The Happiness of Pursuit

Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life

By: Chris Guillebeau

Narrated by: George Newbern

A remarkable guide to the quests that give our lives meaning—and how to find your own—from the New York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup and 100 Side Hustles

“If you like complacency and mediocrity, do not read this book. It’s dangerously inspiring.”—A. J. Jacobs, author of The Know-It-All

When he set out to visit all of the planet’s countries by age thirty-five, compulsive goal-seeker Chris Guillebeau never imagined that his journey’s biggest revelation would be how many people like himself exist—each pursuing a challenging quest. These quests are as diverse as humanity itself, involving exploration, the pursuit of athletic or artistic excellence, or battling against injustice and poverty. Everywhere that Chris visited he found ordinary people working toward extraordinary goals, making daily down payments on their dreams. These “questers” included a suburban mom pursuing a wildly ambitious culinary project, a DJ producing the world’s largest symphony, a young widower completing the tasks his wife would never accomplish—and scores of others writing themselves into the record books.

The more Chris spoke with these strivers, the more he began to appreciate the direct link between questing and long-term happiness, and he was compelled to complete a comprehensive study of the phenomenon. In The Happiness of Pursuit, he draws on interviews with hundreds of questers, revealing their secret motivations, their selection criteria, the role played by friends and family, their tricks for solving logistics, and the importance of documentation. Equally fascinating is Chris’s examination of questing’s other side. What happens after the summit is climbed, the painting hung, the endurance record broken, the at-risk community saved?

A book that challenges each of us to take control—to make our lives be about something while at the same time remaining clear-eyed about the commitment—The Happiness of Pursuit will inspire readers of every age and aspiration. It’s a playbook for making your life count.

“The Happiness of Pursuit is smart, honest, and dangerous. Why dangerous? Because it is as practical as it is inspiring. You won’t just be daydreaming about your quest—you’ll be packing for it!”—Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, author of Daring Greatly

©2014 Chris Guillebeau (P)2014 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Chris Guillebeau is a rare combination of sage and adventurer, and The Happiness of Pursuit is both a distillation of his wisdom and a demonstration of his—and others’—passion for the questing life. The passion Chris chronicles is infectious, and it becomes even more so as we read about life-focusing action delivering deep meaning. Even if you prefer never to leave your armchair, this book will inspire you to take a beautiful voyage— one that can be either physical or mental as you chase the thrill of steady accomplishment.”—Susan Cain, cofounder of the Quiet Revolution and New York Times bestselling author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

“It’s not easy to dream big—and it’s not easy to turn that dream into reality. The brilliant Chris Guillebeau provides the essential blueprint for those of us for whom the happiness of pursuit—such as Chris’s successful quest to visit every country in the world—is a key part of the pursuit of happiness.”—Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project

“Guillebeau’s stories, biographies, observations, and personal insights will get you thinking about a greater purpose. And there’s a lot of how-to in here. If you’ve been wondering ‘What it’s all about?’ this book could change your life.”—Rita Golden Gelman, author of Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World

Wheels Turning

Entertaining quests taken on by so many folks at different stages in life for unique reasons. Sprinkled with advice a humor.

My quest is out there somewhere.

This is inspiring if nothing else. It restores the idea of meaning and purpose and will definitely inspire you to do something with your life. No matter how big or small. Thank you for these tales.

Motivating

Might be a few quests that I couldn't relate to but I get the overall message and I totally loved it. Great book to read to start a new year in a few way!

Some will find inspiring...

Others not so much. Well read and delivered no doubt. People less familiar with the concept of "questing" may find the book inspiring and informative. I found it a little flat and clinical.

Always inspiring!

I have listened to Chris's books over and over and over again every time I need to be inspired to action when my life gets too boring and monotonous. This book has done that again.

Great Listen

Awesome book! It will inspire you to go out and find a quest of your own! It's a must read.

Good Story, wrong narrator

Would you try another book from Chris Guillebeau and/or George Newbern?

I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if I hadn't just finished other books that have similar themes that are just much better. I think the overall story and advice were good but I recommend many other books (Grit for instance) that offer a much more fleshed out idea than pure conjecture in this book. Secondly, the narrator was just so wrong for this book. I couldn't hear any passion or excitement in the tone or voice. This book offers stories more than actual fact, so why didn't the narrator show some passion in conveying these stories? He read it like a science book, when in reality, this book is more of a novel.

Awesome!

I’ve had lists, goals and quests my whole life. This book helped me amplify and clarify my current ambitions. It was a fun and inspiring read!

great inspiration to do something new

I host got back from a few months traveling around EurAsia and heard this guy on a travel podcast. the idea of quests resonated with me... especially after coming back to attempt some sense of normalcy.

ok book but definately not a page turner

Would you try another book from Chris Guillebeau and/or George Newbern?

Decent book but definitely not a case of hanging on for the next sentence. I listened from start to finish but found it difficult in parts. There were definitely good parts & the author has a fantastic person story. However, many of those showcased we just a bit boring.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The author visiting every country in the world was very interesting, the least interesting were many of the stories showcased.

Would you listen to another book narrated by George Newbern?

I am neutral on this. I would not going specifically looking for his reads but would not shy away either.

Could you see The Happiness of Pursuit being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

no

Any additional comments?

not awful by any means but for my taste a bit boring.