The Thai Secret to a More Joyful Life – THAILAND

7th January 2026

The Little Book of Sanuk: The Thai Secret to a More Joyful Life by Karen Sinotok. THAILAND

The Little Book of Sanuk by Karen Sinotok is part-memoir and part non-fiction guide to the secret of fun and happiness, Thai style. It is sub-titled The Thai Secret to a More Joyful Life. The author recounts her own journey to Thailand as a career-break trip that was intended to cover the same sort of territory as gap year students enjoy. Some years ago, feeling burnt out in her career as a successful music journalist, she had quit her life in London for an adventure in Asia. In the event, she found herself falling in love – both with the Thailand and its people. Importantly, also with one specific Thai man, who became her husband. Reader, she visited Thailand and she stayed. She now spends half her year in the UK and half in Thailand, giving her the authority to describe the Thai way of life from her own experience and that of her adoptive family.

The author begins by relating her own experience as a Westerner becoming part of a Thai family. She reminds us that Thailand is known and The Land of Smiles, and we learn of her fascination with Sanuk, the Thai philosophy that allows the people to be seemingly endlessly happy. The term Sanuk in the book’s title is defined and we learn that it can include such activities as being absorbed in a task, such as reading; seeing smiling faces; listening to music and enjoying photos. In fact, reading A Little Book of Sanuk could easily be described as being an activity that promotes Sanuk.

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Sinotok describes various traditions and ways-of-being that are ingrained in Thai culture, leading to close community connections and family bonding. She tells us that each of the ways she describes can promote our own happiness, as it is a state of mind that we can easily adopt. The various chapters illustrate how the philosophy can be used in all aspects of our lives, from relationships within the family, to personal wellbeing, our careers and even the hobbies we might pursue.

It’s a beautiful little hard-cover book, lavishly illustrated with a combination of appealing illustrations and photographs, including some from the author’s own albums. The layout is such that you could read from cover to cover, or dip into individual chapters. The memoir aspect of the book obviously makes better sense when read in chronological order, but you might opt to read a chapter about Resilience in the Face of Life’s Challenges or take the book off the shelf to try out a stretching exercise or one of the author’s Thai recipes. There are case studies and also quotes that support the Sanuk philosophy and give pause for thought. This is a delightful and informative book and I’m grateful to the author for sending me a copy for an honest review. I really enjoyed it and will continue to dip into it when my joy needs a boost.

Sue for the TripFiction Team

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Catch our reviewer Sue: TwitterX @SueKelsoRyan / IG @SueKelosRyan / BlueSky @suekelsoryan.bsky.social

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