Happiness The Science behind Your Smile

by Nettle, Daniel

• ISBN13: 9780192805584
• ISBN10: 0192805584
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-07-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The pursuit of happiness has long been recognised by everyone from poetsto politicians as what makes the world go round. The world's largest andfastest-growing industries -- alcohol, pharmaceuticals, mind altering drugs,self-help books, counselling, travel and tourism -- all profit heavily from ourintent to become completely happy with our lives. Surprisingly, despite itscentral importance, there is no single book that comprehensively addresses thismost basic of human desires.In Happiness, Daniel Nettle will give a global perspective on the subject,showing the various ways it is interpreted in different cultures. He willinclude statistical information from the National Child Development Study, aproject started in 1958 that collects social and emotional data from thousandsof people, to show how definitions and sources of happiness change over time.Unlike most books on the subject, the science and the philosophy behindhappiness will be linked together, and the author will illustrate the relevanceof happiness to people who have had too much (manic), too little (depressed),and the fortunate few who had just enough.

Author Biography

Daniel Nettle is Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Newcastle.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Comfort and Joy

Bread and Circuses

Love and Work

Worries and Enthusiasts

Wanting and Liking

Placebos and panaceas

A Design for Living

References

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