Exactly what it says on the tin. Short read, but gives quite some to think about for us not used to art. ( )

A very small book with much content...it was a joy to read. Nothing of what I was expecting. I truly wish there was more to it. A pocket book..easy to place in a purse...lovely to take anywhere you go. How Art Can Make You Happy actually made me happy reading it. Tiny pages...filled with snippets of quotes and thoughts on art. I thought it was just lovely and I praise the author Bridget Watson Payne for creating it. I'd love to see more of these little treasures by her.

If a little book can make you appreciate Art and have you wanting to know more about it....then it's a book I highly recommend.

Thanks as always to the great peeps of LibraryThing and to Bridget Watson Payne for my free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave. ( )

A book about why you shouldn't feel guilty about like art and enjoying it on your own terms is up my alley. But that is preaching to the choir in my case. It is unclear who this book is written for. It seems to be a gift book (pocket-sized, quick read, cutesy formatting), but I wouldn't know who to give it to. Art lovers will have bought in, art haters won't be convinced, and I think those in the middle might want more than the platitudes in this book. Having some actual art in the book would help.

Finally, I agree with the reviewer who said "the small gray print on yellow pages and the small yellow print on gray pages was difficult to see." Not great from a usability perspective. ( )

How Art Can Make You Happy is a good read. It is a book to inspire all people to explore art. Art can open up you mind and your heart. Many people believe art is only for certain types of people. Those who go to museums or galleries and study every detail in each art work or those who pursue scholarly art degrees. The author show that art is for everyone. Pick and choose what you like and what speaks to you. You don't have to visit a museum or gallery unless you want to. The book provides a basic understanding of some basic art terms to make you feel more comfortable when discussing art with other people. How Art Can Make You Happy is a quick fun read and you will learn something about art in the process. For a beginning art lover.

An interesting little book on how to enjoy art. Instead of looking for details on art pieces and knowing a great deal about genres and different schools of art, the author encourages the viewer to simply look at things you enjoy, and just enjoy them. Like Mr. Bean in the 1997 movie where, as a museum guard, he is sent to America as an art expert, he said "I sit and look at paintings.", which sends the art experts into expressions of joy at such a succinct definition of art. Take time to visit art museums and galleries, and enjoy what you see. The zen of art will then take over.
One area I wish the author had expanded on was on how to interpret art, and how to articulate and understand what you do see to yourself. Figuring out the connection between what you really like, and what you really dislike, and you own personality, is really hard to do without some guidance.
I also have to agree with other reviewers that the printing and publishing of this book stinks. While the pocket size is good, the print and font sizes are too small, and the ink and background colors are not only terrible on the eye, but also add needlessly to the cost of production.
One of my stumpy points about this book is who to recommend it for. Certainly it is a good gift book between artsy friends. And a good book as a high school or college graduate who has a vague interest in art. It is also a good book for public and school libraries. I think it is also a good book for art school libraries and museum bookstores as well. There are few enough non-scholastic books written on the enjoyment of art for non-art majors, and books for the average Joe on how to enjoy art are really very scarce. This book hits a kind or niche place in art lit. ( )