The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness

By: Paula Poundstone

Narrated by: Paula Poundstone

Is there a secret to happiness? Beloved comedian Paula Poundstone conducts a series of "thoroughly unscientific" experiments to find out, offering herself up as a guinea pig and recording her data for the benefit of all humankind. Armed with her unique brand of self-deprecating wit and the scientific method, in each chapter Paula tries out a different get-happy hypothesis. She gets in shape with tae kwon do. She drives fast behind the wheel of a Lamborghini. She communes with nature while camping with her daughter. Swing dancing? Meditation? Volunteering? Does any of it bring her happiness? And, more important, can the happiness last when she returns to the daily demands of her chaotic life? The results are irreverent, laugh-out-loud funny, and pointedly relevant to our times.

The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness is both a hilarious story of jumping into new experiences with both feet and a surprisingly poignant tale of a working mother raising three kids. Paula is a master of her craft. Her comedic brilliance, served up in abundance in this book, has been compared to that of George Carlin, Tina Fey, Lily Tomlin, and David Sedaris.

©2017 Paula Poundstone (P)2017 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Comedian Paula Poundstone wanted to know if there's a secret to happiness, so she became the test subject of her totally unscientific research. Listeners are the beneficiaries. In each chapter, she tests a new hypothesis for happiness, starting with getting fit with taekwondo and moving to camping with her daughter, dancing, and spending more time with her family. Along with scientific-sounding evaluations and analyses comes the wisdom, laced with her canny observations and sparkling wit, and delivered in her trademark deadpan tone." ( AudioFile)

As always, Paula nails it

What made the experience of listening to The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness the most enjoyable?

The question of what makes this book on Happiness by one of the funniest women in America enjoyable to listen to is ironic in a Poundstone kind of way. Dark times call for laughter, and Poundstone delivers in spades. I always buy her books to listen to, as well as hardcopy, because her delivery is amazing. I haven't finish listening yet, but this is one I'll listen to over and over again. Thanks, funny lady!

I absolutely loved this book

Paula writes from the heart and it is so funny in parts. I would love to be able to write like she does and it has also inspired me to be a better person too. This is one of the very few books I know I will listen to over and over again.

Comedian turned author and

An entertaining book especially with Paula Poundstone narrator. I think if she wasn't being the story teller, I never would have been able to follow the book's message.

Laughed so hard that I wanted another cat.

I feel like this is one of the only real life stories that is just real. She is so sarcastically great. I feel connected to her.

WONDERFUL WAY TO SPEND THE DAY WITH PAULA!

What did you love best about The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness?

I can't give you just one. Paula's voice and humor can brightened any moment or day. The topics she wrote about are so curretnt. They are things so many people struggle with, find joy in, and laugh about.
I adore this book and will recommended it to all!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Paula

What about Paula Poundstone’s performance did you like?

Everything! The way she weaved humor into human stories.

Any additional comments?

Thank you Paula for the wonderful woman that you are. Kind, empathy, love, generous, and so damn funny!

Small laughter and good insights

I enjoyed getting to learn a little bit more about Paula. The best part was there was no political crud in the book. She made me feel like she was actually searching for happiness. The spirit of trying a new adventure to see if you can find happiness is actually a little motivation for myself. I didn't like that she was repetitive in some of the details. I loved that she was descriptive though. She does a great job with her typical voice for the narration.

Excellent listen!

what a fun way to pass the time in my car. well worth the price.

It really made me laugh - and was filled with great stories and insights

I got this Audible book because I enjoy Paula Poundstone‘s work on NPR‘s “Wait, Wait. Don’t tell me.“ I needed a laugh, after reading a couple of more serious books. I absolutely got what I wanted. I very much enjoyed her thoughts and stories. Moreover, it makes me want to go see her perform in person! (Wink to Paula!)

Paula Poundstone is an Open Book

The courage it must take to write and then read a book that is so self effacing is astonishing to me. I find Paula Poundstone to be extremely funny and insightful, this was a voyeuristic view into her life with some things that I can't forget. I really enjoyed the book and her honest approach.

Paula is My Favorite Unscientist

I'm a fan of author-read comedy books, and Paula does not disappoint. This is part unscientific process, part memoir of raising teenagers.Be careful if listening to this book while driving. I had trouble seeing the road during Paula's description of meditation class because I was laughing so hard. Some may be put off by liberally "blue" language; I find it appropriate.