Happy Lies

How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World

De: Melissa Dougherty

Narrado por: Melissa Dougherty

Read by the author.

In this groundbreaking book, popular apologist Melissa Dougherty helps us understand how our society got to be so toxically subjective, why endless positivity is inherently destructive, and how we can live with faithful truth and genuine love in these self-obsessed times.

Melissa Dougherty skillfully diagnoses the issue and provides the cure: the authentic and life-giving truth of the Christian worldview. - Wesley Huff

Have you ever wondered how we ended up in a world where personal feelings could become the authority for reality? Or why so many of us are on a relentless pursuit for happiness yet somehow feel more exhausted and sadder than ever? You're not alone.

Melissa deftly traces the roots of today's social chaos back to a little-known (but very influential) 1800s philosophy known as New Thought. A former follower of its teachings, Melissa provides clarity and compassion mixed with a dash of loving snark as she exposes New Thought's deceptions and its many concerning tendrils within the church and our "self-help" culture.

You'll be shocked, grieved, and encouraged as you learn:

• How you can experience true freedom, hope, and peace instead of the world's counterfeits
• How an anti-God ideology so easily hijacked Christian-sounding ideas
• Why thinking positively is entirely different from the unbiblical and burdensome "positive thought" movement
• Why fake "authenticity" short-circuits real redemption
• How understanding the New Thought mindset can help us share our faith more effectively

Uncover a dangerous ideology that nearly everyone has met, yet few of us can name, in order to better understand our culture and joyfully live faithful to the gospel that is so much better than our world's Happy Lies.

A diagram can be found in the audiobook companion PDF download.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Melissa Dougherty (P)2025 Zondervan

Excellent!

Very well researched and insightful. I expected to know quite a bit of the content already, but Melissa Dougherty really makes some connections I hadn't noticed and presents a lot of information that really helped me understand this topic better. Oh, and great narration!

So many Christians fall for these false teachings.

Learning how easy a follower of Christ can easily fall victim to the lies of new thought is so helpful coming from Melissa since she lived it and did come to true salvation. I have family that has fallen into this for various reasons. I now feel confident in how to reach them as the Holy Spirit leads.

All Too Familiar

I was raised in New Thought belief, although when I found the TRUTH of Jesus Christ I identified it as New Age. Thanks to Melissa I now have the history and better understanding of the New Thought belief I was once followed. Thank you Melissa for following God and bringing this truth to believers. I hope to take up the challenge you gave at the end of this book to help others see the happy lies of the deceiver.

A pervasive lie that needs to be exposed

Really appreciated this book. New Age and New Thought were interchangeable in my mind but nope this (New thought) is worse and sounds oh so Christian. Great book!

Wake up to the lies

Very good angles and perspectives on our current struggles as followers of Christ. The Bible has been broken up to fit the modern day when in reality we need to be broken for the same Lord that has always reigned in glory.

Truth

A needed breakdown on truth and the deception happening through the twisting of Scripture by the outlined movements in order to disguise lies as Biblical truth.

So good

All the study/research I would’ve wanted to do is combined concisely in a way that makes sense in this book. I still found myself doing extensive research and pausing to process lol because that’s just who I am. Processing is encouraged. If you’ve been influenced by New Thought at all ‘Happy Lies’ will cause you to wrestle and come back to Jesus and scripture! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think it’s so necessary right now!

Genuine and truly a unique perspective

Melissa completely rocked this book, both as author and narrator. My Audible library has over 500 books, so I’ve heard a few narrators, she knocked it out of the park with a sparkle in her voice and a smile behind the phrases.

Every chapter seemed to spark another mind-blowing insight as she articulates the spirit of the age… New Thought…

In my late teens I stumbled upon Ralph Waldo Emerson in a bookstore and thought I discovered the most wonderful writing ever. I even memorized full paragraphs of the essay on Self Reliance. Wow, Melissa seemed to have tracked my philosophical and spiritual journey to a T, including Think and Grow Rich. Especially powerful is her handling of the fact that NEW THOUGHT PRACTICES WORK!! But the price is hidden and deceptive.

I’m 61 years old now and though I’ve rejected those philosophies and cling deeply to God‘s Holy word, her uncovering and labeling of the New Thought movement is a powerful weapon to dismantle the deceitful philosophies of the enemy. Thanks Melissa for following the prompting of the Holy Spirit to write this book. 🙌

Learn the truth!!

An easy read on the truth of the Gospel. Thank You Melissa for your work, dedication and love of sharing the true Gospel.

God doesn’t change our hearts, He gives us a new heart

Awesome listen about the truth of God’s Word and how people have twisted it and used it for their own purposes rather than allow Jesus and God’s Word to penetrate into our hearts and minds for His purposes.