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eb00kie's review against another edition
4.0
One self-help to rule them all...
Besides, Russell has the unfair advantage of being pleasant to listen to, whatever he's saying; here it is with a frank and mellow manner that he raises a couple of pertinent points. For example, he points out that in the USA leisure is regarded as pointless, as long as it does not increase status or income. I found that seldom disproven. He then proceeds to reassure us that these "dinosaurs" have fewer and fewer children due to their lack of love of life and will die out.
He also discusses boredom, excitement and the so-called "simple pleasures", subjects often ignored or treated superficially, fatigue, which I have never found elsewhere, as if from a mild superstition against lack of pep, envy, persecution mania and so on.
As usual, I don't care for hyperbola, stereotype and extremes and, to be fair, Russell seldom turns to either. Unto the "more pleasant" sources of happiness, Russell places the "man of science" upon a pedestal as a person who finds it easiest to achieve happiness, but his "man of science" is a vague notion. Some do get lonely, especially in our days of specialization, some do have "coterie"s, like Russell's unhappiest, the artist, and, may I say, some never seemed particularly happy either. When I studied mathematics 30 hours weekly, I used to think the philosophers were the "happiest". I guess it goes to show that envy appears in all sorts of environments, irrationally.
htb2050's review against another edition
5.0
This book was amazing. Almost I every chapter I could identify myself with the one or the other example that he had given. It was written in 1930 but the advice is applicable for all times.
misterfix's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely little book that neatly covers the significant impediments to happiness. Russell's inimitable wit and sharp POV are in evidence. Skip the Deepak and get the BR.
sherif's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
nithesh_123's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book that I would recommend to my kids once they achieve a reasonable degree of maturity. I wish that I had read this a couple of years earlier. Better late than never. In fact this book has come to my attention at the right juncture of my life. The firm foundations to the kind of happiness that Russel talks about must be laid in our 20s .
In his inimitable he dissects the causes of unhappiness ie boredom, fatigue, envy, sense of sin, persecution mania, fear of public opinion etc. In the second part he goes on to describe the causes of happiness ie zest, affection, the family, work, impersonal interests etc.
I must confess that I did realize some gaps in my own understanding of happiness. However, this book doesn't fall in the category of self help or that of deep shit philosophy. It is like a conversation with your wise uncle on a pleasant Saturday afternoon.
In his inimitable he dissects the causes of unhappiness ie boredom, fatigue, envy, sense of sin, persecution mania, fear of public opinion etc. In the second part he goes on to describe the causes of happiness ie zest, affection, the family, work, impersonal interests etc.
I must confess that I did realize some gaps in my own understanding of happiness. However, this book doesn't fall in the category of self help or that of deep shit philosophy. It is like a conversation with your wise uncle on a pleasant Saturday afternoon.
lia_12's review against another edition
3.0
This book was recommended to me by a friend who really loves self-help books. Personally, I've never really read self-help books and don't have much of an interest in them. I was also skeptical when I saw when the book was published. I mean, what could this old guy from 1930 know about modern troubles and causes of unhappiness?
But, I have to say, after reading this book, I've been pleasantly surprised. If you can get past the sexism and racism (which was a bit difficult sometimes, and I felt like just closing the book and never opening it again), the book is actually pretty insightful and helpful. His analogies and examples of the problems that cause unhappiness really provide a clear outlook and convey his message nicely. I found myself guilty of some of the causes of unhappiness, especially jealousy, which I struggle with, anyway.
The points he noted for reaching happiness actually spoke to me, especially since I worked on some of these problems in myself a few years ago, and have notably become happier. I can definitely vouch for this book, but my only complaint was the sexism and racism. But, of course, this does come with reading a book from 1930, since times were different then, and the generally accepted beliefs were wildly different from the currently accepted beliefs.
But, I have to say, after reading this book, I've been pleasantly surprised. If you can get past the sexism and racism (which was a bit difficult sometimes, and I felt like just closing the book and never opening it again), the book is actually pretty insightful and helpful. His analogies and examples of the problems that cause unhappiness really provide a clear outlook and convey his message nicely. I found myself guilty of some of the causes of unhappiness, especially jealousy, which I struggle with, anyway.
The points he noted for reaching happiness actually spoke to me, especially since I worked on some of these problems in myself a few years ago, and have notably become happier. I can definitely vouch for this book, but my only complaint was the sexism and racism. But, of course, this does come with reading a book from 1930, since times were different then, and the generally accepted beliefs were wildly different from the currently accepted beliefs.