A Texas-size calm shows up in survey

Folks in Texas may be among the happiest and most stress-free in the country.

Sales of books in the “Anxiety” and “Seeking Happiness” categories — among the fasting-growing themes — posted sales declines in Texas steeper than in any other state, according to a recent Barnes & Noble survey.

The “Anxiety” category — which features best sellers like “The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook” by Edmund Bourne and “The Worry Trick: How Your Brain Tricks You Into Expecting the Worst and What You Can Do About It” by David Carbonell — saw a 26 percent sales increase during the first half of the year, B&N said.

“Finding Happiness” titles did even better — with sales soaring 83 percent, fueled by such titles as “Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life” by Bill Burnett and Dale Evans.

“According to this sales data, we may be living in an anxious nation, but the good news is that book buyers across the country are also looking for solutions to their stress,” said Liz Harwell, B&N’s senior director of merchandising.

After Texas, North Carolina and Florida also showed steep drops in sales of “Anxiety” category books. California, Michigan and Massachusetts showed the biggest increases.

In the “Finding Happiness” lane, New Jersey and Pennsylvania also showed big sales declines, while Tennessee, California and Minnesota tipped the scales on the other end.

B&N shares, which are off 10 percent year to date, fell 1.6 percent, to $6.