happiness hypothesis book pdf

We will keep fighting for all libraries - stand with us!

Internet Archive Audio

• This Just In
• Grateful Dead
• Old Time Radio
• 78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings
• Audio Books & Poetry
• Computers, Technology and Science
• Music, Arts & Culture
• News & Public Affairs
• Spirituality & Religion
• Radio News Archive

• Flickr Commons
• Occupy Wall Street Flickr
• NASA Images
• Solar System Collection
• Ames Research Center

• All Software
• Old School Emulation
• MS-DOS Games
• Historical Software
• Classic PC Games
• Software Library
• Kodi Archive and Support File
• Vintage Software
• CD-ROM Software
• CD-ROM Software Library
• Software Sites
• Tucows Software Library
• Shareware CD-ROMs
• Software Capsules Compilation
• CD-ROM Images
• ZX Spectrum
• DOOM Level CD

• Smithsonian Libraries
• FEDLINK (US)
• Lincoln Collection
• American Libraries
• Canadian Libraries
• Universal Library
• Project Gutenberg
• Children's Library
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Books by Language
• Additional Collections

• Prelinger Archives
• Democracy Now!
• Occupy Wall Street
• TV NSA Clip Library
• Animation & Cartoons
• Arts & Music
• Computers & Technology
• Cultural & Academic Films
• Ephemeral Films
• Sports Videos
• Videogame Videos
• Youth Media

Search the history of over 866 billion web pages on the Internet.

Mobile Apps

• Wayback Machine (iOS)
• Wayback Machine (Android)

Browser Extensions

Archive-it subscription.

• Explore the Collections
• Build Collections

Save Page Now

Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future.

Please enter a valid web address

• Donate Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape

The happiness hypothesis : finding modern truth in ancient wisdom

Bookreader item preview, share or embed this item, flag this item for.

• Graphic Violence
• Explicit Sexual Content
• Hate Speech
• Misinformation/Disinformation
• Marketing/Phishing/Advertising
• Misleading/Inaccurate/Missing Metadata

Obscured text on back cover due to sticker attached.

plus-circle Add Review comment Reviews

27 Favorites

Better World Books

DOWNLOAD OPTIONS

No suitable files to display here.

IN COLLECTIONS

Uploaded by station13.cebu on November 20, 2021

SIMILAR ITEMS (based on metadata)

WorldFreeBooks

World Best Free PDF Books Library

• A.G. Riddle
• Aaron L. Friedberg
• Abbi Glines
• Abby Jimenez
• Harold Abelson
• Saba Imtiaz
• Science Fiction
• Young Adult

The Happiness Hypothesis By Jonathan Haidt

Download free pdf of The Happiness Hypothesis By Jonathan Haidt. The book is about the pursuit of happiness, drawing from ancient wisdom and modern research. Haidt explores the metaphor of our brain as a rider (neocortex) trying to control an elephant (limbic system). He emphasizes that while genetics play a role in happiness, changing our thoughts can still train the “elephant.” The book also delves into social relationships, reciprocity, and the principles that shape our well-being. A scientifically grounded guide to finding happiness in our complex world.

The Happiness Hypothesis By Jonathan Haidt Book Info:

• Publisher:  Basic Books
• Published: December 1, 2006
• ISBN: 9780465028023

Download PDF

Download ePUB

Recommended Books

The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

The Book Thief By Markus Zusak books PDF/Epub free download from here. The narrative is set in Nazi Germany during…

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow By Zoulfa Katouh

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow By Zoulfa Katouh books PDF/Epub download free from our site. The narrative revolves…

Vampires Never Get Old By Zoraida Córdova

Vampires Never Get Old By Zoraida Córdova PDF/Epub download from our site is free. This anthology brings together eleven unique…

Zig Ziglar’s Secrets of Closing the Sale By Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar’s Secrets of Closing the Sale By Zig Ziglar books PDF/Epub free download on our site. The book is…

A Single Swallow By Ling Zhang

A Single Swallow By Ling Zhang books PDF/Epub free download from here. The narrative brings to life the experiences of…

The Space Between By Michelle Andrews

The Space Between By Michelle Andrews PDF/Epub is free to download on our site. “The Space Between” is a work…

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post Comment

• Corpus ID: 143114716

The happiness hypothesis: Finding modern truth in ancient wisdom.

• Published 2006

603 Citations

Ideas of happiness from ancient wisdom: a book review, a new science of happiness: the paradox of pleasure, in pursuit of happiness: empirical answers to philosophical questions, happiness: early modernity and shakespearean comedy, “happiness” and “the good life” as motives working together effectively, can we raise the level of happiness, happiness donut: a confucian critique of positive psychology., the virtue blind spot: do affective forecasting errors undermine virtuous behavior, happiness and virtue in positive psychology, better to be a renunciant : buddhism, happiness, and the good life, 24 references, flourishing: positive psychology and the life well-lived., meanings of life, a companion to ethics, sources of the self: the making of the modern identity, personal goals, life meaning, and virtue: wellsprings of a positive life., varieties of moral personality: ethics and psychological realism.

