I am sorry to say that this didn't really work for me. I thought it would be a bit different, but it turns out I couldn't finish the entire book. It starts with a very wealthy man, basically bragging about his wealth, He is going to give away his money to strangers, but they have to meet with him. I'm sure this would be great for some, but I didn't enjoy it.

I can't read this anymore. DNF 40% This is one of the worst books I have ever read. Everything about the happiness experiment could have been on a couple of pages.

The Happiness Experiment by Carl B. Barney.

Wow! The first part of the book is a humble brag about how he earned his wealth and wants to give people gifts. Then he gives people these "pre-quests" but sets so many parameters on how they can be used, the counseling needed to use them, and continues to mansplain how everyone used them to find happiness, even a couple who lost their daughter, and how we can do it to without the money. Yeah, it was a great concept, but no dude, your privilege is showing. Get over yourself and your generosity with its strings attached. Thanks to the author publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, Netgalley, for an ARC for this book. This review is my thoughts on the book.

My first thought on the book was wow, who has this kind of money to follow Carl's idea of 'Happiness Grants? But as I read more of the book, I did find great ideas for bringing happiness to your life. Under mindsets in music, the list has some interesting ideas and made me think more about which songs really do bring me happiness and why. For example, the song I danced to with my son at his wedding always makes me smile and cry when I hear it. Much the way that Amazing Grace and bagpipes can really reach my soul. Music for me is very personal and often related to a memory or event. So, making a playlist for Happiness hit a chord with me.
I am grateful to have read this book as it has shown me a different way to look at my life and the simple things in it that can bring me happiness.

The first 20% of the book was just a repetition of the author's desire to bequeath (in this case pre-queath) money to his near and dear ones. Just this one sentence would have sufficed. Instead, he has gone about ranting the same thing for over 50 pages. The author then went on to explain how grateful he was to each of the beneficiaries because of what they did to him. This background about each person is of no relevance to the premise of the book nor are they beneficial to the reader in any way. These could have easily been trimmed to just a few sentences altogether. Overall, I did not find this book of great interest.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, this one just didn't do anything for me. An extremely rich man decides to give away inheritances before he dies. The catch? You must meet with him, provide your "plan", then get your cash. It repeats over and over (and over) how lucky these people were to know him, their same stories, how fantastic he is--all from his point of view....blah, blah, blah...Just be happy, accept a ton of money, you must use it now, for your own selfish wants & not share with others, and you can't save it. And remember how awesomely great his is. Nope, not happening.

Privileged white male telling his boot-strap story. Reeks of boomer philosophy and needs some serious editing. Seems like a vanity book published. Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for an advanced copy for an honest review.

What a boring, self-indulgent, navel-gazing, waste of time of a book!

Rich dude who made his money in for profit education (aka scammy diploma mills that, you know, EXPLOIT PEOPLE FOR MONEY and saddle them with student loans and worthless degrees) suddenly thinks he has ~too much money~ so he decides to give some of it away. He makes sure to tell us, multiple times, that he has a home in Northern California and a home in Lake Tahoe, and that's all he needs. (Those are two of the most expensive housing markets, y'all. Just saying.)

I admit, I skimmed some of this because it was just so repetitive and BORING. Uninspired, insipid, and not worth the paper it's printed on. I'd advise you to skip this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Could not spend more time trying to slog through this. This first quarter of the book is an extended humble brag about being rich and giving money to his friends. The entire thing is written very simplistically and with a lot of quoted conversation that obviously could not have all been accurate or even really remembered, a tone that I just can’t get into at all. Once we finally got into anything that could be considered beneficial to the reader, I was so disengaged and couldn’t stand the didactic writing to the point where it’s not worth my time to continue.

I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley. I enjoyed reading the different reactions to Carl's happiness experiment with his friends, family, and coworkers. It turns out that happiness can be planned for and executed into being. I liked the practical side of the book with steps to figuring out what makes you happy and what you need to do to achieve happiness.

The Happiness Experiment by Carl B. Barney
A Revolutionary Way to Increase Happiness
Significantly increase your own happiness and transform lives!
A near-death experience changed everything for Carl Barney, sparking a groundbreaking idea that would redefine happiness forever. His concept of pre-quests—Happiness Grants given during life instead of through a will—ignited The Happiness Experiment. By sharing his wealth with twenty friends, Carl didn’t just transform their lives; he uncovered a new understanding of joy fulfillment, and legacy.

In The Happiness Experiment, Carl shares

the gripping, heartwarming stories of lives

forever changed and unveils a revolutionary

step-by-step blueprint for creating true, lasting

happiness. With insights into important

values, deliberate planning, and purposeful

action, this book will challenge everything you

thought you knew about joy and generosity.

If you’ve ever longed to live with intention,

connect deeply with others, and experience fulfillment on a whole new level, The Happiness Experiment is your essential guide. Let Carl’s bold philosophy show you how to create a life—and a legacy—that truly matters.
I recommend this book.
The Happiness Experiment by Carl B. Barney is a 5 star book.
A book you will want to read again.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

Reading this book made me happy! The author shares a deeply personal yet philosophically grounded exploration of what it means to live a happy life. I enjoy learning about how his Happiness Grants were applied. The grants were his philanthropic initiative designed to support individuals actively pursuing personal growth and happiness.

The writing is straightforward, and for those open to his perspective, the book offers clarity, motivation, and a call to intentional living. A very meaningful read for anyone seeking to understand and cultivate a more consciously happy life.

Thank you NetGalley & Greenleaf Book Group for sending this book for review consideration.

This was a great read! There was a lot to learn while reading this book. I really liked the pre-question idea. I loved seeing how they all decided on what would make them happy. This will stick with me for a long time!

I want thank NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for this dreaded copy. This is my honest opinion of this work.

An interesting book with one person view, ideas and plan of how to increase and maintain happiness. It is an array of stories of how the other changed his thinking and changed his life while crating happiness for others. It is an uplifting book and I would recommend it to anyone wanting a new perspective on happiness.


Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of tis book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book! It definitely gives a more in depth look at happiness, how we can obtain and create it as well as preserve it. I enjoyed the storytelling of the author and the characters throughout the story. I also loved the questions and work pages at the end to apply what you’ve read throughout the book in your own personal happiness journey! Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this book.

Didn't like the book. Chose not to tead neyond chapter 2. It was not for me. I chose not to write cantering further about this book.

After a terrifying brush with death, entrepreneur Carl B. Barney developed a revolutionary approach to happiness, giving "Happiness Grants" or inheritances to grantees while he was still alive. Filled with stories about the changed lives of recipients as well as a plan to boost your own happiness while uplifting others. Recommended!

The Happiness Experiment by Carl B. Barney is a book anyone who is interested in self-improvement should read! From compelling human stories written by the people who participated in the experiment to a full happiness guide, this book was incredible! I learned so much and really got a good feel of how to be happier. I completed the whole workbook and I am excited to put it to the test!

The structured approach to happiness planning offers concrete methods for what's often treated as an abstract concept.

After a life altering near death experience, Carl Barney introduced the concept of Happiness grants- an inheritance given during an individual’s life to help him/her achieve happiness. Barney created the Happiness Experiment, where he gave the grant to 20 different friends. This book, the Happiness Experiment not only chronicles the recipients’ reactions to their grants, but also highlights the profound changes in their lives and their evolving understanding of happiness. The book outlines essential steps for readers to discover their core values, identify purpose, and fine true sources of joy. This book can serve as a guide to rethink how we use our resources to enrich our lives and those around us. It is a good combination of personal anecdotes and innovate tools. It invites you to reflect on your own idea of happiness and how to achieve it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.