Sonja Lyubomirsky (
Russian: Соня Любомирская, born December 14, 1966)[1] is a Russian-born American professor in the Department of Psychology at the
University of California, Riverside[2] and author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want.[3]
Lyubomirsky has received a
John Templeton Foundation grant, a Science of Generosity grant, a Templeton Positive Psychology Prize, and a million-dollar grant (with Ken Sheldon) from the
National Institute of Mental Health.[4] In 2021, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Basel.[5]
The How of Happiness
Breakdown of sources of happiness, according to The How of Happiness
Genetic (50%)
Intentional activity (40%)
Circumstance (10%)
The How of Happiness was published in 2008 by
Penguin Press.[6] The book has been translated into 22 languages.[4]
The premise of The How of Happiness is that 50 percent of a given human's long-term happiness level is genetically determined,[7] 10 percent is affected by life circumstances and situation, and a remaining 40 percent of happiness is subject to
self control.[8][9][10][11]
TheHow of Happiness led to an
iPhone application called Live Happy, produced by
Signal Patterns. Lyubomirsky is on the company's scientific advisory board.[12]
TheHow of Happiness has also led to a song, The How of Happiness Book Tune, a
mnemonic to remember the content within the book.[13]
The Myths of Happiness
The Myths of Happiness,[14] published by Penguin Press, claims why major life events that should make a person happy don't, and that what shouldn't make us happy often does.[15][16]
References
^Who's Who of American Women (2006) Marquis Who's Who: New Providence, New Jersey.