Customer Reviews

The Secrets of Happiness: Three Thousand Years of Searching for the Good Life

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This is a superb book! I agree entirely with the two editorial reviews. This is a seriuous discussion of what is truly a happy and meaningful life. The author rejects the "science of happiness" where happiness is defined as simply pleasure and contentment and subjectively "feeling good." He describes the essential views on happiness of utilitarians, epicureans, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians,Muslims, the stoics and Judaism, fairly and sympathetically, how they are similar and how they differ, and what we all can learn from each approach.

Is the new 'science' of happiness resulting in further dissatisfaction in life? New age teachers would offer up happiness as a consumer right, but The Secrets of Happiness by Richard Schoch shows it isn't that easy - and contends such happiness must be found from within. Philosophy and religion blend in a survey which considers how happiness is conceived, pursued, and misconstrued. "The Secrets of Happiness" is an insightful, informed, thoughtful and though-provoking self-help book that is especially commended to the attention of non-specialist general readers seeking simple happiness in an ever increasingly complicated world.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch