- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Basic Books; 2nd Revised edition edition (5 Dec 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0465028020
- ISBN-13: 978-0465028023
- Product Dimensions: 20.4 x 13.6 x 2.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 187,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
"Library Journal," Best Books 2006
"With singular gusto, Haidt measures ten 'Great Ideas' against past/present research in psychology and science. "LJ" 's verdict: Dr. Phil et al. don't have diddly on the old-school sages. No man is an island, indeed, and no modern reader should be without this carefully considered demystification of life."
Darrin McMahon, "The Washington Post""
""[T]he psychologist Jonathan Haidt shows in his wonderfully smart and readable "The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom" [that] modern science and history have a lot to say to each other.""
"
"Nature"
"This is a delightful book... Haidt's writing embraces spiritual and mystical viewpoints while retaining scientific and rational coherence.""
""
Guardian "(London)
"[A] marvelous book...I don't think I've ever read a book that laid out the contemporary understanding of the human condition with such simple clarity and sense.""
""Psychology Today""Haidt's r
Arena
'Superbly argued, crystal clear and intelligent... And you know what? Reading it did actually make this reviewer happier.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
I FIRST RODE A HORSE in 1991, in Great Smoky National Park, North Carolina. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
I FIRST RODE A HORSE in 1991, in Great Smoky National Park, North Carolina. Read the first page
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Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
62 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Genuine insight,
By
This review is from: The Happiness Hypothesis: Putting Ancient Wisdom to the Test of Modern Science (Paperback)
This, in many ways, is the "self-help" book for people who don't read self-help books.
Its conclusions probably won't surprise anyone - the way to find happiness is mostly just what Socrates, Jesus, Buddha et al suggested - be nice to people, do a job that satisfies you, stop chasing after material wealth, etc. All of which might lead you to think there's no point in reading it. But there is. Haidt is that rare beast, a serious academic who can write engagingly for the general (educated) readership. Somehow, seeing his synthesis of many, many areas of psychological research creates a real feeling of enlightenment, and I would be very surprised indeed at anyone who didn't find some serious "food for thought" within its pages. Did reading it make me happier? Well, this is where I'm supposed to say "Well, no, but...", but - to my own surprise - the answer is actually "yes"! Just a little, but enough to justify making the book a "keeper". Read it, and think about the way you live. Highly recommended.
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 'Self Help' Book for Anyone who is Too Smart for "Self Help Books",
By
This review is from: The Happiness Hypothesis: Putting Ancient Wisdom to the Test of Modern Science (Paperback)
This book is an underrated masterpiece and should be proudly occupying all thinking persons' bookshelves. Haidt couldn't have written this book better, and he is most certainly to be commended for producing a guide to finding happiness which trumps all others.
His narrative meanders a most cerebrally scenic course via ancient philosophy, comparative religion, science and modern day psychology and literally tests the paradigms of happiness. Thus e.g. : Was Buddhism right to preach the renouncing of all material things? Or, just partly right? What part does gossip really play in our lives? What should the depressed do about their condition? What is the best way to find true happiness in your life, assuming such a thing can be found at all? These and many other thought engaging questions are analysed with no stone unturned by a most gifted thinker. This reviewer cannot recommend this book more highly (and I normally can't be bothered with the so called "self help section"), buy it you must! A brilliant book. I am left wondering what Haidt will write about next.
48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting and important,
By
This review is from: The Happiness Hypothesis: Putting Ancient Wisdom to the Test of Modern Science (Hardcover)
This was my best non-fiction book of 2006. Haidt is an academic of genuine flair. In the Happiness Hypothesis he has produced for the general reader a synthesis of robust thinking and research around happiness. It is expressed in an accessible style, using some very simple metaphors to hold the reader's attention on key themes, as the author reviews the best of the philosophy, psychology and neurology of happiness.
To put it another way, this was accessible enough to read in bed, and robust enough to fill over 24 pages of references. My only caveat, I thought the subtitle - 'Putting ancient wisdom and philosophy to the test of modern science' - did not get to the heart of the book. This makes it sound like a series of tests of famous aphorisms. In face, Haidt is primarily interested in evidence, but uses literary and philosophical sources to illustrate and enliven his science; to ask questions of it, and to keep an open mind. But then I think that's just good science.
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