Happier Hour 

In my experience, most non-fiction books are longer than they need to be. They begin strong, and then it seems there are a few additional chapters at the end that add little value. It almost feels as if the authors are writing to a word count rather than focusing on crafting the best version of the book.

Unusually, this wasn’t the case with Happier Hour. I was actually a little disappointed with the early chapters. They introduced little that felt new or insightful. Don’t get me wrong: it was valuable content, and a healthy reminder. But that was it.

As the book progressed, however, it grew stronger. The insights became more poignant. Chapters seven and eight on ‘The Time Jar’ and ‘Time Crafting’ felt particularly timely—no pun intended (okay, maybe a little)—for me.

I am sure that for others, the early chapters will resonate more, depending on what you’ve read previously. And, even if not every chapter is new, per se, I think it’s a valuable book to spend some moments with, reflecting on how you use your hours.

Like so much in life, it comes down to our priorities and our intentions. Pausing with this book to assess my schedule, and consider how I truly want to live, felt like a meaningful recalibration.