The Happiness Hypothesis
Applies the latest findings in psychology and brain research to the wisdom of the ancients to define what makes people happy and how you can find more happiness in your life. Confirms and builds on the happiness formula defined by other psychologists: H=S+C+V or Happiness = your biological Setpoint + the Conditions of your life + the Voluntary activities you do
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Psychologist Jonathan Haidt picks ten old ideas about a good life, from Buddha and the Stoics to Jesus and Ben Franklin, and tests each one against current research. Along the way he uses a metaphor of a small rider on a large elephant to describe the conscious and unconscious mind.
The Happiness Hypothesis is Jonathan Haidt's 2006 examination of ten ancient ideas about happiness from religious and philosophical traditions, evaluated against modern psychology research.
Reading order does not matter. The Happiness Hypothesis (2006) is more general; The Coddling of the American Mind (2018) and The Anxious Generation (2024) focus on specific applications. Each works as an entry point to Jonathan Haidt's work.
The Happiness Hypothesis was written by Jonathan Haidt, published in 2006 by Basic Books.
The Happiness Hypothesis is 317 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, The Happiness Hypothesis takes most readers 5 to 7 hours to finish.
The Happiness Hypothesis is a standalone novel by Jonathan Haidt, not part of a series.
The Happiness Hypothesis is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.
