In this landmark book, Richard Layard shows that there is a paradox at the heart of our lives. Most people want more income. Yet as societies become richer, they do not become happier. This is not just anecdotally true, it is the story told by countless pieces of scientific research. We now have sophisticated ways of measuring how happy people are, and all the evidence shows that on average people have grown no happier in the last fifty years, even as average incomes have more than doubled. In fact, the First World has more depression, more alcoholism and more crime than fifty years ago. This paradox is true of Britain, the United States, continental Europe, and Japan. What is going on?
Happiness: Lessons from a New Science (Second Edition)
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Unorthodox, devastatingly straightforward and more provocative of actual thought than 90% of books said to be "thought-provoking". If happiness isn't a political issue, what's the point of politics? (Andrew Marr )
A remarkable book ... which effectively trashes the claim of economics to guide policy for a good society ... read it, and take heart (Simon Caulkin Observer )
Fascinating ... argues that we should make happiness, not growth, the object of our economic policies (John Kay Financial Times ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
A remarkable book ... which effectively trashes the claim of economics to guide policy for a good society ... read it, and take heart (Simon Caulkin Observer )
Fascinating ... argues that we should make happiness, not growth, the object of our economic policies (John Kay Financial Times ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
About the Author
Richard Layard is a leading economist who believes that the happiness of society does not necessarily equate to its income. He is best known for his work on unemployment and inequality, whihc provided the intellectual basis for Britain's improved unemployment policies. He founded the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics, and since 2000 he has been a member of the House of Lords. His research into the subject of happiness brings together findings from such diverse areas as psychology, neuroscience, economics, sociology and philosophy.
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There is a paradox at the heart of our lives. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
There is a paradox at the heart of our lives. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By John Ault
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
... Money can't buy me love, or it would seem happiness, if the statistics on depression and anxiety in the modern western world compared with the 1950s are to be believed. This book is about the paradox of market economics - we pursue ever greater productivity, flexibility and trade, and our material wealth piles up - yet we do not seem to get happier. Indeed, the things that make us happy - friends, family, love, community - are not things that we trade, and modern economies tend to atomise us into consumers, living far from our families and barely knowing our neighbours.
Professor Layard's strength in adressing this subject is that he comes from a hard-edged economics backgroud. There is no woolyness here, no hostility towards success. Instead, there is a rational effort to focus on happiness as the correct priority for public policy - including economic policy. Facinating, but unfortunatly the prognosis is a great deal clearer than the cure.
Truely thought provoking, even it some of those thoughts are "well we really have messed it all up."
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I think this was the book that started the current trendiness of Happiness. Despite being fairly short it covers everything you could possibly want to know, and has a bibliography and internet links for anyone wanting to know more about any particular topic.
It is an important book because in some ways the modern world is making people more and more unhappy. But it doesn't have to be that way. The author offers suggestions, backed by solid evidence, for political and economic reforms and also for personally achieving greater happiness.
It is an important book because in some ways the modern world is making people more and more unhappy. But it doesn't have to be that way. The author offers suggestions, backed by solid evidence, for political and economic reforms and also for personally achieving greater happiness.
38 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book makes a compelling and accessible case that the new science of happiness is very relevant to how we shape our society. Layard is an economist by education and argues that his own profession has been complacent in almost unthinkingly using consumption as a practical approximation of happiness. The policy recommendations that result have made us richer, but often not happier. Layard says that it is now possible to measure happiness and thus there is no excuse not to tailor policies to achieve the goal of making society happier. In a very readable fashion he connects recent research on what makes people happy (things like stable families, socially integrated neighbourhoods and low unemployment) to some possible policies. Although one may not agree with some of his recommendations the book is refreshing in its approach. As a result I feel that all my fellow economists should read this to get a new perspective on our profession. Politicians and voters should also read it for new insights on how we should shape our society.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Makes total sense
Read lots of books re happiness but love that this is based on facts and makes total sense backed up by lots of studies/research.
Published 6 months ago by Tony Dwyer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
This book is well written, clear, easy to understand and wonderfully hopeful and positive about 'where to from here' on the search for happiness, not only as an individual but as a... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Joanne5000
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spread a little happiness
I'm particularly interested in whether my mind can control my mood. The notion of happiness being something we can switch on and off is something I am sympathetic to, but... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Penelope Young
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic read
Written by the founder of 'movement for happiness' now better known as the 'action for happiness' movement which has appeared on bbc1. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Ms. S. L. Mercieca
5.0 out of 5 stars
Happiness :)
Such a great read. Really challenges perceptions, especially regarding gross national product with respect to happiness. Read more
Published 22 months ago by flux
4.0 out of 5 stars
Insightful but a frustrating read - worth persevering with
Packed with fascinating facts and ideas, this book could have been really important, if it had just been a bit better written. Read more
Published on 1 May 2011 by C. Young
5.0 out of 5 stars
a very important book
some excellent ideas and theories in this book of which i totaly agree with. in my opinion the majority of the public would support a move towards gwb as apposed to gnp, we just... Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2011 by W. Farmer
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting - but not a self help book
When I bought this one I was half expecting a self-help book, or at the very least some significant elements of this. Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2010 by g.buxton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Happiness - All about comparison
This book is a good book to confirm what we all know but are scared to admit. That the reason why we go through periods of unhappiness is because we want more and we compare... Read more
Published on 27 May 2010 by JayRay
3.0 out of 5 stars
Light on gritty philosophical reasoning, but interesting
Layard expounds his view that the most important aim for society should be maximising the Utilitarian notion of happiness rather than increasing GDP/GNP. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2010 by Mr. F. Chillcott
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