The Happiness Hypothesis: Ten Ways to Find Happiness and Meaning in Life

This book can be life-changing. It opens me up a whole new direction in life.(but a direction ever present unconsciously) Reader of this book can incorporate this direction into one's life and enrich life.

This book is a comprehensive review of the main discoveries in psychology (mainly social and cognitive psychology) relating to happiness. The author also claims that many of these discoveries match ideas raised by philosophers and priests in the old ages. Some of the claims for allegedly scientific discoveries are problematic. For example, the author presents the theory that bad events influence the mind more powerfully than good events. But he does not mention any common unit of measure, and without such a common unit of measure, the theory is meaningless.

I took a class with Prof. Haidt when I attended UVA and consistently enjoyed his lectures. He consistently backed up his claims with hard evidence, anecdotes and statistics. Once Prof. Haidt explained how the logic I had been using to try and understand conservative thinking, for example, was inaccurate it became instantly clear why conservatives act as they do, and why they think doing so is in everyone's interest. He removes the emotional, the judgmental aspects and leaves only the fundamental properties, allowing his students to come to their own conclusions. Prof. Haidt's book was much like his lectures, in fact he even mentions that the book was directly influenced by his lectures. All in all this is probably the best self-help book I've ever read. It's not structured like a self-help book, nor does it claim to be one, but since it is about basic human behavior, and often about the behavior that is present in successful, happy people, it's hard not to use it as a tool. The writing is clear, the chapters cohesive, and the progression throughout the book towards some fundamental answers is pleasing. I highly recommend this book if you are curious about human beings.

One of the best book I even read on Human mind. Well written simple to understand. And it has lot of in depth perspective towards how to realise what the real meaning of Happiness is and how to attain it. Worth reading couple times!!

Great investment.

Haidt is exceptionally able to combine the top-notch research with practical instructions and easily understandable language. I also love his way of nuanced reasoning. This book helps you understand yourself and others, and live more relaxed in peace with yourself and with the world around you.

Like it more than I expected. I learnt a few things I did not know before about being almost human.

As the book intends to be, it addresses the happiness by breaking down the human nature, under the religious, psichological/biological and philosofical points of view. And also addresses the connection between the point of views. Very inspirational and useful for self-knowledge. I strongly recommend.

The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt is an outstanding book on happiness as also on meaning and purpose in life.It is uplifting as well as empowering . Haidt stayed for some time in Bhubaneshwar,Orissa in India to study Hindu religion and has drawn some material from this study. He has also sourced material from Buddha ,Jesus,Benjamin Franklin and Shakespeare. He has successfully interpreted this knowledge in the context of modern science and psychology. It is not an ordinary self-help or motivational book but a book based on extensive studies and research to help the reader arrive at his own conclusions about way forward. The book talks about love, virtue,reciprocity and relationships,wisdom, religion,divinity, God , meaning and purpose of life while developing the happiness hypothesis.Happiness comes from within and happiness comes from without. Every one should read this amazing book . It is a perfect book for giving as a precious gift .

Si quieres conocer sobre psicología positiva es un muy buen libro, ameno y sencillo de seguir!!! muy recomendabe de verdad!

Haidt’s book will help you understand yourself, but more importantly it will foster understanding for those individuals and cultures you typically fail to understand: those who think and function differently from yourself. Haidt manages to present important ideas and research without ever sounding pompous and his books are therefore very accessible. Enjoy the read!

Some great incites into how we think and feel the way we do. Well worth a read for anyone interested in understanding themselves or others around them.

As others have said, this is a great book. Jonathan Haidt mines psychology, philosophy, religion and science. He draws from diverse religious traditions: ancient Egypt, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The result is a clearly written treatise on that slippery subject: happiness for humans. An atheist himself, he nevertheless recommends that agnostic liberals consider what is of value in the thinking of right wing religious conservatives, and convincingly demonstrates why. He does indeed reach a logical and satisfying conclusion about how we can achieve happiness. His scholarship is impeccable; the depth and breadth of his knowledge truly impressive. Yet it’s a very well-structured book that is easy to understand. Should be required reading. Now... all that remains is to put it’s teachings into practice.