Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62428 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Adding to the burgeoning number of books about defining and seeking happiness, cultural historian Schoch looks to the work of philosophers and religious seekers of the past. The essence of happiness, Schoch believes, is not simply feeling good—a state some today consider an entitlement. Rather, it lies in one's quest to create a better world. First highlighting the Greek philosopher Epicurus, the Roman Stoic Seneca and medieval Islamic scholar Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Schoch explains that although these three thinkers had very different experiences, they were united in their search for a more fulfilling life under sometimes adverse conditions. Schoch then explores the ideas found in eight sacred and secular traditions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Epicureanism. Epicureans, for example, sought pleasure, but only after conquering their fear of death. Judaism, the author says, wrestles with the question of human suffering by emphasizing the importance of enduring it honorably. Buddhists struggle to free themselves from the ego to attain detachment, right actions and enlightenment. Schoch writes in an informed, lively style and his nonjudgmental stance will appeal to many who seek not easy self-help but to wrestle with issues of meaning and values. (Nov.)
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From Booklist
More than 2,000 years ago, the Greeks considered happiness a civic virtue. Things have changed--a lot--during the intervening years. Nowadays, most people consider happiness a birthright and, as a result, Schoch maintains, have denied themselves the chance to discover meaningful happiness. Schoch encourages rejecting the "modern enfeeblement of happiness" and returning to ancient traditions of happiness. Which won't be easy, since modern happiness is big business. Self-help books earn $1 billion annually, Schoch says, and antidepressants a mind-boggling $17 billion. But not all happiness is the same, which is why Schoch refers to the secrets of happiness ("a different one for each person"). Just as each person is unique, so is each person's sense of happiness. Schoch insightfully discusses various happiness traditions throughout the world, including those of Unitarianism, Epicureanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Stoicism, and Judaism, examining their philosophical and religious roots and suggesting ways in which they may be applied to busy, modern lives. June Sawyers
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"An intellectual exploration of the best kind, a rigorous dusting downof ideas compelling us to think harder and better about what is life'smost precious prize."

-- The Sunday Telegraph

Customer Reviews

Paths to Happiness
This is a superb book! I agree entirely with the two editorial reviews. This is a seriuous discussion of what is truly a happy and meaningful life. The author rejects the "science of happiness" where happiness is defined as simply pleasure and contentment and subjectively "feeling good." He describes the essential views on happiness of utilitarians, epicureans, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians,Muslims, the stoics and Judaism, fairly and sympathetically, how they are similar and how they differ, and what we all can learn from each approach.

"The Secrets of Happiness" is an insightful, informed, thoughtful and though-provoking self-help book
Is the new 'science' of happiness resulting in further dissatisfaction in life? New age teachers would offer up happiness as a consumer right, but The Secrets of Happiness by Richard Schoch shows it isn't that easy - and contends such happiness must be found from within. Philosophy and religion blend in a survey which considers how happiness is conceived, pursued, and misconstrued. "The Secrets of Happiness" is an insightful, informed, thoughtful and though-provoking self-help book that is especially commended to the attention of non-specialist general readers seeking simple happiness in an ever increasingly complicated world.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch