1. Why did you write this book, Happy for No Reason? Were you born happy, or did you have to work at it?

 

2. Happiness is hot these days. Everybody's talking about it. It even hit the cover of Time Magazine! What's going on?

 

3. In your book, you say that scientists in the field of positive psychology have discovered a “happiness set-point,” similar to our body weight set-point. Does this mean we're stuck with a certain level of happiness or can we change it?

 

4. Some people may feel that Happy for No Reason sounds a little naïve or Pollyanish. What does it really mean to be Happy for No Reason?

 

5. Marci, as part of your research for the book, you interviewed one hundred people who were unconditionally happy- you call them your “Happy 100”-and you saw clear patterns emerge. What's the most important thing we can learn from the Happy 100?

 

6. You're one of the teachers in the mega-phenomenon The Secret, which is all about the law of attraction. What's the connection between happiness and the Law of Attraction? What's your formula for applying the Law of Attraction?

 

7. One of the things you tell people is “don't believe everything you think.” What do you mean by that?

 

8. What has science discovered about the physiology of happiness and how can we put those findings to work for us?

 

9. One of your principles in Happy for No Reason is “Let love lead.” Sounds great, but how do you do that when your boss has just yelled at you or your boyfriend has just walked out the door?

 

10. How can our shift toward greater happiness improve the lives of those around us and the world?

 

 

It's beginning of the year and everyone's making their New Year's resolutions--people want to lose weight, make more money, find the right partner. What do you think of the typical New Year's resolutions? Do they lead people to being happier?