The Way to Happiness

In 1981, L. Ron Hubbard wrote The Way to Happiness: A Common Sense Guide to Better Living in response to a disturbing global trend: the accelerating moral decline of society. At a time when two-thirds of the world's governments were riddled with serious corruption and nearly a quarter of emerging leaders believed they needed to behave unethically to succeed, Hubbard recognized that humanity desperately needed a return to fundamental values.

Unlike religious texts or philosophical treatises, The Way to Happiness is based entirely on common sense—practical wisdom that anyone can understand and apply, regardless of race, culture, or creed. The booklet contains twenty-one precepts, each addressing a specific aspect of ethical living, from personal care and temperance to environmental stewardship and government support. These precepts are not commandments handed down from authority; they are rational principles that, when followed, lead to a happier, more fulfilling life.

The power of The Way to Happiness lies in its universal applicability. It is completely nonreligious, containing no doctrine, dogma, or faith-based assertions. This makes it accessible to people of all backgrounds—atheists and believers, young and old, educated and uneducated. The precepts speak to the innate human desire for safety, prosperity, and happiness, offering a roadmap that anyone can follow.

Since its publication, The Way to Happiness has been distributed to over 120 million people in 112 languages, making it one of the most widely read secular moral codes in history. It has brought calm to communities torn by violence, peace to areas ravaged by civil strife, and self-respect to millions of individuals in schools, prisons, churches, youth centers, and community organizations worldwide.

In South Africa, where crime, corruption, poverty, and violence remain persistent challenges, The Way to Happiness offers a proven tool for rebuilding trust, restoring integrity, and creating safer communities. From townships to corporate boardrooms, from schools to correctional facilities, the booklet is helping South Africans rediscover the common-sense principles that lead to a better quality of life.

Each precept is accompanied by detailed explanations and practical examples in the full booklet, making it easy to understand how to apply these principles in everyday life. The precepts are designed to work together, creating a comprehensive ethical framework that addresses personal behavior, relationships, community responsibility, and societal well-being.

The Way to Happiness has achieved truly global reach, with more than 120 million copies distributed in 112 languages across every continent. This massive distribution reflects the universal appeal of its common-sense message and the dedication of thousands of individuals, organizations, and governments who have embraced it as a tool for positive change.

The booklet has been used in diverse settings: schools in Latin America, prisons in Europe, police departments in Asia, community centers in Africa, and government offices in North America. In each context, it has proven effective at addressing moral decline, reducing conflict, and restoring trust. The Way to Happiness has brought calm to communities torn by violence, peace to areas ravaged by civil strife, and self-respect to millions of individuals who had lost hope.

One of the key factors in the booklet's success is its grassroots distribution model. Rather than relying solely on top-down institutional adoption, The Way to Happiness spreads person-to-person, with individuals sharing copies with family, friends, coworkers, and strangers. This organic growth creates a ripple effect, as each person who reads the booklet is encouraged to pass it on to others, multiplying its impact exponentially.

The Way to Happiness Foundation International, headquartered in Glendale, California, coordinates these worldwide activities and provides support to local chapters, organizations, and individuals who wish to distribute the booklet. Through the Foundation's efforts—and the generous sponsorship of the Church of Scientology and its parishioners—The Way to Happiness continues to reach new audiences every day, bringing its message of integrity, trust, and happiness to millions more.

South Africa faces profound social challenges that demand effective, sustainable solutions. With one of the world's highest crime rates, pervasive corruption in government and business, widespread poverty, and ongoing violence in many communities, the need for moral renewal is urgent. The Way to Happiness offers a proven tool for addressing these challenges at the grassroots level.

Across South Africa, The Way to Happiness is being used in schools to teach ethical behavior and conflict resolution, in correctional facilities to reduce recidivism and restore self-respect among inmates, in police departments to promote integrity and community trust, and in community organizations to rebuild social cohesion in areas affected by violence and crime.

In townships where gang violence, drug abuse, and unemployment have created cycles of despair, The Way to Happiness provides a message of hope and practical guidance. Community leaders distribute the booklet door-to-door, youth groups study the precepts together, and local businesses sponsor custom editions to share with employees and customers. The result is a gradual but measurable shift in attitudes and behaviors, as individuals rediscover the common-sense principles that lead to a better life.

