The Happiness Hypothesis

Name: The Happiness Hypothesis
Author: Jonathan Haidt
ISBN: 9780465028023

Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

Written byJonathan Haidt

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt tests ten great ideas from the world's wisdom traditions against modern psychology. He asks which ones hold up and what they teach us about finding happiness and meaning.

Get the bookRead the 1-minute summary

Published2006
GenrePhilosophy
Key ideas5
Summary1 min read

Read it if you…

want life lessons in small doses

The summary

Key ideas in 1 minute.

Open each idea and tick it when it clicks. Your progress is saved on this device.

0 of 5 ideas read

01The rider and the elephant
The mind is like a rider on an elephant. Reason is the rider, but feelings and habits — the elephant — are much stronger.
02Change the way you see
Our view of events shapes our happiness. Practices like meditation and therapy can help change that view.
03Love and attachment matter
Close relationships are one of the most important parts of a happy life.
04Adversity can help us grow
Hard times, met well, can lead to strength and understanding.
05Happiness comes from between
Meaning comes from the right relationships: with others, with your work and with something bigger than yourself.
Want the stories, examples and depth behind these ideas?
Get the full book

Try one idea today

The rider and the elephant

The mind is like a rider on an elephant. Reason is the rider, but feelings and habits — the elephant — are much stronger. Pick one small way to put this into practice before tonight.

Try a 7-day challenge

Read smarter