The Big Book of Happiness

The idea of ​​compiling the results of 100 studies on happiness in one book, summarized concisely, clearly, and exhaustively, seemed to me wonderful. Such an intimate, quivering feeling, a subjective sensation that cannot be unambiguously defined, has become the subject of numerous academic studies around the planet. It is all the more surprising that in these works, carried out on different continents and in the conditions of different civilizations, two common and most significant factors for the experience of happiness are revealed and constantly repeated. This is the activity of the individual and the emotional connection with other people. These conclusions coincided with my theoretical ideas about the brain and behavior, during the creation of which I did not think specifically about happiness.

The most important condition for a subjective sense of well-being is the desire for a goal and the process of achieving it (and not the desired result!). This process involves a situation of uncertainty, and overcoming various obstacles on the way to the goal, and uncertainty about success. Such active purposefulness requires a lot of effort from us, but itself (supported by hope and optimism) inspires them, and this inspiration gives a feeling of happiness. In addition, our activity increases the body’s resistance to stress, mental and psychosomatic diseases. Therefore, the relationship between health and happiness found by many scientists means rather than a causal relationship (“healthy because happy”), but the action of a common factor – activity in conditions of uncertainty, which gives good health, a sense of joy in life, higher self-esteem. Another an interesting conclusion: material well-being does not provide happiness, but poverty can be the reason for its absence. Poverty forces us to survive all the time and does not give us the freedom to do what interests us. This requires a certain level of material well-being. In short, “money is not as good as bad without it.”

Finally, an important condition for happiness is our close connection with other people. For those who belong to the culture of the East, this is especially important, but also for representatives of Western civilization, too. This connection brings everyone the feeling that he is not alone in this world, and an even more important feeling of harmonious incorporation into the world, which provides us with a powerful burst of energy. Happiness shared with others becomes brighter, while grief is lessened when others support us.

But one statement from this book seemed unconvincing to me: according to the psychologist Ekaterina Uglanova, adaptation to misfortunes, gradual getting used to them can replace happiness. In my opinion, this is a completely inadequate replacement. And besides, it is in contradiction with everything said above.” Leo Bormans, a Belgian writer, a well-known popularizer of the ideas of positive psychology, contacted a hundred of the most prominent experts in this field from 50 countries of the world. He asked each of them to briefly (no more than 1000 words) describe their work – as a message of happiness addressed to the whole world. Thus this book was born.

The Big Book of Happiness. Edited by Leo Bormans. Translation from English “Company EGO Translating”. Eksmo, 352 p.