How to be happy at work

I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of the book Happiness at Work by Srikumar S. Rao, Ph.D. As I've said before, I really stink at writing book review. I end up summarizing the entire book instead of offering meaningful feedback and reflection. I am so thrilled to be on the radar of book publicists and receive free materials, especially when it's of the caliber of Happiness at Work. And, boy, in these trying times - and aren't they all trying - we need all the happiness there is to go around.

As I make my way through this book, I'll document my responses. First of all, I've found it hard to put down. The first few pages provide so much hope, not only for happiness at work, but contentment in life - a return, as the author says, to the "halcyon days of youth when we thought McDonald's was a four-star restauarant and we preferred nickels to dimes because they were bigger." That line took my Gen X breath away.

My takeaway from chapter 1 was this: when something sets you off, ask yourself if it was deliberate. Allow room for mercy, finding ample good cause for the reason people act the way they do. For example, the jerk who cut off in traffic isn't a jerk at all. He's racing to the hospital. His wife is in labor.

My takeaway from chapter 2 was this: stop putting the "bad  labels on things. When you get a flat tire, don't label it a bad thing. Maybe it prevented you from a disastrous accident. When we stop putting the "bad thing" label on things, exciting things can start to happen.

I'll document my takeaways from each chapter as I go along. In the meantime, I recommend picking up a copy of this book. You can follow the author on Twitter, @srikumarsrao. Visit his Web site, Are You Ready to Succeed.