For as long as I can remember it’s always been about the successful student. How to get the best test scores to get into the best schools. How to get the best grades to get the best jobs. Best this… best that. Achieve the best, and you will be successful.
Ah… but somewhere along the path, people started figuring out that a financial and societal success doesn’t necessarily mean happiness. You see it in movies and read about it in books all the time. The super rich or super smart guy who is driven to the edge of his life because he’s not satisfied with the choices he’s made in life.
This book, The Happy Student, written by Daniel Wong, is different in the sense that he speaks about the happy student. That was the first thing that attracted me to this book. The title focused on happiness rather than success. Although the subtitle does say, “5 Steps to Academic Fulfillment and Success” (you gotta sell books somehow, right?).
All joking aside, the book really isn’t about becoming the next millionaire or the best surgeon, it’s about figuring out what makes you happy and helping you be successful in that. Believe it or not, there is a formula for being a happy student, and when you’re a happy student, you’re a successful one. Maybe not to society, but to yourself. Ultimately, that’s what we live life for and that’s what I want for my kids. 
The author of this post was provided with a complimentary copy of the book reviewed, but the opinions expressed are his own.
Anhtuan Doventry is a dorky dad to four of the greatest kids and a silly husband to the most wonderful wife. He lives in Kingwood, TX, and does IT management work for his day job. Otherwise, he spends his time reading, writing, and coaching as many sports as he can. He also spends a little bit of time researching and reading about tech items (although I think others in the family would argue that it’s a tad bit more than a “little bit of time”).
Anhtuan is excited about contributing to The Father Life. To find out more about Anhtuan, go to http://www.aquickremark.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/aquickremark.