The Joys of Living is a classic self-help book which suggests many ways the reader can better appreciate life and acquire lasting happiness in day-to-day living. Marden points to various aspects of living which can confer a sense of meaning and happiness, from the friendships and connections we hold with others to the small pleasures we can experience by exercising our imaginations and being contented with a modest lot. Such thought processes lead to lasting satisfaction and happiness, and can dispel the restlessness native to the unhappy soul. The author also encourages a healthy work-life balance, noting that a person can find meaning if their work is purposeful or worthy of pride. The sense that recreation is earned, and the feeling of contribution to the world, are pointed out as attributes of joy. Marden puts forth the case that happiness and usefulness go hand-in-hand, and that taking effort to find joy in one's daily work is paramount to lasting joy.