Making Happy: The Art and Science of a Happy Marriage

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott have written an encouraging guidebook to regaining spark and happiness in a marriage growing stale. Making Happy: The Art and Science of a Happy Marriage focuses on boosting self-happiness and transitions to how couples can be happy in marriage together. Their common-sense approach is laced with “did you know”-style factoids and Bible passages relating to happiness. For the secular couple, it might not be the best solution. But for the religious couple that has grown disillusioned with the daily marriage grind, it might serve as a refresher to what is really important.

The Parrotts focus on making the self happy, focusing on different styles of happiness (intrinsic and extrinsic, selfish and selfless) and then discuss couples celebrating one another by showing gratitude and finding value in their relationship. Making Happy has a friendly, helpful tone that is unassuming and undemanding. A deeply distressed couple on the brink of divorce might not find the book’s bright, cheerful voice very helpful, and should probably seek a professional instead. But couples who need a boost might want to undergo the book’s three-week happiness plan and find new ways to bring value to their relationship.