Happiness Happens-Robin Singh

Book: Happiness Happens
Author: Robin Singh
Publisher: Penguin India

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

What does happiness mean to you?

Robin Singh had everything he wanted and more—well-settled in the US, financial freedom, married to the love of his life—except he was not happy. It was in his pursuit of happiness that he stumbled across purpose. It eventually took giving up on happiness and pursuing purpose before he realised that he had finally found what he had been looking for. This is a book about what happened between him exiting his tech company and starting Peepal Farm—an animal rescue centre. It is a compilation of all the answers he got along the way and the questions he asked to get those answers. He still can't tell you what is life or why is life . . . but he can answer why to live and how to live. Happiness Happens is ultimately an exploration of what really makes us happy. It is Robin’s journey told simply, with the hope that it will reach people who are dissatisfied with how they have been living but haven't yet been able to answer how else to live.

Happiness Happens is a book that is quite different from the usual self-help books that are currently available. Robin does not impart a lot of jargon or tips to achieve happiness, rather he explains his journey of self-realisation and how in his quest in finding the answer to the question of “What is happiness” he explores various things and finally arrives on the concept of Peepal Farm. The book is essentially his story of what he did through the years and how his perspective on life changed as he started looking at it from a completely different lens. What I loved about the book was that there is nothing right or wrong that is classifies, rather his idea is only to understand what is your own understanding of happiness, and then how you chart your way towards it. Another thing I really liked was that he does not deal in absolutes. His writing does mention that as an individual, you get to choose how you pave your way towards your own happiness. One of the key takeaways from the book for me was to ask the right questions, and to have the courage to take actions once you decide what you want to do with your life.

This book might not give you the answers to what you are looking for in life, but at the same time, it does help you find the right perspective towards life, and how to walk towards your own definition of Happiness. The writing in the book is simple and easy to understand. There is no jargon or words coined to explain the meaning of life, but rather it is the story of the experience of Robin as he goes through life. The book is a simple read, and the focus is on the message which makes it even more interesting.

The book is a definite recommendation and scores a 4.81/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India or a bookstore near you.