• Highly Influential

Interpreting the good life: growth memories in the lives of mature, happy people.

On happiness and human potentials: a review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being., quandaries and virtues: against reductivism in ethics, positive affect and the experience of meaning in life., related papers.

Showing 1 through 3 of 0 Related Papers

• Politics & Social Sciences

Sorry, there was a problem.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom Paperback – December 1, 2006

A “wonderfully smart and readable” (Washington Post) book that combines philosophical wisdom and scientific research, revealing surprising insights about how to live a meaningful life

• Print length 320 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Basic Books
• Publication date December 1, 2006
• Grade level 11 and up
• Reading age 13 years and up
• Dimensions 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 0465028020
• ISBN-13 978-0465028023
• See all details

Customers who bought this item also bought

Get to know this book

What's it about.

Popular highlight

From the publisher.

Editorial Reviews

About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; 1st edition (December 1, 2006)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0465028020
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465028023
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 years and up
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 11 and up
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.8 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• #8 in Consciousness & Thought Philosophy
• #26 in Ancient Greek & Roman Philosophy
• #906 in Health, Fitness & Dieting (Books)

Videos for this product

Click to play video

Happiness Hypothesis - Watch BEFORE Buying!

George Vlasyev

The Happiness Hypothesis (Paperback Book Review)

Adam's Picks

Customer Review: I truly loved the book.

Brian Johnson | Heroic

About the author

Jonathan haidt.

Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business. He received his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and then did post-doctoral research at the University of Chicago and in Orissa, India. He taught at the University of Virginia for 16 years before moving to NYU-Stern in 2011. He was named one of the "top global thinkers" by Foreign Policy magazine, and one of the "top world thinkers" by Prospect magazine.

His research focuses on morality - its emotional foundations, cultural variations, and developmental course. He began his career studying the negative moral emotions, such as disgust, shame, and vengeance, but then moved on to the understudied positive moral emotions, such as admiration, awe, and moral elevation. He is the co-developer of Moral Foundations theory, and of the research site YourMorals.org. He is a co-founder of HeterodoxAcademy.org, which advocates for viewpoint diversity in higher education. He uses his research to help people understand and respect the moral motives of their enemies (see CivilPolitics.org, and see his TED talks). He is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom; The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion; and (with Greg Lukianoff) The Coddling of the American Mind: How good intentions and bad ideas are setting a generation up for failure. For more information see www.JonathanHaidt.com.

Customer reviews

Our goal is to make sure every review is trustworthy and useful. That's why we use both technology and human investigators to block fake reviews before customers ever see them.  Learn more

We block Amazon accounts that violate our community guidelines. We also block sellers who buy reviews and take legal actions against parties who provide these reviews.  Learn how to report

Reviews with images

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• About Amazon
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell products on Amazon
• Sell on Amazon Business
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• › See More Make Money with Us
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon and COVID-19
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices

• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

• Find a Library
• Browse Collections
• The Happiness Hypothesis

ebook ∣ Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

By jonathan haidt.

Add Book To Favorites

Is this your library?

Sign up to save your library.

With an OverDrive account, you can save your favorite libraries for at-a-glance information about availability. Find out more about OverDrive accounts.

9780465028016

Jonathan Haidt

Basic Books

26 December 2006

Find this title in Libby, the library reading app by OverDrive.

Search for a digital library with this title

Title found at these libraries:.

[Jonathan Haidt] the Happiness Hypothesis

Click the start the download

Description

Account 81.177.180.204.

Welcome to DLSCRIB

Partner Sites

Legal notice.

Please fill this form, we will try to respond as soon as possible.

The Happiness Hypothesis Summary

1-Sentence-Summary:   The Happiness Hypothesis is the most thorough analysis of how you can find happiness in our modern society, backed by plenty of scientific research, real-life examples and even a formula for happiness.

Favorite quote from the author:

Table of Contents

Video Summary

The happiness hypothesis review, audio summary, who would i recommend the happiness hypothesis summary to.

If you’re looking for a scientifically proven way to find happiness, you’ve come to the right place.

These blinks show that Jonathan Haidt , social psychologist and professor at NYU , has pulled out all the stops.

In the beginning of The Happiness Hypothesis , he establishes a metaphor, which then serves throughout the rest of the book to explain happiness in different contexts.

He says our brain is divided into two main parts.  Your limbic system is in charge of your basic instincts , the needs for sleep, food and sex.

The neocortex is, as its name suggests, a newer part of the brain, responsible for your rational thinking . It’s what keeps your limbic system in check and makes sure you don’t run around naked on the street, overeat, or sleep in when you’re supposed to go to work.

