Happy Lies Audiobook By Melissa Dougherty cover art

Happy Lies

How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

Happy Lies

By: Melissa Dougherty
Narrated by: Melissa Dougherty
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.49

Buy for $22.49

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Read by the author.

In this groundbreaking book, popular apologist Melissa Dougherty helps us understand how our society got to be so toxically subjective, why endless positivity is inherently destructive, and how we can live with faithful truth and genuine love in these self-obsessed times.

Melissa Dougherty skillfully diagnoses the issue and provides the cure: the authentic and life-giving truth of the Christian worldview. - Wesley Huff

Have you ever wondered how we ended up in a world where personal feelings could become the authority for reality? Or why so many of us are on a relentless pursuit for happiness yet somehow feel more exhausted and sadder than ever? You're not alone.

Melissa deftly traces the roots of today's social chaos back to a little-known (but very influential) 1800s philosophy known as New Thought. A former follower of its teachings, Melissa provides clarity and compassion mixed with a dash of loving snark as she exposes New Thought's deceptions and its many concerning tendrils within the church and our "self-help" culture.

You'll be shocked, grieved, and encouraged as you learn:

  • How you can experience true freedom, hope, and peace instead of the world's counterfeits
  • How an anti-God ideology so easily hijacked Christian-sounding ideas
  • Why thinking positively is entirely different from the unbiblical and burdensome "positive thought" movement
  • Why fake "authenticity" short-circuits real redemption
  • How understanding the New Thought mindset can help us share our faith more effectively

Uncover a dangerous ideology that nearly everyone has met, yet few of us can name, in order to better understand our culture and joyfully live faithful to the gospel that is so much better than our world's Happy Lies.

A diagram can be found in the audiobook companion PDF download.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Melissa Dougherty (P)2025 Zondervan
Apologetics Christian Living Christianity Religious Studies Spiritual Growth Theology
Thorough Research • Eye-opening Insights • Excellent Narration • Clear Explanations • Accessible Writing
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
This is probably one of the most important reads of our time, Melissa uncovers how our culture has clung to a teaching that probably nobody know of called new thought. I was raised in Christian Sciece which is a form of new thought, the author does an amazing job at disentangling truth from lie and how we came to believe it. The lies are everywhere and have effected everyone, those following a religion and those not. Consider reading this book if you want to uncover how culture and religion is lying to you, identify the lies and how to apply truth in its place.

The most important read of our time

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

The author takes her time explaining to detail what most in the church should research and expose. Many of this practices have made their way into our churchs, unchecked, under the blanked of innovation. Melissa goes deep to uncover the roots and hidden agendas of this deceitful movement. 100% recommend this book to ministry leaders and everyone alike.

Thoughtful warning to the church!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

An eye opening look at a movement that is probably in your church right now. A must read for anyone who truly wants to follow the real Jesus.

A timely book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

loved this book! Melissa does an amazing job tracking the origins and impact of New Thought ideologies on Christianity. She is gracious, yet firm in rooting out the wickedness of these ideas and presents her case in a thoughtful, yet accessible way.

Large Scope...Detailed Analysis

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

A must read for any Christian, or someone looking to leave the new age/new thought or Word of Faith. Always a good reminder to be aware of the topics Melissa touches on.

Excellent!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

The book is well researched and gives and honest explanation of the false teachings of New Thought and its infiltration into the church and culture. At the same time Melissa delivers the bad news in a very kind caring way. She also did an excellent job of reading it. it is well worth your time. It was for me.

Honest and Kind

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This book was a great introduction into new thought, having followed the author on her YouTube channel for many years I was glad to hear that she we tackling the subject head on with a book now. A great listen! Full of information, interviews, and what we as the church need to do as we love those in new thought.

Amazing book on a subject the church needs to know about

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This book was eye opening and made a lot of sense. We are easily deceived to believe lies masked as truths! The realization that the fall in the garden to current world temptation is the same. We are very easily and sadly deceived. Once you know I pray there is no unknowing! A true gift to every Christian who is not afraid to hear truth and entertain they may be misguided in their faith journey.

Eye Opening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This book was very eye opening to the lies and deception that has crept into the church. It explains the strange behaviour that we see in mega churches. Melissa’s research is very interesting and has helped me understand why the prosperity gospel is so popular, where they draw their ideas from, and why Pastors are teaching the very false “little gods” doctrine. In a world obsessed with wealth, power, and prosperity, it’s not hard to see why this “new thought” movement is so popular. I am grateful for believer’s like Melissa who seek out truth and stand firm on the true Word of God. I highly recommend you read this book.

Exposing the lie of the new thought in church today

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I like the author's writing style and humor. This is a well-written book defining an ideology that is literally everywhere right now and has pulled some of my loved ones away from the One, True God and into a religion of self...I was surprised to discover a few ways that I have been led astray by the New Thought movement, and I'm thankful that, now that I know, I can take those thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ!

Worth the read!

New Thought, False Gospel

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews