The Happiness Problem

We appear to have more control over our lives than ever before. If we could get things right - the perfect job, relationship, family, body and mind then we'd be happy. With enough economic growth and technological innovation, we could cure all societal ills.

The Happiness Problem shows that this way of thinking is too simplistic and can even be harmful: no matter how much progress we make, we will still be vulnerable to disappointment, loss and suffering. The things we do to make us happy are merely the tip of the iceberg. Sam Wren-Lewis offers an alternative process that acknowledges insecurity and embraces uncertainty. Drawing on our psychological capacities for curiosity and compassion, he proposes that we can connect with, and gain a deeper understanding of, the personal and social challenges that define our time

'What would the study of wellbeing look like if it wasn't centred around the goal of increasing individuals' ratings of happiness? Wren-Lewis walks a fine line between the thoughtless optimism of positive psychology and the defeatist pessimism of its critics and forges a distinctive path that's both complex and hopeful.' - Anna Alexandrova, Cambridge University