Can I really be happy?

Happiness. Something everyone wants. So when I spotted Paul McKenna's 'I Can Make You Happy' sitting on the sale shelf in Sainsbury's, I thought 'why not?'. I mean, he sounds pretty confident doesn't he? I don't consider myself a particularly unhappy or depressed person, but if this man knows the secrets behind happiness, I damn well want to know too!

The book comes with a complimentary hypnotherapy CD, narrated by Mr McKenna himself. I'm all for gimmicks, so before reading a single word I popped the disc into my laptop, stuck my headphones on and awaited the magic of happiness. In the first few minutes McKenna explained that the purpose of the CD is to send you in to a trance and not the sleep. Well, that's funny. Three hours later, I woke up groggy and disorientated - not quite the refreshed, invigorated feeling he'd promised.

Despite the unsuccessful first attempt of hypnotherapy, still intrigued about obtaining ultimate happiness, I settled down with the book and delved in to the first chapter. Suddenly his title is not so convincing. Apparently he can't get rid you of all pain, difficulty, irritation or suffering in your life and neither can he make you permanently ecstatic all day long every day. I started to wonder exactly what I paid for! On top of that, some people McKenna has worked with didn't even notice that they were becoming happier until they looked back on their progress. Does that mean this book can only make me retrospectively happy? Great.

Right, back to the book.

Stay tuned...