Joyful

By: Ingrid Fetell Lee

Narrated by: Ingrid Fetell Lee

Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Make small changes to your surroundings and create extraordinary happiness in your life with groundbreaking research from designer and TED star Ingrid Fetell Lee.

Next Big Idea Club selection—chosen by Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Dan Pink, and Adam Grant as one of the "two most groundbreaking new nonfiction reads of the season!"

"This book has the power to change everything! Writing with depth, wit, and insight, Ingrid Fetell Lee shares all you need to know in order to create external environments that give rise to inner joy."—Susan Cain, author of Quiet and founder of Quiet Revolution

Have you ever wondered why we stop to watch the orange glow that arrives before sunset, or why we flock to see cherry blossoms bloom in spring? Is there a reason that people—regardless of gender, age, culture, or ethnicity—are mesmerized by baby animals, and can't help but smile when they see a burst of confetti or a cluster of colorful balloons?

We are often made to feel that the physical world has little or no impact on our inner joy. Increasingly, experts urge us to find balance and calm by looking inward—through mindfulness or meditation—and muting the outside world. But what if the natural vibrancy of our surroundings is actually our most renewable and easily accessible source of joy?

In Joyful, designer Ingrid Fetell Lee explores how the seemingly mundane spaces and objects we interact with every day have surprising and powerful effects on our mood. Drawing on insights from neuroscience and psychology, she explains why one setting makes us feel anxious or competitive, while another fosters acceptance and delight—and, most importantly, she reveals how we can harness the power of our surroundings to live fuller, healthier, and truly joyful lives.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Ingrid Fetell Lee (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Joy is the most basic building block of happiness, and this mesmerizing book reveals where to find it—and how to create it. Ingrid Fetell Lee's blockbuster debut will open your eyes to all the places where joy is hiding in plain sight. And it just might cause you to become more joyful too."—Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals, Give and Take, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg

"A completely original treatment of a completely new and original idea: we all have within the power to design joy into our lives. Joyful is an inexhaustible and exciting guide to what makes life good."—Arianna Huffington, New York Times bestselling author of Thrive, founder and CEO of Thrive Global, and founder of The Huffington Post

"I've never reached out to an author to request their permission to endorse their book...until now. Ingrid Fetell Lee invites us into a dimension of the human experience that was, ironically, hidden to most of us. She shows us how we can mindfully see joy in the simple aesthetics of our surroundings—and it has already changed my everyday life. If I'm feeling blue, I remember to look at the new leaves on the tree outside my window. It is simple but profound. Joyful is irresistibly compelling. The idea of Joyful fills me with joy."—Amy Cuddy, New York Times bestselling author of Presence

fascinating

loved this. so many times I wanted to write things down to dive into later...may need to buy paper version too!

An unexpected surprise.

This book was an unexpected surprise, filled with information to assist you in finding joy in all of the simple things around you. The history and knowledge of random things was a bonus. I loved this feel good book!

much richer and more complex than expected.

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Plan to listen again to absorb it.I find all the studies and experimentation with joy and aesrhetic to be exciting.

Rereadable! So enjoyable!

I very much enjoy hearing an author read their own work. There is much to glean from this most excellent introduction to finding JOY wherever you are.

Enjoyable

I enjoyed the premise at the beginning of each chapter followed by examples and facts from various studies. My only suggestion would be to have additional readers or more enthusiasm in some parts. Loved the book, very insightful.

Loved it!

I absolutely loved all the feels in this book and how she broke everything down in bite sized pieces to help us understand her thought process.

FantAstic!

I bought this book because it was about design, and my collegiate daughter is studying technology, art and design. Little did I know what a broad range of subjects this lovely tome would address. It has cheered me greatly, from its cover to its contents, and I have been using it in my classes and support groups for people dealing with severe depression (inpatients and outpatients!).
Backed by an array of research, from neuroscience to the history of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan, the author has created a real treasure trove of how to find and create joy in the world around us. Designer or not, you will love this book if you are searching for more joy in your life.

Loved it!

This amazing book will help you realize that joy is not optional, but essential.

The depth and width of joy.

Ingrid, you have created something so incredible, so beautiful, so colorful, so bright, so inspiring, so joyful. Thank you for this brilliant journey into the heart of aesthetic, emotional, and spiritual joy.

Sooo much stuffed in this goldmine!

Who knew there were so many little things we find joy in, and use to promote joy in our environments! I started to recognize why people congregate in certain areas of my house, and how to bring more joy to my visitors, my family, and me! I'll definitely be downloading the PDF so I can look into a variety of artists and designers the author mentions.