A review by iffer
The Mansion of Happiness: A History of Life and Death by Jill Lepore

2.0

While I found this book a relatively engaging, quick read, especially for non-fiction, I agree with the other reviewers that Mansion of Happiness is meandering, and not in a good way. By the time I had finished reading the dust cover insert, introduction and first chapter, I already had the impression that I was reading essays on miscellaneous topics Jill Lepore found interesting that she then attempted to tweak to fit a theme so that they could be published in a book. Lo and behold, in the "Last Words" chapter, Lepore writes that most of the chapters of the book began as essays written for the New Yorker. Several interesting ideas about humans' evolving worldview about the stages of life and various historical events and figures are explored, but the "story" Lepore is trying to tell isn't cohesive.