Why Good Things Happen to Good People: How to Live a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life by the Simple Act of Giving

This book is an interesting new contribution to the field of positive psychology, which explores the idea that giving helps the giver as much as, or even more than the receiver. It can be clearly demonstrated that happy people give and, according to newly emerging research, it seems that happiness increases if you can learn to increase giving. One of the mechanisms by which this works is that giving increases the giver's self-esteem, and increased self-esteem results in less stress. The benefit of less stress is greater psychological and physical health resulting in longer and happier life. Givers score highly on all these benefits, suffering from, for example, less heart disease.According to Post giving, if examined closely, can be broken up into 10 different 'methods'. They are: (1) celebration, (2) generativity, (3) forgiveness, (4) courage, (5) humor, (6) respect, (7) compassion, (8) loyalty, (9) listening, and (10) creativity. These 10 methods of giving can be expressed in 4 different domains of life: (1) family, (2) friends, (3) community, and (4) humanity. Post devotes a chapter to each method of giving and each chapter contains inspiring stories as examples, a summary of facts identified by scientific research, detailed discussion of lessons that can be learned from the research, and many lists of helpful hints for incorporating giving into your life. Each of these ten chapters also end with a personality test which allows the reader to assess how strongly he or she expresses this method of giving in their current life. Together these tests make up the Love and Longevity Scale.While this book contains plenty of reports of psychology studies it is written in a very interesting and readable way, and is very accessible to the general public. This book is so full of information, and has so many suggestions for personal development, that it is a little overwhelming on first read. I fully expect to be rereading at least parts of it in the near future.

I am generally not one to quarrel with titles of books....I read for substance. But, I believe this title undersells the profound wisdom of this very fine book.This book is all about "giving." A much more apt title would have been something along the lines of Bill Clinton's recent book "Giving, How Each of Us Can Change the World."We live in an instant gratification, "what is in it for me?" world. This book is a powerful antidote.Potential readers looking for a "me" centered prescription for success and happiness will undoubtedly be disappointed in this book. Head instead for the "Secret."Those who believe in the importance of giving will find this a most useful manual for incorporating a giving orientation into everything we do, each and every day.This book should be recognized as one of the best self help books of 2007. Regretfully, it isn't likely to be such because of a cover and title that paints it as academic. But, I am off to do my part to get this book more widely known. We need to get the word out. (Imagine if everyone who bought the Clinton book also read this gem!)To Steve Post and Jill Neimark, my sincere thanks for writing a wonderful book. You have given us a gift and by doing so role modeled the power of giving.

This is a very valuable book to read--no matter where you are in life. I've been through times of being stingy and self serving in my life and I always feel regretful afterward, but on the other side, when I have been giving and thoughtful without expectation I feel calm and at peace. I especially loved the chapter that dealt with at-risk youth and how service and volunteerism gave them some purpose beyond violence.

I initially picked up this book because the title kind of set me off.....and not in a good way. Having undergone a family tragedy, I thought the title was saying that good things happen to good people and, well, vice versa!! How wrong I was!!! After taking this book from the library and reading a chapter, I immediately purchased a copy so that I could underline and re-read this book. I highly recommend this book as something that can help you move towards healing and move towards an improved way of living!! Read it!!

Dogs (2 labs love these 'bones' and I love that they are natural. Don't know if they are salted but one pup drinks lots of water in between chews.....

Gandhi said, "All my actions have their source in my inalienable love of humankind." He believed he was struggling not only for the victims of oppression but also for the oppressors. When injustice was ended, he reasoned, then the oppressors too benefited, because only by living in harmony with their fellows could they truly thrive.I have long believed this and have even written about it, but mostly as a matter of faith and personal, limited observation. I'm glad to learn from Post and Neimark that the insights of moral innovators like Gandhi are now being confirmed by reliable scientific study.

Others have provided very valuble reviews worthy of your consideration. The "fire" called for in unlimited agape love...i.e "giving" is a simple formula for a better you and a better world. There are no adverse side effects. I shall use this as an inexpensive book with extraordinary value at our Institute for Religion and Health suggest it as a universal read. You'll be pleased you bought it. (and so will everybody you relate to after you read it!)

I love this book. I've bought three copies to give away and told all my friends about it. It's great to read how doing good things for others not only helps them but me too. It has reversed that feeling for me of being a sucker when I want to help others or volunteer or do something without pay. Now I think, I'm healthier! Love it!!

Good for leaening

GREAT BOOK. It helped me to rethink my priorities.