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A review by epersonae
The Happiness Myth: Why What We Think Is Right Is Wrong by Jennifer Michael Hecht
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.)