The Economics of Happiness

Customer Reviews

• Timely Redefinition  Jun 26, 2007 (17 of 21 found this helpful)

  During a point in time when we are struggling to define "sustainability" and how to reduce the amount of damage we do as a species, Mark has offered a much deeper perspective on the drivers of our behavior.
  
  Happiness is the anchor of Mark's theories, and it seems as though happiness is commensurate with more harmonic ways of living and being, as a species. However, "Genuine" happiness is the focus as opposed to feigned or manufactured happiness, and I really appreciate this aspect of the book. Just as Jeremy Rifkin has expressed in "The European Dream", the American Dream of a completely isolationist, consumerist, accumulative and lavish existence is rapidly being exposed as a fast path to depression and disconnectedness. This feeling of discontent is probably the most commonly-shared aspect of being an American citizen.
  
  Mark ties these themes to environmental sustainability through the examination of community models of sufficiency. I had previously lumped the word "sufficiency" in with the taste of medicine and awkward phone calls to distant relatives. However, Mark examines communities that enjoy a markedly higher quality of life through a shared, cooperativistic living framework. Such an examination gives a relative context for how well we think we're doing as a society. Such "happy" societies also seem to have a much smaller ecological footprint.
  
  I feel as though this is a crucial read at this time, as many people begin to search for new ways to plan... on scales ranging from the dinner table to the nation.
  
  Mark is a true master at presenting a massive knowledge base in an effective and economic manner.
  
  

• a must read  Jan 8, 2008 (4 of 5 found this helpful)

  Every politician, at any level should be required to read this easy to read book

• WOW - I never realized I was so miserable  Jun 27, 2009 

  Great book that lays out the ways that happiness can be quantified and excellent examples of what that looks like statistically. This book is not for the faint at heart or those lacking either policy or fiscal backgrounds. It gets a little technical at times and is full of jargon. But if you are a progressive working in public policy it is a real gem. I have bought several copies for egg-head friends.

• I made an exception  Apr 3, 2008 (4 of 17 found this helpful)

  I try to research a book before buying it so it is rare that I find one that I stop reading before the end, but I made an exception in this case. Mr. Anielski is in favor of a balanced life and thereby is in favor of mediocrity. God forbid that one should enjoy working enough to excel. Instead one should carefully divide his/her time into little parcels and do many things that Mr. Anielski considers worthwhile and in doing so avoid the possibility of doing any one thing well.
  
  I have read that it takes ten years of daily practice before one even has an opportunity of excelling, but it will take an eternity to turn out a single Tiger Woods by following Anielski's methods.
  
  Even worse is the author's arrogance and condescension in assuming that he knows what are the best things for me to do to be happy. I cannot emphasize enough how angry this guy made me.