The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

5 Responses to “The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom”

1. Grace L. Judson says:

   May 3, 2010 at 6:01 pm

   I was agreed a copy of this by a friend whose opinion I value and trust. Thus, even though I quickly realized that the leader has really missed the point of much of what he’s trying to explore, I soldiered on to the end.

   It’s as if a name colourblind was trying to clarify a sunset based on what he’d read about colour theory.

   It’s as if a name who had only ever eaten Wonderbread was trying to clarify the experience of eating a chewy, robust, whole-grain, artisanal loaf – based on having read recipes, sniffed the aroma of the bread baking, and understanding the physiological responses of taste and digestion.

   In fleeting, from the perspective of a name who HAS seen a full-colour sunset, and who HAS loved the taste and texture of that whole-grain bread, it’s deeply, sadly poignant to read his interpretations of very ancient traditions and what they mean to real experience.

   Not to mention the fact that he’s completely missed how many of persons very ancient traditions have been brought forwards and made even more significant to modern times by modern practitioners and teachers.

   What’s even more poignant is that it’s clear that he is so, so close to having a deeper understanding of what he’s writing about.

   Save your money and save your time. It’s well-written, and it has some appealing points to make, but in the end it is inaccurate in much of what it says (as others have already commented). And rather than leaving me feeling inspired or more pleased, I felt saddened by how painstakingly this book has misunderstood so much!
   Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
2. David L. Rosenbloom says:

   May 3, 2010 at 8:54 pm

   Forget this book. It’s an appealing premise – exploring the fantastic minds of the past to find a formula for modern happiness (ie. nothing is new under the sun – “the ancients understood what really mattered in life”). But it drags along building the same point over and over again for nearly 300 pages. It could have been written in less than 100! Spend your time on another book.
   Reader’s Rating: 2 / 5
3. WSB says:

   May 3, 2010 at 9:00 pm

   The book arrived in better condition than I expected, plus it arrived sooner than I anticipated.
   Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
4. L. A. Reynolds says:

   May 3, 2010 at 11:10 pm

   I bought this book on the recommendation of David Brooks, the New York Times columnist. It was on the list of books he recommended in his column about how “we” need to change how we reflect (and act) in this world. (Which I agree with wholeheartedly.)
   
   In any case I bought this and another of his recommendations, Michael Gazziniga’s The Ethical Brain. After perusing the Gazziniga book I chose to start with the Haidt. I regretted his choice of the title, after all, what can be more fleeting than “happiness”?
   
   I persevered through to the end. It had a few bright moments, no, instants; but it was basically the musings of a college boy. It seem so full of ordinary, everyday information and nothing worth note. It’s a mystery to me why anyone would recommend it.
   
   I am giving it three stars after reading the review from ‘a reader in front of the front range’. I figured if he gave it three stars, I should be as generous – otherwise, I was tempted to assign only two.
   Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
5. Gerald R. Johnson says:

   May 3, 2010 at 11:25 pm

   Painstakingly researched in broad terms but at times left me scratching my head where he was going with all this. Felt like he was throwing everything in the past 50 years of social psychology, anthropology, zoology and the kitchen sink to support his various theses. After reloading a few times, I reflect he got them all with his shotgun approach.

   Still, the leader is clearly out of his depth in his discussions and understanding of Buddhism (as many Western academics are). Buddhism, if it must be called that, seems simple and simple to bottle, but this only makes it more elusive to academics who are prone to relying on scriptures, MRI studies on meditation etc.

   Buddhism is and has permanently been a personal Dhamma practice. For centuries sages have been recommending throwing Buddhist books and scriptures in the dustbin, not because of their worthlessness, but because of their trend to distract and lead the reader/scholar into adopting positions of fake certainty regarding the Dhamma and Dhamma practice.

   Only after much arduous personal practice do the books, scriptures and philosophies add further to an understanding of the Dhamma. Furthermore, there are more types of Buddhism than there are flavours of ice cream; a profound level of personal practice and insight is necessary before one wades knee-deep into the heap of literature.

   Finally, traditional Dhamma practice has never been about “how to become pleased” or “how to get rid of passions” or even “how to avoid suffering”. It’s about gaining a healthy perspective on life and effectively dealing with the inescapable pain and suffering we must all face; how to flow with the excellent times and terrible times, if you will. If the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are practiced properly under qualified supervision, anti-depressant drug therapy is rarely necessary.

   Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5