Happiness

We all want to be happier. But if the data is any indication, we're not doing so well in that pursuit. Unhappiness has been rising cross-culturally for nearly two decades. Here's the good news, however: it doesn't have to be this way. In fact, changing these troubling trends is what Arthur aims to do with his work. The first step is understanding the science and ancient wisdom surrounding happiness — and then changing our lives for the better.

“You have a unique role to play in life. You have room to increase the happiness in your life. To do that, you have to manage your natural happiness blend, manage yourself, and play into your strengths.”

Arthur Brooks

“Getting happier requires that we accept unhappiness in our lives, and understanding that it isn’t an obstacle to our happiness.”

Arthur Brooks

“Beyond a certain income, working harder simply to have more money to buy things is pointless, since we find that none of life’s biggest problems—which typically involve our relationships—are solved.”

Arthur Brooks

“You need to commit yourself to understanding happiness. That can mean many things, whether it’s learning about the science of happiness, studying philosophy, or immersing yourself in a faith practice.”

Arthur Brooks

PANAS (“Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule”)

This quiz assesses the extent to which you feel positive and negative emotions across an average day.

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recommended book

The Happiness Files

Insights on Work and Life

Imagine if your life were a startup. How would you lead it and shape it to be most successful? That’s the question behind The Happiness Files.

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"Great practical wisdom."

George Stephanopoulos
Coanchor, Good Morning America; host, ABC's This Week

“Arthur Brooks is the only person to combine both science and our aspirations about our lives. His work confirms and surprises us about ourselves and how we are progressing.”

Eric Schmidt
Former Chairman and CEO, Google

“This journey makes me all the more gratified to see The Happiness Files out in the world—a world that urgently needs the ideas, the research, and the inspiration in this book. I can’t wait to see its positive impact.”

Jeff Kehoe
Executive Editor, HBR Press

More on

Happiness

Type

More on

Happiness

Podcast
Video

TODAY: Glass Half Full with Craig Melvin Copy

Arthur sits down with Craig Melvin for a wide-ranging conversation about how to live a life of purpose, optimism, and fulfillment. Arthur reveals the simple habits he believes support meaning, and explains why boredom plays a critical role in restoring it.

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Video

CBS Morning News: Why English Speakers Are So Sad

Arthur joins CBS Morning News with his observations on why English speakers are sadder than people who speak other languages.

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Article

Stanford Veritas Forum

Arthur joins Andrew Huberman at Stanford to share their scientific expertise and personal anecdotes from their journeys to a fulfilling life — and the role of faith within it.

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    Download the free Love Your Enemies Reading Guide with prompts and questions designed to bring more empathy, civility, and understanding to your conversations.

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