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Happiness: The Science behind Your Smile 1st Edition

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Daniel Nettle (Author)
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Daniel Nettle (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 22 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0192805591
ISBN-10: 0192805592
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (September 7, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0192805592
  • ISBN-13: 978-0192805591
  • Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.7 x 4.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #650,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars'Happiness is like a butterfly...'
By Grady Harp HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on August 8, 2005
Format: Hardcover
This brief but scholarly and entertaining little book is not the expected 'self-help book' - or is it? Daniel Nettle explores studies collecting data on people's views of whether or not they are happy (polls), on brain systems (biology), on anti-depressants, hallucinogens, and dopamine (biochemistry), and on the media/marketing blitz of recipes for achieving happiness. It is all very concise, non-biased, and informative.

But by far the most helpful and sensible information contained in this book is Nettle's quiet explanation of how we as humans are geared to determine 'happiness' on comparisons with our fellow beings: is my income as big as theirs, my car/house/lifestyle, business success and yes, even sexual achievement as gratifying as my neighbors'? It often boils down to a polarity between 'wanting' and 'liking' - the decision is ultimately ours. Nettle contends that in constantly pursuing happiness (or questioning why our levels don't meet expectations), the most we can hope for is 'what psychologists call subjective well-being'. He then closes with rays of hope that with increased scientific and biochemical investigation, the goal of happiness just may be closer at hand.

Nettle quotes Hawthorne: "Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." A well-written, necessary book for today's society. Grady Harp, August 05
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3.0 out of 5 starsWorth 4 stars if it was a bit longer. Thesis: People are inclined toward making choices that DO NOT maximize their happiness
By brian komyathy VINE VOICE on July 23, 2005
Format: Hardcover
Drugs such as nicotine "stimulate the 'wanting' system, making them the perfect self-marketing products. If you are a smoker, you have been duped by chemistry into spending a lot of time and money on doing something you don't actually enjoy." And if you don't smoke? Well, there's nothing really to take solace in since you too are afflicted similarly, but solely by a genetic bug to outperform others (or at least try to); programmed by evolution. Evolution, the author reasons, "hasn't set us up for the attainment of happiness, merely its pursuit." We consequently strive for better pay, a nicer home, newer cars; conquests of all sorts---elevations of our status in some regard, all; even if little of it makes us marginally more happy." Thus our biggest enemy if we decide we want to be happy beings, is the very psychology we have to use to do it."

That is not to say most folks aren't happy. As studies around the world (cited by the author) have shown, from poor and more well-off countries alike, we are happy, generally speaking---most folks rating their happiness between 6-8 on a ten point scale---but more because most of us are genetically predisposed not to wallow in despair (which explains why we are still here; reproductive success being the proof herein). The author doesn't specifically address the issue but it seems implied to conclude that most folks anywhere---from time immemorial to now, in most any country, whether rich or poor---will rationalize that what they have isn't bad (& while it certainly could be better---and perhaps will, with hope), they'd acknowledge being generally happy (ie., the 6, 7, or 8 of 10, above). The point of this book, to summarize then, is that by doing more of what one does, hoping to reach, say, a 9, 9.3, 9.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsHappiness is like the tooth fairy. It never comes.
By Alexander Kemestrios Ben on March 9, 2008
Format: Paperback
Nettle has produced a terse gem of a book. The writing is all beef no fat. The theory and studies presented are poignant and relevant. This is one of the best books on 'Happiness' I have read.

Nettle's main thesis is that humans are notoriously bad at knowing what will make them happy. This is because evolution has programmed us to maximize reproductive success, not to maximize our felicitous feelings. He points out that most of the things people think will make them happy do not. These include having money/material goods, having a hot wife/husband, eating great food, drinking, doing drugs, short term indulgence in TV, or other media, etc.

The things that really determine our happiness level are genes, satisfaction, autonomy, and challenges.

Nettle breaks down our happiness system into many components. one is a dopamine system that prods us to want. This is what tricks us into thinking that lighting another cigarrette will make us happy as we get more and more miserable and our health fades. Another system is the reward system consisting of opioids. These neurotransmitters blunt our pain and heighten our pleasure. This is what is released during copulation, eating, drinking, etc. The fact that we have seperate brain systems for wanting and having is interesting and highly explanatory.

Nettle adds many details that I shan't get into. If you want to know more, read the book. Heck, it only takes about five hours.

One thing that I find fascinating is the concept of the hedonic treadmill. This is the idea that if we get status and other worldy goods, we adapt to them so quickly that our happiness level returns to what it was before we got them.
I always had an inkling that this was the case from personal experience.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsGreat summary of current thinking on happiness
By Bilal Hafeez on January 4, 2007
Format: Paperback
Nettle summarises the various studies and statistics available on the subject of what make people happy. Importantly, he has a useful discussion on the types of happiness; feelings of joy, judging oneself to be happy, and realising one's potential. He focuses on the second, and crunches through the studies, also provding useful scientific explanations of how the brain works. Three of the most interesting things that stood out for me were that most people are actually happy, control within one's job is more important than income, and there is a distinct (biological) difference between wanting and liking. The latter is the root of addiction (and advertising), and also shows how getting what one wants may not lead to happiness.

I would have been interested in seeing a greater discussion on why the rates of depression are on the rise, yet most people are happy. Is it the case that the extremes of society are getting more pronounced? Or simply, we are more aware of depression than before. I also thought that his view that those who are neurotic (tendency to negative emotions) and introverted (closed to experiences) tend to be less happy was somewhat circular. This is the crux of the issue, that is, what causes what! Does being happy lead one to be less neurotic or the other way around?!

On balance, the book was informative, concise and life-enhancing
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Nice and easy

Published 12 months ago by joy
5.0 out of 5 starsHappiness?

Was received in the most mint condition and was very pleased to have read it

Published 13 months ago by Erica Cansino
5.0 out of 5 starsThoughtful Analysis

Daniel Nettle's work is insightful and interesting--as always.

Published 13 months ago by GS
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

The science of happiness does not make you necessarily more happy but surely more intelligent

Published 18 months ago by Serge H Ahmed
5.0 out of 5 starsVery interesting book

I read mostly fiction, but I really enjoyed this. I particularly liked the discussion about what people want vs. what actually makes people happy. Read more

Published on May 24, 2011 by book junkie
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat Summary of Positive Psychology

I've read several books on Positive Psychology now, and this book is a great summary of all the information out there. Read more

Published on April 13, 2011 by S. B. Scott
5.0 out of 5 starsCheer Up!

I heard the author discuss this book on NPR and had to have it. I liked it so much, I bought a copy (after previewing it via the library). Read more

Published on October 4, 2010 by Reinalda
5.0 out of 5 starsALL you need to know about happiness!

This very short book is a gem. Most if not all statements enunciated in the book are based on scientific studies and interpreted with a very high standard of objectivity. Read more

Published on June 25, 2010 by W. Cheung
5.0 out of 5 starsBest of its class

I have read many of these happiness book and this one is heads above the rest. Witty, erudite and literate.

Published on March 16, 2010 by Frozen Ax
3.0 out of 5 starsAccepting Happiness

One of the points of departure is Paul Ekman's "identification of a set of basic emotions--fear, sadness, disgust, anger, surprise, and joy--which are universally recognized" (12). Read more

Published on June 8, 2009 by Juan del Valle

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