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The Happiness Hypothesis

Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom
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The Happiness Hypothesis

By: Jonathan Haidt
Narrated by: Sean Pratt, Jonathan Haidt
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The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Anxious Generation shows how a deeper understanding of the world’s philosophical wisdom can enrich and transform our lives.

“Wonderfully smart and readable.” —Washington Post

In The Happiness Hypothesis, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt skillfully combines philosophical wisdom and scientific research to explore ten “Great Ideas” that have been discovered by several of the world’s civilizations. In each chapter, Haidt questions a Great Idea in light of what we now know, and extracts from it the lessons that still apply to our modern lives, thereby illuminating the causes of human flourishing.

Now with a new preface, The Happiness Hypothesis expertly unravels the world’s philosophical wisdom and its enduring maxims—such as “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” and “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”—and tackles the eternal question “How can I live a meaningful life?”

Personal Development Personal Success Philosophy Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Psychology & Interactions Society
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Critic reviews

"Psychologist Jonathan Haidt shows in his wonderfully smart and readable The Happiness Hypothesis that modern science and history have a lot to say to each other."—Washington Post
"This is a delightful book ... Haidt's writing embraces spiritual and mystical viewpoints while retaining scientific and rational coherence."—Nature
"Examining the ideas of thinkers like Plato, Buddha, and Jesus in light of modern research ... Haidt, a social psychologist, provides practical advice for parenting, romance, work, and coping with the political and cultural divisions."—Psychology Today
"A hearty dish of conventional wisdom accompanied by a selection of psychological science of excellent vintage.... This book not only offers practical suggestions to help us succeed in these efforts, but also discusses why we should reexamine much of what we have been taught in the light of new psychological knowledge."—Philadelphia Inquirer
"A delightful look at the anatomy of happiness, and the myriad ways we humans have hunted for it throughout history.... A disarming, original book."—Seattle Times
"Psychologist Haidt exposes traditional received wisdom to scientific scrutiny. And learns that virtue is often not its own reward, extroverts really are happier than introverts, and conscious thought is not as important as we might like to think. Engaging and thought-provoking."—Bookseller

"Haidt is a fine guide on this journey between past and present, discussing the current complexities of psychological theory with clarity and humor ... Haidt's is an open-minded, robust look at philosophy, psychological fact and spiritual mystery, of scientific rationalism and the unknowable ephemeral -- an honest inquiry that concludes that the best life is, perhaps, one lived in the balance of opposites."

—Bookpage
“Riveting... the most humane, witty and comforting of these three books, brilliantly synthesising ancient cultural insights with modern psychology, and even holding out some faint hope that your happiness, if not your tallness, might be marginally adjustable after all.”—Times (UK)
"This unusual book sets itself apart from the self-help category with its extensive scientific references, and intelligent, neutral prose, while the author's illuminating illustration of how the human mind works is both educational and refreshing."—Sunday Times (UK)
"You know what? Reading it did actually make this reviewer happier."—Arena (UK)
"A fresh, serious, elevating guide to living everyday life better.... No modern reader should be without this carefully considered demystification of life."—Library Journal
"An erudite, fluently written, stimulating reassessment of age-old issues."—Publishers Weekly (starred)
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