Skip to main content
The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life

The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life

Current price: $27.99
Publication Date: January 3rd, 2023
Publisher:
Atria Books
ISBN:
9781982159054
Pages:
288
Usually Ships in 1 to 5 Days

Description

Discover the latest scientific evidence for the potent and revitalizing value of fun and how to make having fun a habitual and authentic part of your daily life with “this well-researched and impressive guide” (BookPage).

Doesn’t it seem that the more we seek happiness, the more elusive it becomes?

There is an easy fix: fun is an action you can take here and now, practically anywhere, anytime. Through research and science, we know fun is enormously beneficial to our physical and psychological well-being, yet fun’s absence from our modern lives is striking. Whether you’re a frustrated high-achiever trying to find a better work-life balance or someone who is seeking relief from life’s overwhelming challenges, it is time you gain access to the best medicine available.

“A masterful distillation of science and personal experience” (Nir Eyal, author of Hooked), The Fun Habit explains how you can build having fun into an actionable and effortless habit and why doing so will help you become a healthier, more joyful, more productive person. In the vein of Year of Yes, 10% Happier, and Atomic Habits, The Fun Habit features “practical tips, tools, and tactics for bringing fun into our lives starting now” (Dr. Olav Sorenson, UCLA professor of sociology).

About the Author

Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness.

Praise for The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life

"A well-crafted guide to the who, what, when, where, why, and how of fun. Mike has woven a joyful mixture of story and research in the making of The Fun Habit. You will walk away with ideas you can start using today to invite in more delight and make the good times last."
— Gary Ware, founder of Breakthrough Play; author of Playful Rebellion

"A masterful distillation of science and personal experience, The Fun Habit uncovers the amazing power we have to improve our present state and shows how fun is the key to an enjoyable and fulfilling life. Readers looking for actionable science-based strategies, rather than pie-in-the-sky promises, will love this book."
Nir Eyal, bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractable

"A breath of fresh air for those who want more joy and wonder in their lives! Michael artfully bridges science and storytelling to reveal best practices for enhancing our quality of life. The Fun Habit is foundational for anyone who wants to improve performance, enhance relationships, and have greater social impact."
Dr. Michael Gervais, high performance psychologist; founder of Finding Mastery, Inc.

"The Fun Habit sounds like an oxymoron. Isn’t fun spontaneous? Often. But we can also put ourselves in places and positions that are conducive to having fun. We can be intentional about fun—and we should be. Mike Rucker distills decades of life experience and academic research into practical tips, tools, and tactics for bringing fun into our lives starting now."
Dr. Olav Sorenson, Joseph Jacobs Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies, Professor of Strategy and of Sociology, and Faculty Director of the Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA

“Psychologist and fun lover Mike Rucker has written an enjoyable treatise on the art of bringing more play and joy to life.”
— Shelf Awareness

"This cheerful debut trumpeting the importance of joy…is a fittingly entertaining guide."
Publishers Weekly

“Far from being just a feel-good exhortation or collection of fun activities to embark upon, this title brings an in-depth, science-backed exploration of happiness, through the lens of having fun.”
— Library Journal

“With expertise and a personal, intimate understanding of the subject matter, Rucker backs up his suggestions with scientific research regarding happiness, fun and, most interestingly, how our brains interpret stimuli. This well-researched and impressive guide to finding more meaning in your day-to-day life will offer readers endless rewards.”
— BookPage