The Giving Way to Happiness

We often focus on how our gifts can help those in need. But the act of giving actually improves our own lives as well. In The Giving Way to Happiness, Jenny Santi overturns conventional thinking about what it takes to be happy by revealing how people find purpose and joy in giving. This book is filled with  inspiring stories of generosity told by Goldie Hawn, Nobel Peace Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus, supermodel Christy Turlington-Burns, and philanthropist Richard Rockefeller, among many, many others. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they have all found unexpected happiness and fulfillment through giving. Santi also shares a growing body of scientific evidence that links giving with happiness. For example:

     - Research shows that altruism involves far more than suppressing basic selfish urges; rather, we are wired to give, as it activates pleasure centers in the brain.
     - Several studies demonstrate that those who volunteer regularly and frequently live longer than non-volunteers.
     - People who give to charity are 43% more likely to say they're very happy than those who don't give.
     - A recent study by Harvard professor Michael Norton found that participants who were randomly assigned to spend money on others experienced greater happiness than those assigned to spend money on themselves.

Amidst a culture of materialism and self-centeredness, Santi shows how giving can assuage ennui, give us purpose, and contribute to happiness in the deepest ways.