My favorite book on happiness and resilency. Not your usual fare. A masterful storyteller, Shea explores provocative ideas in a stimulating and delightfully quirky way. He honestly acknowledges the dark moments of life and illuminates the unrelenting strength of the human spirit. Its contemporary writing style and wicked sense of humor make it a great book for any kid heading off to college.

Not entirely a book on happiness per se, the wonderfully wise Alain De Botton shares his unique perspectives on how architecture impacts our lives. He ingeniously manages, while pursuing the nuances of the buildings that surround us, to find insights on how we all can find happiness.

I believe this one might be out of print, and there's no cover shot here on amazon, yet here is a gem. McGlashan has put together a series of wondrously told essays that demonstrate the very core of happiness and meaning in life. In a word -fascinating.