The Happiness Hypothesis
by Jonathan Haidt
Haidt tests ten ancient ideas about happiness and the good life against modern psychology: the divided self (rider and elephant), reciprocity, the faults of others, adversity, love, virtue, divinity. It is learned and readable, and it is the source of the rider-and-elephant image used by many later books.
Read it if…
you want a scholarly, enjoyable bridge between ancient wisdom and modern research.
Skip it if…
you want a program; this is understanding.
Three things you will actually use
- The rider cannot command the elephant; train it.
- Happiness comes from between: relationships, work, something larger.
- Adversity can build, within limits.
Do this first
Write one thing you believe about happiness and check whether the book's evidence supports it.
Our verdict
Rich and readable; one of the best books on the subject.
Compare with other Gratitude books
The Book of Ichigo Ichie
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