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redhawktarheel's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. I appreciate Hecht's attempts in this work and find much wisdom in it. She obviously appreciates Montaigne a great deal - as do I - and shares some thought-provoking quotes from him. Hecht writes wonderfully, as usual, but I do feel at times that the topics she investigates here feel like a "square peg in round hole." She recovers in almost all instances later on and a few areas I feel she adequately clarified in the conclusion. Just a bit felt forced - that's why it's not quite five stars. Having said that, I enthusiastically recommend the book to anyone even vaguely interested in the topic. Hecht is definitely a philosophic/historical writer of the first degree.
vonnenook's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this but never quite finished it. Hecht is maddeningly smart, and it's a surprisingly easy read. I should probably reread it at some point.
epersonae's review against another edition
5.0
This may in fact be the most useful bit of philosophy I've ever read. The general premise: understanding the crazy things that made people happy in the past, or that people thought would make them happy, will help you (dear reader) see and consider how crazy our own ideas are now. And for me at least, it worked.
She covers all the big topics: sex, money, drugs, food, and celebrations, with lots of exceptionally weird info along the way. Most useful, though, is her division of "happiness" into 3 kinds: good day (cake, naps), euphoria (skydiving, religious revelations), and good life (fulfillment, family). It helps in the same way that Bruce Schneier's explanation of security tradeoffs helps in that area: you become more conscious of what it is that you're trading off.
Highly, highly recommended.
(Also, I want to go find some Marcus Aurelius now.)
She covers all the big topics: sex, money, drugs, food, and celebrations, with lots of exceptionally weird info along the way. Most useful, though, is her division of "happiness" into 3 kinds: good day (cake, naps), euphoria (skydiving, religious revelations), and good life (fulfillment, family). It helps in the same way that Bruce Schneier's explanation of security tradeoffs helps in that area: you become more conscious of what it is that you're trading off.
Highly, highly recommended.
(Also, I want to go find some Marcus Aurelius now.)
hoperu's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting look at how we define happiness, how that has changed over history, and how we are often caught in "trances of value" that may prevent us from being happy. The first half of the book was better than the second half - after a while the author's style began to grate on me. Too many examples and not enough "so what." Also, I am not sure I agree with her conclusions and recommendations in the last couple of chapters.
sakichan's review against another edition
1.0
I got about halfway through this book before I had to stop. There are so many errors or half-truths about history that it made me angry and question the legitimacy of the entire book.
2shainz's review against another edition
4.0
I am not one for long, philosophical stream-of-consciousness rants, which this book skirts the edge of at a few points. I do, however, enjoy a well-reasoned argument for the idea that happiness (and many of the ways we are conditioned to strive for it) is arbitrary and highly culture-dependent. The history (especially of ancient and modern festivals and drug use) is eye-opening, and the overall message of this book made the slow, preachy portions well worth it. Can't wait to start "Doubt."
erinrusshendy's review against another edition
4.0
Watch the author's ten minute TED talk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5dAG7BlE1g). If you like it, and want more, read the book.
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