Book Review: Prompting Happiness By Nimrod Vromen

Book title: Prompting Happiness: A Guide To Prompting A Life Worth living

By Nimrod Vromen
419 pages, $2.99
Publication: July 1, 2024

Entrepreneur, lawyer, consultant: Nimrod Vromen has played many roles. Now, at age 42, the logical businessman becomes a first-time author, “Prompting Happiness: A Guide to Prompting a Life Worth Living.”

This “second-life,” he says, is a by-product of the enlightenment he experienced during the war in Israel that commenced last October. Yes, like a mid-life crisis, or what Vromen likes to call a “Mid-life Journey”, the Tech connoisseur has flipped his world upside down—this time with evocative lessons on life.

You might be familiar with Vromen. On the video podcast Startup Confidential, published by CTech online, you’d find him having a glass of fine scotch discussing the challenges of startups; on Startup Blog Post, you could catch his insights into entrepreneurship. More recently, you might have heard him on a few podcasts discussing the war in Gaza and his upcoming book. Vromen is fully dedicated to his mission and, to borrow a phrase, he won’t rest—ever—until you’re “informed and inspired.”

But Vromen has evolved. Years ago, at age 18 he created a grandios “theory for happiness.” Now, over two decades later, he has come back with a whole new wealth of experiences,to explain how he succeeds attaining consistent and dependable happiness.

With the help of his new friend, ChatGPT, Vromen has created Prompting Happiness, a journey of self-discovery, a comical take on life, and a fortune teller, all in one.

The book showcases a profound insight into the meaning of life that Vromen realized while missiles exploded from above. “We prompt ourselves toward happiness,” he explains, “by imposing certain behaviors and habits governed by overarching values.”

Vromen suggests that like AI, we too can prompt ourselves to have certain outcomes. Who knew we could have so much in common with computers?

Challenging simplistic mantras is another critical theme. Vromen encourages readers to “regularly question common relationship advice like ‘communication is key’ to develop deeper, more actionable strategies.” It’s about moving beyond clichés to find what truly works in relationships.

In the realm of relationships, Vromen also highlights the dual roles we play: “Acknowledge that in relationships, I am both the programmer and the AI—constantly adjusting the programming (behavior) based on feedback and desired outcomes.” This metaphor underscores the dynamic nature of relationships and the need for continual adjustment.

Expanding one’s perspective is another vital practice. Vromen suggests to “monthly, seek to understand different viewpoints and experiences beyond my upbringing and cultural norms to enrich my perspective and relationship strategies.” This helps in broadening one’s understanding and empathy.

According to Prompting Happiness, customization is key. “With my partner, periodically revisit and customize our relationship rules to suit our evolving needs, desires, and real-life scenarios.” This approach ensures that relationships remain relevant and adaptive to changing circumstances.

Assuming good intentions is crucial for harmony: “In all interactions with my partner, start with the assumption that any action taken was with good intentions, especially in misunderstandings or conflicts.” This fosters a positive and understanding environment.

You may be asking, is AI going to end us? The answer, according to Vromen, is a complicated one.