Happy Lies

How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard Of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World

By: Melissa Dougherty

Narrated by: Melissa Dougherty

Read by the author.

In this groundbreaking book, popular apologist Melissa Dougherty helps us understand how our society got to be so toxically subjective, why endless positivity is inherently destructive, and how we can live with faithful truth and genuine love in these self-obsessed times.

Melissa Dougherty skillfully diagnoses the issue and provides the cure: the authentic and life-giving truth of the Christian worldview. - Wesley Huff

Have you ever wondered how we ended up in a world where personal feelings could become the authority for reality? Or why so many of us are on a relentless pursuit for happiness yet somehow feel more exhausted and sadder than ever? You're not alone.

Melissa deftly traces the roots of today's social chaos back to a little-known (but very influential) 1800s philosophy known as New Thought. A former follower of its teachings, Melissa provides clarity and compassion mixed with a dash of loving snark as she exposes New Thought's deceptions and its many concerning tendrils within the church and our "self-help" culture.

You'll be shocked, grieved, and encouraged as you learn:

• How you can experience true freedom, hope, and peace instead of the world's counterfeits
• How an anti-God ideology so easily hijacked Christian-sounding ideas
• Why thinking positively is entirely different from the unbiblical and burdensome "positive thought" movement
• Why fake "authenticity" short-circuits real redemption
• How understanding the New Thought mindset can help us share our faith more effectively

Uncover a dangerous ideology that nearly everyone has met, yet few of us can name, in order to better understand our culture and joyfully live faithful to the gospel that is so much better than our world's Happy Lies.

A diagram can be found in the audiobook companion PDF download.

Extremely timely

I’m getting this for everyone I know. Incredible. I’ve been looking for this for a long time as I’ve noticed so many current spiritual, cult, and occult practices as well as feelings based Christian denominations reach the same point and share the same language once you get past the veneer.

It's all connected, but it's no conspiracy haha

What stood out to me the most was how New Thought concepts are woven throughout the greater American culture, the church, and society. Mrs. Daughtry makes an excellent case for her position using reasons that can be plainly seen, and connects them with common themes that have taken the culture by storm. It's connection to postmodernism and our anti-truth world are compelling! Although the effects of the New Thoughy ideology are influential and widespread, God has remained faithful and has brought people to the truth who can now point out these lies. Praise the Lord!
This is a personal note inspired by the book: Jesus is truth, and those who reject truth reject Him; therefore, those who assert their own truth make themselves to be their own gods by asserting their own precepts.
I greatly enjoyed this work! Mrs. Daughtry made it easy for me to follow in 3 days while dealing with a cold, so that's a win for my sick-boggled brain and a huge credit to Melissa and God's hand on her. :>🫶
I look forward to any works Mrs. Daughtry decides to make in the future, if any!! Have a lovely day, and may Jesus Christ bless you with knowledge of the truth and your relationship deepen!

So important to see how dangerous New Thought is!

I loved this book! It was witty and funny, but also serious to the fact of how dangerous new thought is. She points out what New Thought is, how to spot it, and who the main people that promote it. Worth the time to listen or read this book, definitely an eye opener, highly recommended!

This is a must read for Christian women.

Very well written and narrated. It is thought provoking and well researched. To have discernment with compassion is a rare gift that this author clearly has. I will be handing this book out like candy to my mom friends.

Eye opening

I think everyone should read this book!

I knew I had trauma around church and as a coping mechanism I had put god in a pretty little box with labels that fit my agenda. I didn’t want to hurt so I closed my eyes and accidentally went the wrong way. I believed the lies because they were happy.

God recently put it on my heart to seek the truth and to study the Bible. This book was recommended to me over a week before I got it. For a week I kept praying and asking for answers to so many questions. And every time this book would come to mind. I wish I would have listened sooner. My eyes are open now and I can’t un see it!