You should get some exercise, eat healthy, and sleep enough. You should be supportive of your friends. You should do what you’re passionate about. We’ve all gotten such well-meaning advice, and it’s good advice. But there’s one problem: People rarely tell us how to achieve these worthy goals.

Luckily, there is a new book that gives you the “how,” and will help you not just survive, but thrive. U Thrive: How to Succeed in College (and Life) by Daniel Lerner and Alan Schlechter—two New York University professors who teach a course on the science of happiness—is the book I (now a grad student) wish I had had when I started college.

Based on positive psychology research, it covers a wide range of topics relevant to thriving, bringing them to life with humor, practical exercises, and even college slang. And while the book was written primarily for college students, the information is relevant for anyone wanting to cultivate a happier, healthier life.

[For more of this story, written by Jeanette van der Lee, go to http://greatergood.berkeley.ed..._in_college_and_life]