Unhappy is the story of happiness. More than two thousand years ago, when the ancient Greeks first pondered what constitutes “the good life,” happiness was considered a civic virtue that demanded a lifetime’s cultivation. Not just mere enjoyment of pleasure and mere avoidance of suffering, true happiness was an achievement, not a birthright. Now, in an age of instant gratification and infinite distraction, history professor Richard Schoch takes a refreshingly contemplative look at a question that’s as vital today as ever: What does it mean to be happy? Schoch consults some of history’s greatest thinkers — from Aristotle to Thomas Aquinas to Buddha — in his quest to understand happiness in all its hard-won forms. Packed with three thousand years’ worth of insights, many long forgotten, “The Secrets of Happiness” is a breath of ancient wisdom for anyone who yearns for the good life.
Weight | 0.5 kg |
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Author | |
ISBN | 9780743292924 |
Publisher | Scribner |
Publication Year | 2006 |
Pages | 243 |
Format | Hardcover |