The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom By Jonathan Haidt Professor of Psychology
University of Virginia
This is a book about ten Great Ideas. Each chapter is an attempt to savor one idea that has been discovered by several of the world’s civilizations - to question it in light of what we now know from scientific research, and to extract from it the lessons that still apply to our modern lives. It is a book about how to construct a life of virtue, happiness, fulfillment, and meaning.
[At long last, the paperback has been re-printed in a
larger size! No more eye-strain as of Feb 2012]
“For the reader who seeks to understand happiness, my advice is: Begin with Haidt.” --Martin E. P. Seligman, Professor of psychology, University of Pennsylvania, author of Authentic Happiness
Useful features:
Using the Happiness Hypothesis to increase your happiness. (It's not a self-help book, but you can make it one)
My next book is coming out March 13. It uses the rider and elephant to understand morality, politics, and religion. It picks up where The Happiness Hypothesis left off in the concluding chapter -- about the need to look for wisdom in the minds of those with whom you disagree.
I talked with Bill Moyers about the new book, here.
Upcoming Talks I'm Giving (on the new book):
--On Bill Moyers' new show, Feb 5 and 6
--Long Beach CA, Feb 28, TED conference, speaking on hive psychology
--Charlottesville VA, March 19, 2012, Miller Center, UVA, lecture on civility in politics
--Charlottesville VA, March 20, 2012: Lecture on morality and politics (with David Brooks), at the Batten School of Public Policy, UVA
--Washington DC, March 21, 7:00 pm, at 6th and I
--New York City, March 29, 6:30 pm, NYU Bookstore, with Jonathan Moreno
--Vancouver BC, April 2 and 3: lectures at U. of British Columbia
--Seattle WA, April 4 2012: talk on The Righteous Mind at the American Philosophical Association annual meeting.
--Seattle WA, April 4 2012, 7:30-9pm, Seattle Town Hall
--London UK, April 10 and 11, several talks incluing RSA
--Philadelphia PA, April 21, Book Festival, and science festival, at Free Library
--Binghamton NY, April 23, EVOS lecture, at Binghamton U.
--May 1, Westport CT, Coyle Lecture at Greens Farms Academy, public lecture in evening
--Princeton NJ, May 8, 4:30 pm, Madison lecture at Princeton U.
--Stanford CA, May 23, colloquium at Stanford dept of psychology
--Chicago IL, May 25, noon, talk at Union League
--Chicago IL, May 25, 6:30pm, Winnetka Congregational Church
--Chicago IL, May 26: Talk on The Righteous Mind, at Association for Psychological Science
--Tuscaloosa AL, Sept 10, Meador lecture at U. of Alabama Law School
--Columbus GA, Oct. 11, Chattahoochie Valley Library
--San Antonio TX, Nov 9, Kohlberg Memorial Lecture, at Association for Moral Education
