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tasmin's review
5.0
Wow, was für ein intensives, lesenswertes, wundervolles Buch. Sehr große Empfehlung an ALLE.
caidyn's review
4.0
What a dense little book.
From Socrates, Plato, Epicurus, and Aristotle to the more modern things of brain imaging, genes, and positive psychology, Lenoir takes you on a journey through the different times and what people thought happiness was. He certainly takes a more Aristotle spin on things, which is that happiness is something you can only really have at the end of your life, when you're looking back on wealth, friendship, health, knowledge, and virtue (all of which build happiness up). But, I liked his inclusion of the more modern sense of happiness, that it is immanent and attainable.
Happiness is a mental state, that's how I see it. Yet, it is also long-lasting. I definitely prescribe to an Aristotle view of happiness as well, except that I think that we can attain it without having to get old and just looking back on our pasts.
As I have this as my second book I would like in my office once I get my job, I definitely think it's a good one to have around. Lenoir gives perfect explanations of the different philosophical views of happiness. He brings up Buddhism, Taoism, and touches some on the Gospels. Yet, he keeps it philosophical, relying on reason and common sense experience, not the divine revelation. He also points out the flaws in the different theories he looked at in the book, which was helpful for me as a reader. I've been taught some of the theories -- such as Epicurus's hedonistic egoism -- so I knew what criticisms he would make, but not all of them.
Definitely one I would want to have on a shelf, just as a reference. Because, happiness is something so important that we need to strive for. As someone who has suffered from depression off and on, I know how important it is to be happy, even if it's the little things that you encounter in your day to day life. It's so important, and this book is a great way to help you find your own theory of happiness that works for you.
From Socrates, Plato, Epicurus, and Aristotle to the more modern things of brain imaging, genes, and positive psychology, Lenoir takes you on a journey through the different times and what people thought happiness was. He certainly takes a more Aristotle spin on things, which is that happiness is something you can only really have at the end of your life, when you're looking back on wealth, friendship, health, knowledge, and virtue (all of which build happiness up). But, I liked his inclusion of the more modern sense of happiness, that it is immanent and attainable.
Happiness is a mental state, that's how I see it. Yet, it is also long-lasting. I definitely prescribe to an Aristotle view of happiness as well, except that I think that we can attain it without having to get old and just looking back on our pasts.
As I have this as my second book I would like in my office once I get my job, I definitely think it's a good one to have around. Lenoir gives perfect explanations of the different philosophical views of happiness. He brings up Buddhism, Taoism, and touches some on the Gospels. Yet, he keeps it philosophical, relying on reason and common sense experience, not the divine revelation. He also points out the flaws in the different theories he looked at in the book, which was helpful for me as a reader. I've been taught some of the theories -- such as Epicurus's hedonistic egoism -- so I knew what criticisms he would make, but not all of them.
Definitely one I would want to have on a shelf, just as a reference. Because, happiness is something so important that we need to strive for. As someone who has suffered from depression off and on, I know how important it is to be happy, even if it's the little things that you encounter in your day to day life. It's so important, and this book is a great way to help you find your own theory of happiness that works for you.
anndouglas's review
2.0
I have to say that I liked the idea of this book more than I enjoyed the actual book. I managed to finish it, but I can't say that I got a lot out of it. I've read a lot of books about happiness and I guess I simply prefer books that are rooted in hard science and/or personal experience. Your mileage may vary....
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