Title: Stumbling on Happiness
Author: Daniel Todd Gilbert
First published May 2, 2006
263 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781400077427 (ISBN10: 1400077427)
Rating: 3.82
Overview
Have you ever wondered why we make some of the choices we do? Why do we forgive our partners for infidelity so easily but get upset when they leave dishes in the sink?
Why do we insist on ordering different meals at restaurants instead of what we really want? In “Stumbling on Happiness,” Daniel Todd Gilbert, a renowned Harvard psychologist, explores the quirks of human behavior and the illusions of foresight that cause us to mis-conceive our future and mis-estimate our satisfaction.
Drawing on the latest scientific research from psychology, cognitive neuroscience, philosophy, and behavioral economics, Gilbert vividly brings to life the challenges of predicting our own happiness. With sparkling prose and penetrating insight, he reveals the unique human ability to imagine the future and how we can use this ability to better understand ourselves and those around us.
Whether you’re a psychology enthusiast or simply curious about human behavior, “Stumbling on Happiness” is a must-read.
About the Author
Meet Daniel Gilbert, the Harvard College Professor of Psychology at Harvard University who, together with Tim Wilson, delves into “affective forecasting.” They study how people predict the emotional impact of future events and how accurate those predictions are.
Daniel’s achievements are impressive, having received multiple awards for his research and teaching, including the Guggenheim Fellowship and the American Psychological Association’s Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution to Psychology. Interestingly, he finds his most notable accomplishment to be his placement just before Dizzie Gillespie on the list of Most Famous High School Dropouts.
Daniel’s research has garnered attention from various media outlets, including The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, Money, CNN, U.S. News & World Report, The New Yorker, Scientific American, Oprah Magazine, and Psychology Today.
When he’s not working, Daniel resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with his wife and without any pets.
Editoral Review
Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Todd Gilbert is a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the human mind and our endless quest for happiness. It was first published on May 2, 2006, and it has since become a classic in the self-help genre.
Gilbert, a professor of psychology at Harvard University, draws on his vast knowledge of cognitive psychology and neuroscience to provide readers with a unique perspective on the nature of happiness and how we can achieve it.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on the nature of human imagination and how it shapes our expectations of the future.
The second part explores the ways in which our perceptions of the present are influenced by our past experiences and cultural biases. The final part of the book examines the ways in which we can use our knowledge of the past and present to make better decisions about the future.
Throughout the book, Gilbert uses a mix of personal anecdotes, scientific research, and philosophical musings to create a compelling narrative. He argues that our search for happiness is often misguided, as we are prone to making flawed assumptions about what will make us happy.
For example, he notes that we tend to overestimate the impact of major life events like getting a promotion or winning the lottery, while underestimating the importance of everyday experiences like spending time with loved ones or engaging in hobbies that we enjoy.
One of the strengths of Stumbling on Happiness is Gilbert’s engaging writing style. He has a knack for making complex scientific concepts accessible to a general audience, and his humor and wit keep the book from becoming dry or overly academic.
The book is also well-structured, with each chapter building upon the previous one to create a cohesive argument.
However, the book is not without its flaws. Some readers may find the frequent use of footnotes and citations distracting, and Gilbert’s focus on individual happiness may be seen as overly individualistic in a society that increasingly values collective well-being.
Additionally, some of the examples he uses to illustrate his points may feel dated to modern readers.
Despite these limitations, Stumbling on Happiness is a must-read for anyone interested in the nature of happiness and how we can achieve it. Gilbert’s insights are both profound and practical, and his engaging writing style makes the book a pleasure to read.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to gain a deeper understanding of the human mind and how we can live more fulfilling lives.
Overall, I would give Stumbling on Happiness a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. While it is not perfect, it is an important and engaging book that has the potential to change the way we think about happiness and our own life choices.
