This book has a happy ending

By Darrell Laurant

Published: September 7, 2008

Doyle Gentry learned a lot about being happy through years of dealing with people who weren’t. After all, nobody makes an appointment with a counselor if they’re on top of the world.

So, having achieved a certain amount of critical success with his previous book, “Anger Management for Dummies,” the Forest resident recently came out with a follow-up in the same mode: “Happiness for Dummies.”

“I first got hooked up with the ‘Dummies’ folks,” he said, “when I noticed that most of their books were about fixing computers and building brick walls and things like that. They were a little weak in the self-help and people categories.”

On a whim, Gentry proposed his anger book to the company (Wiley Publishing), and they bit. And they were obviously happy with his effort, because last year they asked him to do one on happiness. That, in turn, made Gentry happy.

“This latest one is part of a new trend toward positive psychology,” Gentry said. “After doing a couple of books on anger, I wanted to try something a little lighter, and I like the ‘Dummy’ books because they have a formula, a stencil, to work within.”

Still, Gentry’s latest subject has to be a little intimidating. When you think about it, the search for happiness is perhaps what drives us most. It’s even written into the Declaration of Independence.

“Every human being has what it takes to be happy,” Gentry said. “It’s a choice.”

Of course, no one is going to be happy all the time.

“It’s not a permanent state,” said Gentry, “but we can cherish the times when it arrives.”

Beyond that, he has observed in his 40 years as a counselor (since 1982 in Lynchburg), outside things aren’t guaranteed to make us happy.

“As a counselor, I saw a lot of well-off people,” he said, “so obviously having money doesn’t necessarily translate into happiness.”

Except that you’ll have more money to pay your counselor.

Other unhappy people think that if only they could find the right job, or retire from the one they have, or connect with that special person, their frown would flip rightside up.

“I think one of the reasons so many young people get divorced,” Gentry said, “is that they expect the other person to make them happy. When that doesn’t happen, the pack their bags.”

The promise of happiness in retirement can also prove to be a mirage, noted the recently retired Gentry.

“You have more freedom and more choices,” he said, “but you have to do something with your time. To me, the key is the two ‘P’s’ in ‘happiness.’ I like to think they stand for ‘people’ and ‘purpose’ — keep optimistic people around you and find a purpose for your life.”

Or maybe eat some Mexican food.

“I went through a period of depression some years ago,” Gentry said, “and I made it a point to eat at La Carreta, because the atmosphere was upbeat.”

Gentry credits Lynchburg College education professor Ken West with easing the transition for academic journal writer to self-help expert.

“He was kind enough to read over the chapters of my first book,” Gentry said, “and he was very honest.”

On Sept. 13, Gentry will be one of eight authors doing a mass book signing at Givens Books.

He’s happy about that.