The Happiness Hypothesis

An uplifting exploration of ancient wisdom for our modern lives and how it can make us happier

Every culture hands wisdom down through generations. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others. Happiness comes from within. Can these ‘truths’ hold the key to a happier, more fulfilled life?

In The Happiness Hypothesis, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt examines ten Great Ideas which have been championed across centuries and civilisations and asks- how can we apply these ideas to our twenty-first century lives? By holding ancient wisdom to the test of modern psychology, Haidt extracts lessons on how we can train our brains to be more optimistic, build better relationships and achieve a sense of balance. He also explores how we can overcome the obstacles to well-being that we place in our own way.

In this uplifting and empowering book, Haidt draws on sources as diverse as Buddha, Benjamin Franklin and Shakespeare to show how we can find happiness and meaning in life.

‘I don’t think I ever read a book that laid out the contemporary understanding of the human condition with such simple clarity and sense.’ Guardian

Author Biography

Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He received his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and then did post-doctoral research at the University of Chicago and in Orissa, India. He taught at the University of Virginia for 16 years before moving to NYU-Stern in 2011. He was named one of the ‘top global thinkers’ by Foreign Policy magazine, and one of the ‘top world thinkers’ by Prospect magazine. His research focuses on morality – its emotional foundations, cultural variations and developmental course.