May 9, 2026
Hello,
I was talking to my mom this morning. She said she had been blessed with a happy disposition. She’d been happy since she was an infant.
That’s an interesting idea. Is it our genes that dictate our happiness?
Naturally this sent me off to check Google Scholar to see what science had to say about it.
It turns out mom is on the right track. There’s solid evidence that part of what we call “happiness” is influenced by inherited biology—including aspects of brain chemistry. Studies of twins, including those raised apart, suggest that roughly a third (give or take) of the differences in how happy people tend to feel can be linked to genetics. Some people really are born closer to emotional equilibrium than others.
But—and this is important—that doesn’t mean happiness is guaranteed. Or predetermined. Or locked in.
What we inherit isn’t “happiness” per se—it’s a tendency. Things like how strongly our brains respond to reward, how quickly we recover from stress, or how sensitive we are to negative emotions. Think of it more like a baseline setting than a fixed outcome.
Life still has a lot to say about how things turn out.
Relationships matter. Health matters. Sleep matters (a lot). Purpose matters. Even luck gets a vote. Our brains are wonderfully adaptable, and they continue to change in response to how we live, what we practice, and how we cope.
I believe I share that “happiness tendency” and for that I am grateful. But along with the balanced brain chemistry, I know I am also a product of modelling. My parents worked at being happy.
They did things because they enjoyed them. They challenged themselves. They embraced hobbies and friends. They worked hard and achieved real success.
And they read.
Science has something to say about the relationship between reading and happiness too.
Reading reliably reduces stress. It shifts the nervous system out of “flight-or-flight”. Neuroscience research suggests that narrative engagement activates dopamine‑related reward pathways, particularly through anticipation, curiosity, and resolution, while also involving systems tied to long‑term thinking and emotional control. As an added plus, fiction strengthens social-emotional brain networks—activating empathy, perspective-taking, and emotional understanding.
So, if you want to be happy—it’s simple. Read a book. And finish it.
Happy reading.
Warm regards,
Paula Baker (and Aidan Davies)
P.S. We’d love to hear from you about your experience with reading and happiness.
P.P.S. Searching for your next great read?
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