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

It's all connected, but it's no conspiracy haha

What stood out to me the most was how New Thought concepts are woven throughout the greater American culture, the church, and society. Mrs. Daughtry makes an excellent case for her position using reasons that can be plainly seen, and connects them with common themes that have taken the culture by storm. It's connection to postmodernism and our anti-truth world are compelling! Although the effects of the New Thoughy ideology are influential and widespread, God has remained faithful and has brought people to the truth who can now point out these lies. Praise the Lord!
This is a personal note inspired by the book: Jesus is truth, and those who reject truth reject Him; therefore, those who assert their own truth make themselves to be their own gods by asserting their own precepts.
I greatly enjoyed this work! Mrs. Daughtry made it easy for me to follow in 3 days while dealing with a cold, so that's a win for my sick-boggled brain and a huge credit to Melissa and God's hand on her. :>🫶
I look forward to any works Mrs. Daughtry decides to make in the future, if any!! Have a lovely day, and may Jesus Christ bless you with knowledge of the truth and your relationship deepen!

So important to see how dangerous New Thought is!

I loved this book! It was witty and funny, but also serious to the fact of how dangerous new thought is. She points out what New Thought is, how to spot it, and who the main people that promote it. Worth the time to listen or read this book, definitely an eye opener, highly recommended!

This is a must read for Christian women.

Very well written and narrated. It is thought provoking and well researched. To have discernment with compassion is a rare gift that this author clearly has. I will be handing this book out like candy to my mom friends.

Extremely timely

I’m getting this for everyone I know. Incredible. I’ve been looking for this for a long time as I’ve noticed so many current spiritual, cult, and occult practices as well as feelings based Christian denominations reach the same point and share the same language once you get past the veneer.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.