Reaction paper analysis and synthesis

¶ … Happiness is a Choice by Barry Neil Kaufman. Specifically it will react to the book and the views of the author. The author begins his book with a simple statement. He says, "The way we choose to see the world creates the world we see" (Kaufman 5). That is the basic premise of his book. He believes that we can make any situation better by how we view it, and even the worst situations have something positive to give people or guide people. Some people might call his views naive or simple, but he gets his point across throughout the book, giving examples and showing people how to "choose" to be happy.

The author and his wife have actively pursued happiness for twenty years, and they find their transformation has empowered their lives. The author's views are that anyone can pursue happiness in their lives, and he wants to empower them to transform their own lives by understanding how to be truly happy in their lives, no matter what their situation. To prove their point, they drastically changed the way they viewed their young son with autism, and in turn, they changed his life for the better. Some readers might find the author overly positive or "Pollyanna" like, but the author shows that his methods produced results, not only in his family's lives, but in the lives of others, too. He writes, "A mute child who had never spoken learned to talk. A young boy crippled by a progressive genetic disease started to use his hands after three years of disuse" (Kaufman 15). Gradually, he shows that his system works and has radically changed lives, and that is the most important aspect of his book. He proves his techniques work, so the reader is more open to trying them on their own.

The author also strongly believes in a person's ability to change, and that change is imperative if these actions are going to produce happiness. People can learn to be happy, and can learn to look at life in a different way, and they can learn to look at life in different ways. He also believes that being happy can rub off on others. He writes, "No single energy can be more impactful on this planet than the joy and well-being emanating from one truly happy and loving person" (Kaufman 53). The author also gives readers the tools to create their own happiness, and it is clear that in his view, he believes his tools will work for anyone, no matter what type of situation they face. He shows that in the story of the family who lost their young son, and then bonded afterward, as they never had before.

The author's views are difficult to disagree with. While sometimes he sounds overly optimistic, he shows that his practices work, even in the most debilitating situations. It is hard to argue with that. It is also hard to argue with the idea of happiness. Just about everyone wants to be happy, and the author gives them the tools to find their own happiness. It is really hard to disagree with that, no matter how you view the author and his ideas. He might seem overly positive to some, but it is clear he believes in his views and they have helped many others, so who can really argue with choosing happiness?