Most happiness books focus on one big idea.
Books on grit teach grit. Books on gratitude teach gratitude. Books on mindfulness teach mindfulness.
But real life is more complicated than that.
Stress, relationships, purpose, burnout, loneliness, habits, emotions, health, resilience, meaning... they're all connected.
Happy Hacks takes a different approach.
In this practical, research-backed guide, family science professor and Extension specialist Dr. Dave Schramm brings together the most powerful findings from positive psychology, neuroscience, relationship science, and well-being research into one highly usable book for women, men, parents, and anyone who wants to feel better in everyday life.
Sleep. Movement. Gratitude. Relationships. Purpose. Stress. Joy. Resilience.
101 short, actionable ideas designed to help you flourish, think healthier, strengthen relationships, and build a more meaningful life.
For decades, researchers have studied what truly helps people thrive. Happy Hacks translates that science into daily routines in a way that is clear, relatable, and immediately usable.
The research is surprisingly hopeful:
Lasting happiness is not reserved for lucky people. It is not determined entirely by personality, income, success, or circumstances. Many of the habits that improve well-being are small, learnable, and available to all of us.
"A practical guide to building more happiness, one small habit at a time" - Laurie Santos, Yale University, creator of The Happiness Lab podcast
Inside, you'll discover practical ways to:
-
- Manage stress and reduce anxiety without pretending life is easy
- Build stronger, healthier relationships at home and at work
- Increase joy, gratitude, and emotional resilience
- Break habits that quietly drain energy and well-being
- Strengthen purpose, meaning, and daily fulfillment
- Develop healthier mental and emotional wellness patterns
- Create lasting change through small actions that compound over time
You'll explore topics including:
-
- Happiness and the brain
- Sleep, movement, and mood
- Stress management and emotional regulation
- Gratitude and positive emotion
- Relationships and belonging
- Meaning, purpose, and faith
- Resilience and personal growth
- Simple good habits that improve everyday life
Unlike many self-help books that demand a total life overhaul, Happy Hacks focuses on realistic progress. Small shifts. Small habits. Small moments practiced consistently over time.
Each entry is brief, engaging, grounded in solid research, and designed to give you something useful you can apply immediately.
No fluff. No empty motivation. No toxic positivity. Just practical, science-backed ideas to help you build a happier, healthier, more meaningful life.
Whether you're a busy mom or dad navigating stress, a professional facing burnout, or anyone wrestling with loneliness, anxiety, or the feeling that life could feel fuller than it does right now, Happy Hacks meets you where you are and helps you move forward.
"Happy Hacks brings the science of happiness where it belongs: into daily life... I love this book." - Tal Ben-Shahar, author of Happier and former Harvard lecturer
If you've ever wanted someone to gather the best happiness research and translate it into simple, usable ideas for everyday life, this is that book.
Industry Reviews
"In Happy Hacks, Dr. Dave Schramm bridges the gap between research and real life in a way that is both refreshing and deeply useful. Each insight is clear, actionable, and rooted in what we know truly supports well-being. This is the kind of book that invites small changes that can lead to lasting impact."
-Emma Sepp¤l¤, PhD, Author of The Happiness Track & Sovereign, Lecturer at the Yale School of Management
"A nice exploration of what true well-being actually requires - and a practical guide to building more of it, one small habit at a time."
-Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology at Yale University and creator of The Happiness Lab podcast
"Happy Hacks brings the science of happiness where it belongs: into daily life. With clarity, warmth, and practical wisdom, David Schramm offers 101 evidence-based practices that can help readers reduce stress, strengthen relationships, deepen meaning, and build lasting wellbeing. I love this book. It makes the research accessible without oversimplifying it, and actionable without overwhelming the reader."
-Tal Ben-Shahar, author of Happier and former Harvard University lecturer
"Dr. Dave Schramm has written the rare happiness book that takes hard things seriously. Happy Hacks pairs decades of positive psychology research with the warmth of someone who has clearly lived what he's writing about. It is exactly the kind of book we need right now."
-Michelle Gielan, bestselling author of Broadcasting Happiness and Resilient Optimism
"Through extensive research and personal experience, Dr. Dave Schramm offers readers an approachable framework for connecting with the natural streams of happiness that surround us. His book of Happy Hacks reminds us that happiness is a process, not a destination."
-Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life
"David Schramm has given us a remarkable gift - a research-based, creatively crafted, engagingly written guide to living a thriving, meaning-filled, happy life. By blending wide-ranging scholarship with personal storytelling, Happy Hacks offers a buffet of practical wisdom that readers can draw from again and again."
-David G. Myers, Hope College, author of The Pursuit of Happiness and Exploring Psychology
"As a psychiatrist dealing with the harsh reality of mental illness for so many, I needed a lift from Happy Hacks! Dr Dave's take shows that research and real living matter, that skepticism and enthusiasm can be balanced. It also reveals how gratitude, meaning, joy and even hard stuff can be hacked together to help reach for that elusive quality of happiness. I thoroughly recommend it for therapists, clients, students, everybody!"
-Dr. Christian Heim, Clinical Director of Mental Health, Author of Resilient Relationships, University of Queensland, Australia
"Wow! Dr. Dave Schramm has created a wonderful guide filled with 101 research-based ways to increase joy, reduce stress, and live more meaningfully. These are not just good ideas-they are practical habits that can strengthen our hearts, homes, and relationships. Don't wait! Start bringing these happiness hacks into your life today!"
-Dr. Wally Goddard, author of Finding Joy in Family Life and former Professor of Family Life
