On Happiness: New Ideas for the Twenty-First Century

Edited by Camilla Nelson, Deborah Pike and Georgina Ledvinka

What is happiness, and how does the pursuit of happiness shape our lives? Happiness appears to be a simple emotion, individual and pleasurable, yet the problems associated with happiness in politics, economics and philosophy suggest that it is perhaps more complex and paradoxical than we first thought.

This eclectic collection of essays interrogates the ‘common sense’ understanding of happiness in the West and examines the strategies devised to obtain it. Without disposing of the concept altogether, On Happiness rediscovers the latent aspects of this pervasive (and elusive) phenomenon. Ultimately, it concludes that our current notions of happiness may in fact be the very cause of our discontent. On Happiness offers readers a spectrum of critical reflections and ‘rethinks’ of this ubiquitous cultural obsession.

Praise for On Happiness:

This is not another book from 'The Happiness Industry'... This is a collection of sixteen essays encouraging readers to reflect on what actually the pursuit of happiness really means... [A] wonderful anthology.

CLARE CALVET, ABC LOCAL

 

In this interesting collection of contemporary ideas, respected academics discuss the nature of happiness.

ELAINE FRY, THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

Book details

PUBLICATION DATE: June 2015
FORMAT: Paperback
EXTENT: 234 pages
SIZE: 234 x 153 mm
ISBN: 9781742586076
RIGHTS: World rights
CATEGORY: General Non-fiction,