The Way to Happiness also addresses South Africa's corruption crisis. By promoting precepts such as "Be Worthy of Trust," "Fulfill Your Obligations," "Don't Do Anything Illegal," and "Support a Government Designed for All the People," the booklet provides a moral framework for combating the dishonesty and self-dealing that have undermined public institutions. Government officials, business leaders, and ordinary citizens alike have found in The Way to Happiness a reminder of the values that must be restored if South Africa is to achieve its full potential.

The Way to Happiness is not a quick fix, but a long-term investment in the moral foundation of South African society. By empowering individuals to make better choices, treat others with respect, and contribute positively to their communities, the booklet is helping to create a safer, more prosperous, and more just nation for all South Africans.

The Way to Happiness Foundation provides specialized information kits and support materials for each of these sectors, making it easy for organizations to implement the program effectively. Whether you're a teacher, business owner, correctional officer, or community leader, The Way to Happiness offers proven tools for creating positive change.

To maximize the reach and impact of The Way to Happiness, the Foundation has developed a comprehensive suite of multimedia resources that make the precepts accessible, engaging, and easy to understand for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

These multimedia resources ensure that The Way to Happiness can be shared in formats that resonate with diverse audiences, from traditional print booklets to cutting-edge digital content. Whether someone prefers to read, watch, or participate in interactive learning, there is a Way to Happiness resource designed for them.

The Way to Happiness operates on a unique grassroots distribution model that empowers individuals to become agents of positive change in their own communities. Rather than relying solely on institutional adoption, the program encourages person-to-person sharing, creating a ripple effect that multiplies its impact exponentially.

Anyone can order copies of The Way to Happiness—from a single booklet to thousands—and distribute them to family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, or complete strangers. The booklet's message includes an explicit encouragement to pass it on to others, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of distribution. This grassroots approach has proven remarkably effective, as personal recommendations carry far more weight than institutional mandates.

To facilitate widespread distribution, The Way to Happiness Foundation headquarters in Glendale, California operates state-of-the-art print-on-demand facilities capable of producing custom editions in more than 100 languages. Organizations can order booklets with personalized covers featuring their own branding, logos, or messages, making it easy to distribute The Way to Happiness to specific audiences while maintaining the universal message.

The diversity of custom editions reflects the program's broad appeal: police departments distribute booklets to community members, businesses share them with employees and customers, schools give them to students and parents, governments use them in public education campaigns, and individuals hand them out at events, in neighborhoods, or simply to people they meet in daily life.

This grassroots distribution model ensures that The Way to Happiness reaches people where they are, in formats they can relate to, delivered by people they trust. It transforms every reader into a potential distributor, creating a global network of individuals committed to spreading the message of integrity, trust, and happiness.

The Way to Happiness is not merely a philosophical statement; it is a proven program with measurable results in reducing crime, improving behavior, and strengthening communities. Studies and reports from around the world document the positive impact of the booklet in diverse settings.

In correctional facilities, The Way to Happiness has been shown to significantly reduce recidivism rates among inmates who participate in the program. By restoring self-respect and providing a clear moral framework, the booklet helps offenders make better choices upon release, breaking the cycle of crime and incarceration. Correctional officers report improved behavior, reduced violence, and greater cooperation among inmates who study the precepts.

In schools, The Way to Happiness has been used to reduce bullying, improve classroom behavior, and promote academic achievement. Teachers report that students who study the precepts show greater respect for peers and authority, better conflict resolution skills, and improved self-discipline. The program has been particularly effective in schools serving disadvantaged communities, where moral education is often lacking.

In communities affected by violence and crime, The Way to Happiness has contributed to measurable reductions in criminal activity. Neighborhoods where the booklet has been widely distributed report decreases in theft, vandalism, assault, and other crimes, as residents internalize the precepts and apply them in daily life. Community leaders credit The Way to Happiness with helping to rebuild trust, restore social cohesion, and create safer environments for families.

In the workplace, businesses that implement The Way to Happiness report improvements in employee honesty, productivity, and morale. Companies have documented reductions in theft, fraud, absenteeism, and turnover, along with increases in customer satisfaction and profitability. The precepts provide a common ethical framework that aligns employees around shared values, creating a more positive and productive work culture.

These results demonstrate that The Way to Happiness is more than inspirational reading—it is a practical tool for creating real, lasting change in individuals and communities. By providing clear, common-sense guidelines for ethical living, the booklet empowers people to make better choices and build better lives.