While the neocortex follows suit to your thoughts, your limbic brain doesn’t. It’s fully in charge of your heart rate, moving while you sleep or the knee-jerk reflex .

Haidt therefore describes the limbic brain as a wild elephant,  with your neocortex being  the rider , trying to control the elephant.

Unhappiness comes from the rider and the elephant disagreeing, and Haidt uses this metaphor to show you what you can do to close the gap between the two.

50% to 80% of your baseline level of happiness is determined in your genes , but by changing your thoughts you can still train the elephant .

For example, your limbic brain is trained to recognize danger everywhere, in order to survive, but by  becoming an optimist , you can lessen this behavior, which isn’t quite so useful today.

If you want to save this summary for later, download the free PDF and read it whenever you want.

A large chunk of our happiness comes from our social relationships , and the first step towards improving them, is understanding them.

Reciprocity is the principle on which we interact, which is why you feel guilty if you don’t return a favor and  Sheldon feels compelled to give a gift back . We feel so strongly about it, that we’d prefer to get nothing, rather than receiving an unfair share .

You can use this principle the next time you fight with your spouse or roommate: Just admit some of the things you did wrong . Your friend will start to reciprocate and also admit what they did wrong, helping both of you to resolve the conflict.

Doing this also helps lessening your self-serving bias , since your elephant thinks it’s always right and your rider usually defends it.

Next to your relationships, your work is one of the few factors that matters a lot to your happiness.

The adaptation principle shows that whatever lucky event or adversity we face, we get used to it. This was proven in a study showing that people who won the lottery and people who became paralyzed both returned to their baseline happiness levels after one year.

However, what you spend your time working on is one of those external circumstances that has a big impact, thanks to the progress principle . It says that we draw much more happiness from working towards a goal , rather than reaching it.

So try to find meaningful work  you’re good at – as Confucius says: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Your most important relationship in your life will likely be the one with your partner or spouse. But on your quest for love , don’t just rely on passion . No matter how much “in love” you are at the beginning of the relationship, it naturally fades – and that’s okay.

Haidt says we must seek to develop companionate love , which is what best friends, brothers, sisters and family members share. Having someone at your side through the ups and downs of life, sharing your joy and sadness and exploring and learning together creates a much stronger bond, which can last you a lifetime, but it takes time to develop.

So don’t give up a relationship once passion fades, but give your companionate love time to develop.

The rider and the elephant might also disagree about who you are.  For example your rider can try to preserve your image of being an efficient, career-driven manager, while your elephant just wants to cut himself some slack and play soccer with his buddies.

It often takes a crisis for us to see these differences, which is why adversity can make us happier.  This is especially true for people in their teens and twenties, who spend a lot of time thinking and looking for meaning in their lives. A crisis gives you the chance to see what the elephant really wants and help the rider adjust your self-image to match your true desires.

Lastly, we need to feel connected to something greater than ourselves , which is why religion has a place in our lives. Even if you’re an atheist, you probably believe in karma, destiny or fortune. That’s a good thing! Belief gives us a sense of awe , because it makes us realize that we’re a small part of something much greater.

• Surround yourself with the people you love the most and live in accordance with reciprocity
• Do work that matters to you
• Find a partner who will stand by your side through sunshine and rain
• Allow yourself to be part of something greater

These are just some of the things I learned from these blinks, as there were so many good insights, let alone in the book.

These blinks did an awesome job. I read parts of The Happiness Hypothesis , and every page hits you with a new insight. I don’t know how I would’ve summarized it, but Blinkist did it.

I would have liked to learn about the formula here (Haidt gives a formula for happiness in the book, consisting of your biological set points, the conditions of your life, and your voluntary activities), but I don’t mind that they went for the rider and the elephant metaphor.

Using this throughout all blinks made the summary very consistent and actionable. The book is great, the summary is superb – I highly recommend you get both.

Listen to the audio of this summary with a free reading.fm account*:

The 27 year old who burns through one love relationship after another, the 47 year old who still slaves away in a corporate job she hates in hope for a good retirement and anyone who thinks happiness is just something your born with.

Last Updated on December 5, 2022

Niklas Göke

Niklas Göke is an author and writer whose work has attracted tens of millions of readers to date. He is also the founder and CEO of Four Minute Books, a collection of over 1,000 free book summaries teaching readers 3 valuable lessons in just 4 minutes each. Born and raised in Germany, Nik also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration & Engineering from KIT Karlsruhe and a Master’s Degree in Management & Technology from the Technical University of Munich. He lives in Munich and enjoys a great slice of salami pizza almost as much as reading — or writing — the next book — or book summary, of course!

*Four Minute Books participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising commissions by linking to Amazon. We also participate in other affiliate programs, such as Blinkist, MindValley, Audible, Audiobooks, Reading.FM, and others. Our referral links allow us to earn commissions (at no extra cost to you) and keep the site running. Thank you for your support.