Okawa explores how we can become happier persons by having a positive outlook on life, getting rid of the bad self talk and accomplishing goals. It was a nice simple refresher for me. I don't think the book delve into anything I wasn't aware of before. But it did cover a lot of good things people should keep in mind, especially those who want to live a happier life.

Oddly enough I was hit with a bout of depression (diagnosed) while reading this book. I found that I have quite a few of the “habits” talked about in the book. I thought the advice given was very reasonable and given in a way so as not to make you feel worse than you already do. I didn’t get the vibe that the author was preaching but more so really wanted to help you change these habits if you really wanted to.
Then I got halfway through the book and felt like the whole tone of it changed. I felt like I was reading a completely different book. I felt blindsided. The section on getting married I completely disagreed with. I had a hard time even reading the whole section. Maybe some of the last third of the book I didn’t agree with because it didn’t pertain to me at all. I would recommend this book if you have an open mind and don’t mind feeling like reading a different book about halfway through.

Interesting but nothing revolutionary here. Actually depressing for me!

A great book, which helps you to challenge what makes you unhappy and change the way you think to help you change your life.

Some people love to live unhappy.

They start to develop unhappiness and then they love to living with this feeling all the time.
They're not anymore able to return to a surface of joy and happiness, devastated like they're by what they feel, thinking that, after all world is a negative place where to live in.

And surprisingly not only as said before they love to feel these feelings but often they communicate them to other people as well.

Confirms arrive from several part: illness, current events...Is the world a good place where to stay? Aren't there many confirms that problems exist?

It is, this one a real pathology thinking better, and Mr Ryuho Okawa defines this illness, the unhappiness state, giving it the status of a real syndrome: the unhappiness syndrome.

In his book: The Unhappiness Syndrome 28 Habits of Unhappy People (and How to Change Them) published this April 15 Mr Okawa will give us a clear explanation of what happen when we are overwhelmed by unhappiness and how we can restore our previous happy self.

It can be an attack of envy for someone, fear of being hurt, some past failures able to block our creativity at long, a person still trapped in his past, lack of confidence, pessimistic thoughts, old secrets, It's not important if your syndrome will affect work or family or your spiritual life. Mr Okawa will drive you to start to be conscious of your energy, potentiality, positive thinking, re-directing firstly your thoughts, because there is nothing, nothing more powerful than your thoughts for changing in better or in worse your life. Like also of course, your vision of life.

At the end you will re-discover a new energy and motivation and you will start to see again colors and joy in your life.

I thank NetGalley and IRH Press for this book.


Anna Maria Polidori

Ryuho Okawa (1956-), is the founder of the Happy Science Group, which is based in Tokyo, Japan-- with a global outreach of faith and spiritual centers throughout the world. Celebrated by followers as a “Global Visionary” Okawa has authored thousands of articles and volumes of books transcribed from lectures since the 1980’s, his books have been translated into 28 languages. In “The Unhappiness Syndrome” (2017) Okawa has identified the self-destructive thought patterns that lead to a subconscious desire of unhappiness that undermine human potential, motivation, true happiness and success.

Okawa’s philosophies, ideology, and belief's are mix of Buddhist and New Age teachings, some readers may not understand or agree with some of his views or teachings. The annual Oban Festival, a large part of Japanese culture, honors the spirits of departed ancestors. Honoring the spirits of ancestors, the avoidance of evil spirits, and various spiritual dimensions are included in this book.
The book is also divided into five sections, which center on personal development, relationships, marriage and family life, employment etc. At times Okawa’s advice was almost fatherly and well meaning. However, in other passages the advice seemed dated, generic, and occasionally exasperating. Okawa seemed to make assumptions that his general readership might be undereducated, envious of others, had unrealistic expectations, lacked enthusiasm, suffered from poor self-esteem etc. Other advice included asking your spouse to put their belongings away, keep an orderly work space, delight in the joy and simplicity of the little things life has to offer. The Unhappiness Syndrome would have been better in an essay format, rather than a full length book.

Aside from the advice, writings on Japanese customs regarding divination, fortune telling, and psychic readings were different, unusual, and interesting; as was the brief bio of Okawa. I hadn’t heard of him before. In addition to being an author, Okawa is a lecturer, teacher, and spiritual leader advisor-counselor—perhaps similar to a modern day version of the late Scientologist leader, L. Ron Hubbard. 2* FAIR. ~ With thanks to IRH Press USA Inc. via NetGalley for the DRC for the purpose of review.

A wonderful self help guide to improving one's outlook on life . The author has deftly written to our modern day dilemma of living in unhappiness and how to break that spell. I found this very well written and a sensible guide for improvement. Very well done . This is a excellent self help book for everyone's permanent reading shelf. It will work as a constant learning tool.

While I liked some of the information int he book, I'm not a huge fan of the style of writing. It felt a little like reading a textbook. I will not be writing a public review because I don't want to leave negative feedback that is strictly personal preference.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. How to break free of stinking thinking. So much is just a learned habit you can turn around. Love this book.