Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany: “Time is passing, and I'm not focusing enough on the things that really matter.” In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to a happiness project. With humor and insight, she chronicles her adventures during the year she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Rubin didn't have the option to uproot herself, nor did she want to; instead she focused on improving her life as it was. Each month she tackled a new set of resolutions. She immersed herself in principles set forth by all manner of experts, from Epicurus to Thoreau to Oprah to Martin Seligman to the Dalai Lama to see what worked for her -- and what didn't.