Happiness: The Science Behind Your Smile - Softcover

Nettle, Daniel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0192805592 ISBN 13: 9780192805591

Publisher: OUP Oxford, 2006

Synopsis

What exactly is happiness? Can we measure it? Why are some people happy and others not? And is there a drug that could eliminate all unhappiness?

People all over the world, and throughout the ages, have thought about happiness, argued about its nature, and, most of all, desired it. But why do we have such a strong instinct to pursue happiness? And if happiness is good in itself, why haven't we simply evolved to be happier?

Daniel Nettle uses the results of the latest psychological studies to ask what makes people happy and unhappy, what happiness really is, and to examine our urge to achieve it. Along the way we look at brain systems, at mind-altering drugs, and how happiness is now marketed to us as a commodity. Nettle concludes that while it may be unrealistic to expect lasting happiness, our evolved tendency to seek happiness drives us to achieve much that is worthwhile in itself. What is more, it seems to be not your particular circumstances that define whether you are happy so much as your attitude towards life. Happiness gives us the latest scientific insights into the nature of our feelings of well-being, and what these imply for how we might live our lives.

About this title

Review:

A lucid and sensible survey of the latest research. (Independent)

Well written, accurate and engaging, with a lightness of touch that makes it a delight to read. (Nature)

An authoritative, challenging, even profound analysis of the most up-to-date research into its subject. (Winston Fletcher, THES)

Excellent survey of the subject - a lucid, intelligent, and thoughtful essay. (The Lancet)

About the Author:

Daniel Nettle is Lecturer in Psychology at University of Newcastle. His publications include Vanishing Voices (with Suzanne Romaine), Linguistic Diversity, and Strong Imagination: Madness, Creativity, and Human Nature. He runs the psychological research website www.psychresearch.org.uk. Vanishing Voices was winner of the BAAL prize for 2001, and was described by The New Yorker as 'a superb study of endangered languages'. Strong Imagination was described as 'a fascinating, pithy little book' (Sunday Times), giving 'a critical survey of current psychiatric knowledge that is as good an overview as is available from any source' (Times Literary Supplement).

About this edition

• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0192805592
• ISBN 13: 9780192805591
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 226