Synopses & Reviews
Manel Baucells and Rakesh Sarin have been conducting ground-breaking research on happiness for more than a decade, and in this book they distill their provocative findings into a lively, accessible guide for a wide audience of readers. Integrating their own research with the latest thinking in the behavioral and social sciencesand#151;including management science, psychology, and economicsand#151;they offer a new approach to the puzzle of happiness. Woven throughout with wisdom from the worldand#8217;s religions and literatures,
Engineering Happiness has something to offer everyoneand#151;regardless of background, profession, or aspirationand#151;who wants to better understand, control, and attain a more joyful life.
and#149; Shows how a few major principles can explain how happiness works and why it is so elusive
and#149; Demonstrates how the essence of attaining happiness is choice
and#149; Explores how to avoid happiness traps
and#149; Tells how to recognize happiness triggers in everyday life
Review
and#8220;In approach and in its creativity, Engineering Happiness is one of the best books on happiness in many a moon!and#8221;
Synopsis
"This book is for anyone seeking to become happier. It provides a thoughtful, reasoned approach to improving oneand#8217;s happiness based on fundamental scientific research and case review. The authorsand#8217; unique approach clarifies how individuals can, in essence, decide to be happy. They provide practical steps that are easy to follow and should result in a happier you."and#151;Ralph L. Keeney, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
"This book contains wisdom from many sources: findings in the social sciences, systematic ways of organizing useful concepts, memorable anecdotes, insights from different cultures and, most of all, good common sense. Reading this illuminating book is a first good choice. A second is to follow its recommendations to be happier. Bravo!"and#151;Robin Hogarth, author of Educating Intuition
About the Author
Manel Baucells is Professor of Business and Economics at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona. Rakesh Sarin is Paine Professor of Management at the Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Table of Contents
Preface: Engineers on Happiness
Acknowledgments
Part Iand#151;Overview
Introduction: The Science of Happiness
1. Measuring Happiness
2. Defining Happiness
Part IIand#151;Laws of Happiness
3. The First Law of Happiness: Relative Comparison
4. The Second Law of Happiness: Motion of Expectation
5. The Third Law of Happiness: Aversion to Loss
6. The Fourth Law of Happiness: Diminishing Sensitivity
7. The Fifth Law of Happiness: Satiation
8. The Sixth Law of Happiness: Presentism
Part IIIand#151;Engineering a Happier Life
9. The Treasure of Happiness: Basic Goods
10. Cumulative Comparison
11. Reframing
12. Living within the Laws of Happiness
13. Building a Happier Life
Notes
Index
An annex to this volume, and#147;The Mathematics of Happiness,and#8221; is available online at www.ucpress.edu.