The Happiness Passport (Hardback) - Megan C Hayes

Discover the secrets of living well through this charming world tour, exploring concepts from Danish hygge to Japanese ikigai .

"In Hayes' book ... she joins the dots between these differing beliefs to help us cultivate a richer shared vocabulary of happiness, and unravels the global interpretations of living well and contentedly." - Psychologiesmagazine

"With each word illustrated by Yelena Bryksenkova, it's a pure joy to read." - Flow magazine

Discover the secrets of wellbeing from cultures around the world, from hygge to yang sheng.

The Happiness Passport is a collection of wonderfully evocative words from around the globe that resonate with us all. Unique and often untranslatable, the meaning behind each expression will stir up familiar emotions - bringing joy, contentment and a greater understanding of other cultures. There are a wealth of examples to discover for a more wholesome outlook on life, including:

* Hiraeth - the word for deep longing for home (Welsh)
* Goya - the transportive ability of good storytelling (Urdu)
* Yugen - the ability of the natural world to deeply move us (Japanese)
* Gigil - the overwhelming urge to cuddle an adorable pet (Philippine Tagalog)

Simultaneously all-inclusive and peculiar to place, these words are on the tip of our tongue and yet not in our vocabulary.

The Happiness Passport delves into this treasure trove of delights, examining the cultural context of each expression and the lessons that we can apply in our own lives to achieve greater contentment. A must-read for fans of The Serenity Passport, and for all those seeking a more balanced life. This beautiful guide features original illustrations that evoke each elusive expression.

About the Author

Megan Hayes is a researcher, writer, and pioneer of the Positive Journal (R) approach to personal writing. She is an expert in positive psychology, always seeking new techniques to help people flourish and find happiness.

Regularly presenting her research at conferences across the globe, Megan is passionate about helping others find the tools they need to improve their wellbeing. She also has a personal interest in mental health issues, having grown up with a mother and sister who both experienced bi-polar episodes.

Megan is the author of Write Yourself Happy, The Happiness Passport and The Serenity Passport.

Megan Hayes is a researcher, writer, and pioneer of the Positive Journal (R) approach to personal writing. As an academic in the field of positive psychology, as well as a creative writing graduate, she has spent the last decade studying writing, the psychology of happiness, and researching ways that writing makes us happier. She has a passion for all things related to wellbeing and a personal interest in mental health issues, having grown up with a mother and sister who both experienced bi-polar episodes.

Megan has presented her research at conferences in the UK, United States and Europe, including the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) and the European Conference on Positive Psychology (ECPP). Her first book, Write Yourself Happy, will be published in 2018.

Yelena Bryksenkova was born in St Petersburg, Russia, grew up in Cleveland, and studied illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, Czech Republic. Now living in Los Angeles, Yelena works as a freelance illustrator and fine artist for clients such as Anthropologie, Apartment Therapy, Chronicle Books, Flow Magazine, The New York Times, and Urban Outfitters. Her small pen and acryla gouache paintings are inspired by her love of home and the comfort of everyday objects, as well as more magical, mysterious and melancholy themes.

Yelena has 49k followers on Instagram, and her Etsy shop has received 21,767 favourites.