepreneur and author recognized for his impactful contributions to literature on happiness and personal development. He is best known for his bestselling book 'Solve for Happy: Engineering Your Path to Joy,' where he shares his insights on finding happiness through a logical and analytical approach. Gawdat's writing style is characterized by clarity and pragmatism, making complex ideas accessible to readers seeking to enhance their quality of life. Drawing from his extensive background in technology and business as a former Chief Business Officer at Google [X], he blends analytical thinking with emotional intelligence in his works. In addition to his writing, Gawdat is a sought-after speaker and has inspired countless individuals worldwide through his philosophy of happiness.
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“Happiness is not something you pursue, it is something you create from within.”
Solve for Happy
By Mo Gawdat
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