The Fun Habit

How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life

By: Mike Rucker PhD

Narrated by: Mike Rucker PhD

Discover the latest scientific evidence for the potent and revitalizing value of fun and how to make having fun a habitual and authentic part of your daily life with “this well-researched and impressive guide” (BookPage).

Doesn’t it seem that the more we seek happiness, the more elusive it becomes?

There is an easy fix: fun is an action you can take here and now, practically anywhere, anytime. Through research and science, we know fun is enormously beneficial to our physical and psychological well-being, yet fun’s absence from our modern lives is striking. Whether you’re a frustrated high-achiever trying to find a better work-life balance or someone who is seeking relief from life’s overwhelming challenges, it is time you gain access to the best medicine available.

“A masterful distillation of science and personal experience” (Nir Eyal, author of Hooked), The Fun Habit explains how you can build having fun into an actionable and effortless habit and why doing so will help you become a healthier, more joyful, more productive person. In the vein of Year of Yes, 10% Happier, and Atomic Habits, The Fun Habit features “practical tips, tools, and tactics for bringing fun into our lives starting now” (Dr. Olav Sorenson, UCLA professor of sociology).

©2022 Michael Rucker. All rights reserved (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Amazing!!!

Don’t hesitate. Read this book and make fun a habit today- what do you have to loose?

Magnificent read!

Dr. Rucker clearly explains the science behind having more fun and excitement every day. His PLAY Model both simplified my life and added a great quantity of pleasure to it. It's abundantly clear that Dr. Rucker really did his research; I loved hearing the data from so many different fields of study. This book made me feel more motivated after reading it, and more alive after putting the words into action. Bravo!

Book Club Approved! 🤓👏

I organize a professional reading book club and this was a deviation from our normal reads. But it was a hit. We all got so much from reading it, and the fact that we read it together, makes it even more fun. It helped myself and others recognize opportunities from joy in our lives. I definitely felt more motivated to turn the mundane into something fresh and exciting. Moreover, the strategies to avoid burnt out has proved to be very useful. Thank you so much for writing this book. ❤️Encourage everyone to read it.

Nicely done! Worth the time you spend listening!

Fun and play is important throughout the lifespan. This book is a nice blend of research and personal story that supports developing your own fun habit.

This is a book almost everyone can benefit from.

If you already no how to live your best life them maybe you can skip this one but I have yet to meet anyone that couldn’t have at least a little more fun. Mike Rucker points out many tips and tricks that we all should know but probably don’t to maximize the fun you have in life. If it’s time to hang up your RBF and start smiling more often this is a great place to start.

worth read

Lots of good information and relatable, enjoyed listening to the book and what the author had to say

Must-Listen for the Ambitious

I struggle a lot with the weight of meaningfulness in the things I do professionally and for recreation. This book provided some really valuable insight on how to enjoy life without eschewing the concept of “purpose.”

Truly inspiring and we'll researched

Loved this book. Made fun feel like something important for your life as opposed to an extra or frivolous. I really appreciated all of the stories and scientific underpinning behind the claims, as well as actions I could take right now to change my life.

So good

The Fun habit provides a uniquely interesting way of looking at life. We are all so burnt out these days. We all could benefit from adding more ‘fun’ to our days. This book breaks it down and gives you actionable items to walk away with. Give it a read.

A comprehensive manual on everything fun

You're either going to love or hate this book. If you're expecting a light, whimsical, entertaining book, I think you're going to be unpleasantly surprised. Also, I listened to some of this with my partner whose ideology is rooted in stoicism and the idea that progress requires sacrifice. If you are someone who might be triggered by a counterargument to this type of mindset, you're likely going to be turned off by this book.

I, however, loved it! It is a very deep dive into why fun is critical for our well-being, with enough research to win over anyone who listens with an open mind. The first couple of chapters are probably a little too long, but once you make it to the SAVOR chapter, Rucker begins to build the case that fun is not about shunning hard work or responsibility. Instead, he shows how integrating fun into our daily grind actually usually makes us more productive, fulfilled, and happier.

What I really love about this book is it is ultimately about self-improvement through the strategic pursuit of joy. Rucker offers practical advice to make fun a habit instead of it being an afterthought or something that happens once everything else is done. Seems like more and more of us are just on autopilot, and I appreciated all the nuggets in the book that helped me ask better questions. I now use a few of his strategies daily, and they're definitely paying off. The book does almost feel academic at times because of the amount of science that it cites, so again, it's probably not for you if you only have a casual interest in the topic. You're signing up for an eight-hour journey where, when it comes to fun, no stone is left unturned. The amount of notes I have stored while listening probably would have made it smarter to buy the print edition.

Anyway, personally, I loved it. My partner calls it standard self-help.