Here's to Well-Being in 2011: Book Review

My final book review for 2010 is actually a book that looks forward to 2011. I recently finished Well-Being by Tom Rath and Jim Harter, a book related to the Strengths Finder series from Gallup.


Rath and Harter have taken data collected by Gallup from over 150 countries and found five universal, interconnected elements that shape our lives: Career Well-being, Social Well-being, Financial Well-being, Physical Well-being, and Community Well-being. The thing I really love about this book: the combination of research data and ideas for boosting well-being. The book also has a companion website.

I love books based on data and research. This isn't just somebody's idea of what it takes to have well-being over a lifetime-- this is a bona fide look at what makes human beings all over the world have a better life. Each of the five sections is loaded with data and followed by a synopsis of the essentials and recommendations for boosting each area of well-being. The back section of the book is over 70 pages of charts and closer looks at the research. Each book includes a code to get on the book's website where readers have access to a wealth of supplemental materials.

I think I read the book at just the right time--the end of the year. The book's actually been sitting on my shelf since the summer when I bought it, along with a pile of other books I still need to tackle. I picked it up last week and devoured it. Along the way I also got inspired. I was able to pick up on a few areas where I have really neglected my well-being, and was able to affirm that I live in a great community where all the potential pieces of community well-being are present.

Two areas that challenged me for 2011:

1. Develop a deeper relationship to my community, whether in volunteering or just enjoying the beautiful outdoor trails and parks more often.

2. Widen my circle of close friends. The older I am getting, the tougher it is to do this. But, changing jobs and moving in the last five years has really narrowed my circle of friends. Time to work on that.

I highly recommend the book. And I invite your observations. It's a quick read and less than $14 if you have a Kindle. I bought a copy for all my family members. Happy New Year--may your 2011 be a year of well-being.