The Conquest of Happiness

This is a classic book. Bertrand Russell's writing style is easygoing, and this book is definitely worth reading for anyone who has already found happiness in their life or not.

A great Philosopher wrote a great book about happiness as more of a choice than anything else. Russell did not buy into the theories of depression. One way of looking at the book is the idea of reducing your needs in this world. Simplifying your life is a theory that Russell would agree with. To him happiness is a moral imperative of society & the individual. I would not agree with the man's political views. I am no Socialist. But I do agree with his social views on life & the attitude that one needs in this world. Another way of looking at the book is through the "lens" of the power of positive thinking. I never read Norman V. Peale, but Russell has similar views on many things. It's a must read for those who are unhappy & possibly unfulfilled in this world. I consider myself happy but still found the book highly interesting. I actually found out about the book by watching a Philosophy student talk about Philosophy theories & Philosophers on I think You Tube. The only Philosopher I have read a lot about was Aristotle, & I read a lot of his books/theories. It says a lot about a book, when people are still reading it 90 years after it was published.

By looking at the title, one would think that this is just another book that is filled with truisms and that doesn't increase your knowledge about the subject. However, all this changes once you see who the author is. Personally, I can't say that I agree with Mr. Russell about his philosophy of life, but that didn't reduce the pleasure that I felt while reading the book. This book accomplishes in just a few pages what most people fail to do all their life. Russell shows that happiness is a simple thing and that contrary to what many believe, it can be found in today's complicated world. The reason that most people haven't found happiness in their life, although it is simple, is that they have been looking in the wrong direction. This book points you in the right direction. I would recommend this book to everyone. It's very short and very enjoyable. Reading this book doesn't mean that you will find happiness for sure, but at least you will know what it is.

Bertrand Russel's concise, easy-to-follow, but humbly profound writing is displayed beautifully in this simple book. He claims in the beginning that he is not attempting to put forth a rigorous, end-all-be-all philosophical examination of happiness, rather he sets out merely to share his unique and insightful impressions based on his own personal experiences and penetrating observations throughout his long and vigilant life.The book is divided into two straightforward sections: "Causes of Unhappines" and "Causes of Happiness". Each section has several chapters devoted to different sources of either unhappiness or it's opposite. The wonderful thing about this organizational structure is that the depressed nihilist can easily flip to the chapter titled "Byronic Unhappiness" for a quick cure based on Russel's quintessential reasoning and logic. The exhausted workaholic can turn to Chapter 3, "Competition", for a sobering reminder that "...success can only be one ingredient in happiness, and is too dearly purchased if all the other ingredients have been sacrificed to obtain it." And even the most self-assured and stable reader is likely to find a diagnostic that rings true for them within the books pages.Overall, the prudent yet illuminating content of this uncomplicated book makes it a magnificent introduction to Russell's work, and indeed all of philosophy for that matter.

It changes lives

I realize that Russell was a Nobel Prize winning novelist, but this book reads like the ramblings of someone in the early stages of dementia. Admittedly, the subject of human happiness is a difficult one, which has challenged the humanity's greatest minds as far back as Aristotle and Socrates, maybe farther. But at least those ancient philosophers (and many since then, such as Viktor Frankl and even Shopenhauer) said things that have substance, even if you disagree with them.I was hoping that this book would provide some insights as to the bases for human happiness and unhappiness, guidance for making yourself (and other living things) happier, bits of advice from other philosophers and psychologists, etc. But it doesn't. Talks more and says less than most other books I've read on the subject.

Bertrand Russell wrote this masterpiece almost a century ago, yet it is valid today in its full length. It is actually mind-blowing how little has changed in society and human nature in such a long time. Inner complex workings of the mind and emotions that create dysfunctional behavior and therefore prevent us from connecting with others and enjoying living are explained simply, directly and thoroughly. Value of the material is very high considering how short this book is, you can read it in matter of hours, but what you learn will serve you forever. Publication explains complex aspects in a way that is very easy to understand. This work represents philosophical and psychological excellence and has been written to the highest standard in self-help publications. I recommend this book to everyone, because everyone can learn something from it.

Despite poor printing, ie, fading ink, the book in itself is excellent, thought provoking and what not. Long live Russell.

As a fan of Jordan Peterson, i discoved this Book by chance. Reading it gave me the feeling : why havent I read this Book 50 years earlier, written by a man with such clarity of mind. I would have save a few of life's detours.

A verdadeira bíblia ética.

Una fiesta de sentido común aplicado a los problemas del día a día por una de las grandes mentes del siglo XX. Inteligencia y claridad en su máxima expresión.

The fact I watched Psycho-pass to learn about this book to learn that Gen Urobuchi used it as source material for a dystopian form of happiness and then for this book to be brought up in a psychology of game design course is more amusing than it should be.