Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill

Name: Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill
Price: 9.85 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.6 (1992 reviews)
Author: Matthieu Ricard

by Matthieu Ricard

Self Help Religion Spirituality

4.6 (1,992)

4.6 stars from 1,992 reviews. Top 80% of Self Help books we track.

291 pages~4.9 hr readPublished by AtlanticPublished 2007-01-01

$9.85At peak price

Last checked: May 15, 2026

Price history: $2.99 – $9.99

While not the biggest discount we've seen for this book, it's still a great deal and we recommend grabbing it before price returns to its normal range.

Price range: $2.99 – $9.99

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Perfect for you if...

You're tired of chasing external wins (money, status, the perfect job) and ready to examine what actually makes you feel alive.
You've dabbled in meditation or Buddhism and want a more grounded, scientific take on why these practices work.
You're looking for practical exercises, not just philosophy. Ricard gives you both the 'why' and the 'how'.

Maybe not for you if...

You want quick fixes or simple happiness hacks. This is contemplative work that asks you to rethink your whole worldview.
You're sceptical of anything spiritual or Buddhist-adjacent. Ricard draws heavily from these traditions and won't convince you if you dismiss them outright.
You prefer pure neuroscience without philosophy. Ricard blends both, and some readers find the mix uneven.

About this book

Matthieu Ricard argues that happiness deserves as much attention and effort as other life goals such as wealth, fitness, and career success. He contends that true and lasting well-being should not be deprioritized in favor of these pursuits. Drawing on fiction, poetry, Western philosophy, Buddhist beliefs, scientific research, and his own experience, Ricard presents an account of how people can reconsider their priorities in today's fast-moving world. The book includes lessons and exercises designed to support readers in developing a happier life.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$2.99 – $9.99

Price has dropped 7 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 339 days. Typically stays discounted for 51 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #19K in the Kindle store — a steady mid-list seller.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.6★ from 1,992 reviews

Gaining approximately 18 new reviews per month. Rating has remained stable at 4.6 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

This book goes on sale roughly every 339 days. Next drop estimated in about 34 weeks. Typical discount: 70% off.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.