An okay book that features some useful tools and good information, but I found my mind wandering at various points throughout. It wasn't able to hold my attention like other similar books. That being said, our library will be purchasing it and if patrons are interested in these types of books, I would suggest this as an option for them.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for e-ARC of the book.

The Fun Habit is a book that teaches the reader a holistic approach on how to bring more fun into all aspects of their life. Each chapter is supported with scientific data and stories that's helps reader to understand the concepts.

In a world of self-help books teaching you how to grind and hustle and have success, this book is a breath of fresh air. Mike Rucker lays out a lot of really valuable advice on why it's important to have fun in life and how to make sure that is part of your daily habits. This book is well written and I think anyone, at any stage could gain some great insights by reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I thought this book gave many good tips and tricks, and liked the examples Mike took us through on the journey of adding more fun into our day-to-day lives. I especially learned took a lot away from the section regarding meeting children where they are and incorporating fun and play into our interactions. Definitely worth a read to gain some fun nuggets!

Thank you netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

Enjoyable quick read. I wish it gave more examples of what fun things to do. I feel like my whole life is taking care of my family and then when I can fit some fun in, I don't even know what that looks like anymore.

Happy to include this in the January 2023 edition of a round-up highlighting thematic titles on wellness and renewal, for the Books section of Zoomer magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

The Fun Habit is heavy with scientific studies and information. So if that is what you are looking for this would be a book for you. With all the scientific info, it reads rather stiffly or, dare I say, stuffy. I found the last part of the book holding some practical information and activities that could help incorporate some fun into your life. This book is more about establishing habits and the science related to fun - which can be a good start to establish reasons to add fun in your life. If you are looking for more fun activities and motivation to jump start your fun, try The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again by Catherine Price - it works as a great companion read.

The Fun Habit is pitched to uncover the newest and compelling scientific proof for the powerful and rejuvenating benefits of having fun, and learn how to make fun a regular and genuine part of your daily routine.

In the book, the author explores the significance of fun in our lives and how it can positively impact us. Through well-researched scientific studies and personal examples, the author argues that fun is a fundamental aspect of life that is often neglected as we age. He emphasizes the importance of being intentional and creating space for fun, while also discussing toxic positivity and the impact of social media on our perception of it.

The book covers topics such as the role of play, friendship, goals, and risk-taking in fun, and how our choices and actions can influence our experiences. The author also reflects on the relationship between fun and death and shares the story of Dr. Randy Pausch, his personal hero. "The Fun Habit" offers a comprehensive and thought-provoking perspective on fun and provides a starting point for those seeking more joy and purpose in their lives.

Thank you to Atria the publisher and Mike Rucker for the ARC!

A bit more formal and niche than I expected; I think this could have worked really well as an extended blog series rather than a full-on book--for me, anyway. It's like taking English classes in college--I loved reading the books, but please don't make me graph them on the Pritchard Scale of Importance and Perfection (a la _Dead Poets Society_).

Rucker definitely makes some good points, and for those that enjoy assessments, etc. (which I definitely can, to a point ... helloooo, dear Apple Watch and my previous fitness trackers), this can be a solid read. But I would just as soon take the highlights and go out and pursue the fun!

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book hit the spot for my happiness itch. He shares studies about how to "have fun" and make it matter--how to bring more happiness and fun in your life. He has several acronyms to help you come up with ideas and make your life better, but I didn't need to use them in my life. He shares enough ideas that I was able to think about it and use it right away. I highly recommend this book!

This one surprised me! I didn’t expect to be so captivated by the author’s personal story and the research he uses to make a case for including fun as a specific design element for our daily lives. And yet it makes such sense, particularly in this season of rebuilding post-pandemic. I really appreciated the opportunity to look at my relationship to fun and consider specific ways to cultivate more of it. This book is a good one to have on your nightstand.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book.

This was a great read to start the new year for me. Rucker is very balanced in his approach to what "fun" is and how to identify what fun is for yourself. He also does a good job explaining the harm of seeking fun all of the time. Although I've read books on happiness before, this book more narrowly focused on fun. Rucker includes lots of examples from his own life to illustrate the points that he is making and also references different tools that can accessed on his website. I have already found ways to add more fun to my life in the few short days it took me to read this book.

This book has the most subtle hints and reminders of how fun can be easy to achieve. This is coming at a time in my life where the encouragement for fun is a blessing. This is a book I am exited to share with other readers.

This book didn't resinate with me. It felt to technical and I couldn't get into it. For those looking for something something in depth on fun. this is the book for you.

This book was so much FUN to read and it lives up to its title in so many ways. It teaches you what true happiness really is and
How waiting for it to happen when you accomplish certain goals is now the way to do it. Instead, it’s about finding the fun in every moment and reframing how you do and think about work and other things. Highly recommend!!!

An engaging and accessible look at the importance of fun. A recommended purchase for collections where self-help and pop-psy books are popular.

The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Mike Rucker, is an all-inclusive, well researched book about having fun. The author makes the case that fun is one of the most important and fundamental aspects of life. It is actually good for us, but as we age, we make less time for it. He notes several scientific studies regarding happiness, fun and how our brains work. He writes about being intentional and creating the space for fun. Yet, he also addresses the idea of toxic positivity. He teaches us to examine how we spend our time and how to evaluate our choices … then proceeds to give examples on how to add fun and play into life. The author addresses how fun actually works, how comparison affects us, what time spent on social media can do to our concept of fun, how learning affects fun, and how exploring uncertainty, emotion, and risk-taking all have an effect on the fun we experience in our lives. Most importantly, he expanded my view and definition of FUN. It is PLAY, and so much more. Fun is friendship, pursuing goals, helping others, it is parenting and working, reminiscing (even about hard times) and living in the moment. He supports his claims with both scientific research and personal examples. He concludes the book with how we face death and what that means to our happiness now. Finally, he shares the story of his personal hero, Dr. Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture. If you are searching for more fun and more meaning in life, The Fun Habit is a great place to start.

Mike Rucker has written a wonderful book about having more fun. Sounds simple but it isn't. This book has explanations, questions to get you thinking, and exercises to help you increase the fun in your life. Written during the pandemic, the book also discusses how lockdowns and pandemic restrictions have affected the fun in people's lives. I enjoyed his discussion of the difference between happiness and fun. We all need more fun!

Really comprehensive look at the science of happiness and ways we can add more of it to our lives. I very much enjoyed the practicality of this book and the amount of research done to create it. I prefer books on the research heavy side and found this not only enjoyable but easily applicable with our being to workbook-y. Overall, a great resource for those wondering how they can hack happiness and create joyful days.

Though I like the concept of this book, I felt it was too focused on the philosophy of fun and not as much on the execution of it.