The Pursuit of Happiness: What Makes a Person Happy-And Why

From Publishers Weekly If there were a textbook on the subject of happiness, this would be it. Myers ( Social Psychology ) delves headlong into this little-documented topic, backing up his assertions with reference to wide-ranging research. His findings suggest that wealth, sex, age and race have little to do with overall life satisfaction. So, who is happy? According to Myers, people who are community-oriented, religious or spiritual, involved in work they enjoy (regardless of financial compensation) and rooted in long-term, stable relationships. How happy one is also depends on such character traits as optimism and extraversion and on conditions that foster the feeling that one has some control over life's circumstances. There is also much to be said, Myers contends, for "putting on a happy face," because acting as though one were happy can lead to feeling so. Not a simplistic, formula-ridden "positive thinking" guide, the book bursts with thought-provoking, innovative material for the general reader and for students of social psychology as well. Illustrations not seen by PW . Author tour. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal YA-- Meyer's book will be useful to serious scholars as well as students and other interested parties. It's well written, informative, and captures readers' interest by providing insight and provoking thought about this most-human topic. The author challenges readers to examine the nature of happiness and individuals' responsibility for their own well-being. This is a title that supports the curriculum for sociology, psychology, and peer counseling. Government students will also find the discussion of the correlation between national well-being and personal happiness to be of value. In terms of social-science materials, this title is a bonus.