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A-maze-ing Laughter statues in Vancouver, B.C. By Sonja Bjelland

It’s a brilliant marketing move.

The creators of the movie “Happy” have declared Saturday World Happy Day. In celebration, they are having yoga studios, movie theatres and campuses across the world show the movie.

I had a chance to see this film at The Yoga Barn back in April when I was in Bali and recommend you check it out if there’s a screening near you. It looks at how cultures interpret happiness and what science says makes people happy. There’s even a showing at the Lululemon store here in Colorado Springs so double check because there really could be one near you.

But this marketing effort isn’t just a ploy. It’s doing what the science proves ­– happiness often comes from a connected community, according to this Wall Street Journal article about the movie. It’s not only marketing a movie about being happy, it’s creating happiness as well.

And it’s working, the article said the movie will be screened in 40 countries on six continents thanks to one in Antarctica. The effort is to get people into groups of 5 or more and have them do something outside their comfort zone, both things that science has proven make people happy.

This movie comes at a time when multiple books tout what makes us happy and this course of study is becoming more and more popular. So today I’m listing a few books for you all to study happiness and figure out what you can to do.

There’s no shortage of books on the subject these days so this is just a sampling. If you have a favorite that’s not listed, leave a comment to let everyone know it’s also a good read. And from all that I’ve read, get started now by putting a smile on your face and lower your expectations. Yep, I’m serious.

• The Geography of Bliss by Eric Wiener took a similar trek as the movie in visiting countries that rate at ends of the “happiness scale,” (yes it exists) and finding out why. It’s more in depth than the movie and I appreciate the former NPR foreign correspondent’s wry sense of humor.
• The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky looks at the science of happiness and how we can all apply it to our everyday lives. She’s a professor at the University of California – Riverside, where I used to live. And her name is Sonja. Oh yeah, and she’s quoted extensively in “Happy” the movie.
• The Art of Happiness by His Holiness Dalai Lama, a classic. Really, need I say more. It’s the Dalai Lama talking about happiness. Expert advice for sure.
• The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin takes all this science and ancient wisdom and puts it to the test. During her studies, she tried all the recommendations on how to be happy and offers practical advice on what worked for her. Her thoughts continue online with regular musings and advice on how to live with more levity.