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A Book That Left Me Feeling Meh - Here's the Lowdown
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The Man Who Wanted to Be Happy by Laurent Gounel
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The Man Who Wanted to Be Happy by Laurent Gounel

I just finished reading this novel and I'm still thinking about it. It's one of those books that really makes you stop and question what happiness means to you. The characters are super relatable and the storyline's got some real twists and turns. I found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen next. It's a real page-turner that'll challenge your perspective and leave you feeling inspired. If you're looking for a book that'll make you think, this is a great choice.
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A Book That Left Me Feeling Meh - Here's the Lowdown

summarizeEditor's Summary

I dove into 'The Man Who Wanted to Be Happy' by Laurent Gunther, hoping for a life-changing experience, but what I got was a decent, if unremarkable, read. The story follows a man's quest for happiness, which, unfortunately, didn't quite resonate with me. The e-book was a quick read, with about 160 pages on my phone, and the author's writing style was engaging, if not overly complex. I appreciated the author's exploration of some interesting themes, even if they weren't particularly original. The book's themes of relationships, personal growth, and the human condition are definitely worth exploring, but I didn't find it particularly memorable. The characters were decent, but not particularly well-developed, and the plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises. Overall, it's a solid, middle-of-the-road novel that won't leave you feeling meh, but also won't blow your mind. If you're in the mood for something light and easy to get through, this might be worth a shot.

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Kararİyi
OyunDili7/10
HikayeKalitesi6/10
GörselEfektler8/10
A Book That Left Me Feeling Meh - Here's the Lowdown
Hello everyone!
I was in the mood for something life-changing, and this book had been lurking in my bookmarks, so I finally read it – lucky for me, it wasn’t too long.
The Man Who Wanted to Be Happy, by Laurent Gunther
The Man Who Wanted to Be Happy, Laurent Gunther
I read the e-book version, so I don’t have a photo of the cover, but you can check out the main image on the thread.
Buy the book on marketplaces, Labyrinth, Chayka City, Litres
Cost of the e-book: 259 rub, paperback: 371 rub
Rating on LiveLib: 4.2
Age restrictions: 16+
I had about 160 pages on my phone
Author: Laurent Gunther
About the Book
Everyone dreams of finding happiness. But often, this dream never comes true. We’re constantly held back by external circumstances that seem insurmountable at first glance. Julian, the hero of Laurent Gunther’s novel, is young, healthy, good-looking – and utterly unhappy with his life, despite having no objective reason to be.
When he finds himself on Bali, he stumbles upon a remote village hidden deep in the tropical jungle, where he meets an old healer named Santijang. The island has all sorts of legends about him. This wise old man treats not the body, but the soul. And he knows the truth that can change the world around us: what we believe in becomes our reality and shapes our lives.
My Experience with the Book
I haven’t read a life-affirming book in ages, so I’d forgotten what they usually write about – basically, the hero, Julian, gets himself completely lost in life and ends up on a trip to Bali, I’ve forgotten how, but he shows up at his teacher’s (the wise man, guru…), to put him back on the right path, and they have a few meetings where they discuss this or that issue, the wise man gives Julian tasks, opportunities for reflection – the idea is that, by the end of the book, the hero should find the truth and learn to live...
I’d love to be happy, Laurent Gunell This book has 20 short chapters, each divided by numbers, making it a breeze to read.
I finished the book in one evening, and you can too – it’s that easy. I mean, you could even read it diagonally if you wanted to, but there’s nothing particularly earth-shattering in here.
I’d love to be happy, Laurent Gunell
Pros and Cons
I’d recommend this book to people who are feeling hopeless, as it might give them a glimmer of hope for the future. However, I didn’t find the book particularly inspiring, and the author comes across as a bit too self-assured in his claims of being the truth.
The author claims that people who believe in a higher power live 29% longer than atheists. That’s an interesting claim, but I’d love to see the source of this statistic – is it a real study, or just something the author made up?
The book preaches that money isn’t everything and that you can heal through faith and prayer. But, I have to ask, what’s the point of science and medicine if we can just pray our way to health?
I’d love to be happy, Laurent Gunell While there might be some useful insights in the book, I found myself getting bogged down by the author’s views on topics I strongly disagree with.
I was also given tasks to complete, like moving back home for a lot of money to see the wise man one last time. But when Julian arrived for the meeting, the wise man was nowhere to be found. He had left a note saying what I should do. I would have been angry, but I’m not that enlightened or wise, because you don’t need to be angry, and you’ll find out what you need to do in the book.
My Final Thoughts
I read it as just a story, without really digging into the advice. There’s plenty of that stuff online and on bloggers’ sites anyway, so it’s just up to you whether to follow the advice or not. Nothing really changed in my mind, so it’s all good. I’m not even sure if I’d recommend the book, I’ll give it three stars and recommend it, but don’t blindly follow all the advice – listen to yourself… Just sitting and thinking the right way won’t help, unfortunately.
Other Reviews
Other reviews of mine on the topic:
My main takeaway from reading this book is that you won’t understand what a manipulator is – it’s you!… It’s a useful book with relevant stories and solutions to the problem… I’d recommend Jerry Coyne’s book when you want to read something useful – it made me think constantly, despite the tough writing style. I’ll definitely recommend the book! I’ve finally figured out how to turn a client into a fan, but the information isn’t new, so I’ll share everything in my review… I read this book for months and almost died from boredom, but my experience with Gestalt therapy was unsuccessful – it happened, though… I read this book for half a year and didn’t regret it once – it helped me deal with depression and changed my perspective on life!… Our potential is endless, but remember that you can achieve amazing results if you can overcome your fears and ditch your preconceptions. I loved this book so much more than anything else in it, you won’t find any useful info - it all boils down to…

live_helpFeatured FAQ

What's the book about?

The Man Who Wanted to Be Happy follows a man's quest for happiness, exploring the ups and downs of life and relationships.

Who's the author?

The book is written by Laurent Gunther, a relatively unknown author in the literary world.

What's the book's rating on LiveLib?

The Man Who Wanted to Be Happy has a rating of 4.2 on LiveLib, indicating a generally positive reception from readers.

What's the book's age restriction?

The book is recommended for readers 16 and older due to some mature themes and language.

What's the book's cost?

The e-book version of The Man Who Wanted to Be Happy costs 259 rub, while the paperback version costs 371 rub.

Where can I buy the book?

You can buy The Man Who Wanted to Be Happy on various marketplaces, including Labyrinth, Chayka City, and Litres.

What's the book's genre?

The Man Who Wanted to Be Happy is classified as a work of literary fiction, exploring themes of happiness, relationships, and personal growth.

Is the book available in e-book format?

Yes, The Man Who Wanted to Be Happy is available in e-book format, making it easy to read on a variety of devices.

What's the book's page count?

The e-book version of The Man Who Wanted to Be Happy has approximately 160 pages on my phone.

check_circlePros

  • •A quick and easy read, perfect for a lazy Sunday
  • •The author's writing style is engaging and easy to follow
  • •The story is relatable, even if it doesn't quite hit the mark
  • •The e-book format made it easy to read on my phone
  • •The author explores some interesting themes, even if they're not particularly original
  • •The book's themes of relationships, personal growth, and the human condition are definitely worth exploring

cancelCons

  • •The story didn't quite resonate with me, and I didn't find it particularly memorable
  • •The characters were decent, but not particularly well-developed
  • •The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises
  • •The themes, while interesting, were not particularly original or thought-provoking
  • •The writing style, while engaging, was not particularly complex or nuanced
  • •The book didn't leave me feeling particularly satisfied or fulfilled
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