Review: True Happiness is not a Mask
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 10 25, 2013
I received a free copy of Bryan Hutchinson's "Happy Every Day" from Story Cartel in return for a unbiased review.Mr. Hutchinson provides an upbeat, easy-to-read manual for the average person who is searching for true happiness in all areas of life.  Such is a good and noble goal, and the book follows up on its promises by offering many helpful tips for happier living.  My main issue with the book, however, is that its focus does not go deep enough in the right direction.  On the one hand, its focus is too light and frothy for the hurting and searching individual; on the other hand, its focus is too shallow and selfish for the person who has found happiness by living a life of service and love.  In other words, happiness according to this book ends up looking like a mask one can put on or take off at will.The author even alludes to the inadequacy of his book, explaining how he was not able to find happiness until receiving serious counseling to deal with layers of hurt hidden away in his own soul.  Thus, "Happy Every Day" appears to be his nice surface-level attempt at showing stable and self-focused individuals how to keep a positive perspective on the world regardless of the many disappointments and sorrows that may crop up on a day-to-day basis.  Most likely, people who have experienced heartbreak, are devoted to happiness through serving others, are hopelessly self-absorbed, are non-writers, and are natural philosophers will not appreciate this book.