ALEXANDRA STODDARD is a philosopher of contemporary living and author of many best selling books, including the classic Living a Beautiful Life: 500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty and Joy to Every Day of Your Life, Choosing Happiness: Keys to a Joyful Life, Things I Want My Daughters to Know: A Small Book About the Big Issues in Life, and You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life. Alexandra's newest book Happiness For Two: 75 Secrets for Finding More Joy Together, published in January 2008, is now in its second printing.

As a pioneering writer and lecturer on personal happiness for the past twenty years, Alexandra has inspired millions to break the “rules” and pursue fulfillment. Now, as scientists have begun to discover the benefits of living a happy life, Alexandra provides practical ways to live happily every day, based on ancient Greek philosophy. Her teacher Aristotle taught Stoddard that the aim and purpose of life is happiness. When we are true to ourselves, we can fly above stress and conflict, contented and confident that we are on the right path toward greater inner peace and lasting happiness.

Alexandra Stoddard’s unique insights reveal the small but significant things that we can do to change our attitude, heart and environment for the better. Her mantra is “Happiness is the first principle of life. Love & Live Happy.” Observers say Stoddard has hit a nerve in the public psyche with her positive message of enthusiasm leading to the active joy of living fully every moment. She is recognized as a pioneer of the "Happiness Movement". Alexandra continues to celebrate her "Happiness Weekends" across the country. This year she is having her first Writer's Workshop retreats.

Stoddard is currently the Writer-in-Residence for Victoria Magazine.

Stoddard’s original theme of living beautifully and spiritually every day has resulted in appearances on Oprah; with Barbara Walters and Katie Couric on the Today Show; the Christopher Lowell Show; as host of the Home & Garden television series “Homes Across America;” and profiles in major magazines and newspapers worldwide.

Alexandra Stoddard’s writing, seminars and lectures contain a positive personal philosophy of ways to live a beautiful and happy life, laced with grace, wit and daily rituals, the first to write about ritualizing every day, with celebrations and ceremonies at home – elevating our daily lives into the art of living beautifully moment to moment.

When Alexandra was 16 years old, her aunt, Ruth Elizabeth Johns, a renowned international social worker, took her around the world, exposing her to architecture, design and beauty; also sorrow and suffering. This eye-opening tour gave depth to her literary career and enlarged her understanding of human nature and our universal search for meaning and greater purpose in our lives.

Alexandra is currently writing a book about Mothers and a book about her favorite ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle.

Alexandra Stoddard lives in Stonington Village, Connecticut, with her husband Peter Megargee Brown, also an author. She is the mother of two daughters and has four grandchildren.