Happiness

Are you really happy?

Today most of us are richer, healthier, and have better homes, cars, food and holidays than ever before. But we are no happier than we were fifty years ago.

What is going on?

Richard Layard uses philosophy, economics, the latest psychological research and his experience as a policy adviser to examine the happiness conundrum.

Offering some surprising answers, he shows us how we can give ourselves the tools to boost the happiness we all want, in our daily lives and as a society

• Part One: The Problem
  1. What's the problem?
  2. What is happiness?
  3. Are we getting happier?
  4. If you're so rich, why aren't you happy?
  5. So what does make us happy?
  6. What's going wrong?
  7. Can we pursue a common good?
• Part Two: What Can Be Done?
  8. The Greatest Happiness: Is that the goal?
  9. Does economics have a clue?
  10. How can we tame the rat race?
  11. Can we afford to be secure?
  12. Can mind control mood?
  13. Do drugs help?
  14. Conclusions for today's world

By first view, this is a touchy-feely book I should hate, but when you read it, you start to think and contemplate.

What it is, is a book that tries to explain society and its pursuit of happiness, and what affects it, which makes it very interesting reading.

You don't have to agree with everything in the book, but it gets you thinking in new ways, which is interesting.

Recommended.