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Gross National Happiness: Why Happiness Matters for America--and How We Can Get More of It
Who are the happiest Americans? Surveys show that religious people think they are happier than secularists, and secularists think they are happier than religious people. Liberals believe they are happier than conservatives, and conservatives disagree. In fact, almost every group thinks it is happier than everyone else. In this provocative new book, Arthur C. Brooks explodes the myths about happiness in America. As he did in the controversial Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism, Brooks examines vast amounts of evidence and empirical research to uncover the truth about who is happy in America, who is not, and-most important-why. He finds that there is a real “happiness gap” in America today, and it lies disconcertingly close to America’s cultural and political fault lines. The great divide between the happy and the unhappy in America, Brooks shows, is largely due to differences in social and cultural values. The values that bring happiness are faith, charity, hard work, optimism, and individual liberty. Secularism, excessive reliance on the state to solve problems, and an addiction to security all promote unhappiness. What can be done to maximize America’s happiness? Replete with the unconventional wisdom for which Brooks has come to be known, Gross National Happiness offers surprising and illuminating conclusions about how our government can best facilitate Americans in their pursuit of happiness.
277 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
November 30, 2008
I enjoyed this book until 2/3 of the way through. Brooks' opinion that political conservatism will increase national happiness is based on a flawed characterization of a liberal worldview. He describes liberalism as pro-welfare state, and suggests an approach in which the government support programs that allow for economic mobility and increase the opportunity for individuals for succeed. But it is the Democrats who are about creating and funding these programs, and Republicans who want abandon programs, and remove restrictions on massive businesses, making economic mobility more difficult by removing opportunity for smaller businesses to compete.
The last part of the book reveals considerable bias, and it taints his more research-driven and successful work.
The last part of the book reveals considerable bias, and it taints his more research-driven and successful work.
August 11, 2008
What can advance the pursuit of happiness in our country as a whole? Scientific studies show that those who are conservative, religious, generous towards others, successful in their careers, and having good marriages have the advantage in life satisfaction.
October 12, 2013
This book offers a comprehensive, statistically-derived (if slightly dated) look at what makes individuals and our country as a whole happy. The narrative is very readable, and I found myself switching back and forth from the text to the notes so I could get the background for the data.
Most of the narrative seemed quite rational, even if it didn't feel intuitively correct. The statistical analysis is fascinating, and I liked his way of explaining the concepts. It's not all that long of a book, but I found that I digested it slowly, and with several breaks in between.
One of the concepts I found surprising was his discussion about wealth inequality in America. After watching this video, I couldn't help but wonder if the conditions in America still exist for the lowest ranks of individuals to pull themselves up into the higher echelons of earning merely by hard work, talent, opportunity and potential. It isn't all that encouraging, to be honest, and I wonder if we're an unhappier country for it.
Which brings me to another point. This book was published in 2008, which doesn't seem to be that long ago, but when he mentions the threat of Osama bin Laden or the unknown of who would replace President George W. Bush as the next leader of our nation, the book feels quite dated. I think a revised edition with some small updates would really bring this book back into relevance. It was a worthwhile read, just out of synch at times.
One final note: I saw that there's a link to a test that assesses both happiness and unhappiness, the Positive Affectivity and Negative Affectivity Scale (PANAS) - Momentary Feedback Test that is a self-rated test of moods - good and bad. (p. 6) It's very short and pretty common sense list of feelings that will help gauge if a person is feeling good and/or bad feelings. It may not change how a person feels at any given time, but the data collected overall can assist the researchers in assessing our national happiness levels. The website can be found here and has some interesting articles to read, too.
interesting quotes:
" In the Declaration of Independence, the founders did not treat happiness as some fuzzy concept - they obviously believed people knew it, wanted it, and had the right to pursue it. Happiness was - along with life and liberty - the connection between the Creator and our nation's destiny. The ability of citizens to pursue and achieve their happiness was a measure of the effectiveness and morality of the state." (p. 2)
"...it turns out that happiness and unhappiness, while not unconnected, are not exactly opposites either. Images of the brain show that the left cerebral cortex is more active than the right when we are experiencing happiness, whereas the right side becomes active when we are unhappy." (p. 5)
"Martin Seligman, the eminent psychologist who has done more than any other scholar to popularize the study of positive moods, believes that happiness (like alcoholism) is one of the traits over which we have significant behavioral control." (pp. 11-12)
"The fact that Americans are generally quite happy actually has a downside. Researchers have found that as a result of being generally accustomed to happiness, negative events bring us down more than they do people in other countries, and positive events have less of an uplifting effect on us. A 2007 study measured the number of positive events it takes to offset a negative event in our lives. For Americans, this number is about two. For Koreans and Japanese - whose baseline happiness levels are quite a bit lower than Americans' - the number is closer to one. In other words, greater average happiness brings greater expectations." (p. 13)
"I believe that the pursuit of happiness is a deeply moral obligation, on both the personal and the national level. You will learn in this book that your happiness affects me. Happy people treat others better than unhappy people do. They are more charitable than unhappy people, have better marriages, are better parents, act with greater integrity, and are better citizens. Happy people not only work harder than unhappy people, but volunteer more, too - meaning that they increase our nation's prosperity and strengthen our communities. In short, happy citizens are better citizens. Better citizens are vital to making our nation healthy and strong. And a strong, prosperous America can and should be a happy leader for the world." (pp.16-17)
"Most scholars and intellectuals would tell you in no uncertain terms that, notwithstanding all the rage and despair of the political left during the presidency of George W. Bush, liberals are, and always have been, happier than conservatives. But this is hardly surprising; after all, intellectuals are disproportionately political liberal. And it is human nature to believe your own tribe has the best minds, the best looks, the best jokes - and the happiest people." (pp. 23-24)
"Living in San Francisco by itself would make a conservative of any age emotionally rigid and prone to weeping." (p. 25)
"The happiness gap between conservatives and liberal is, in fact, astonishingly large and enduring, and it doesn't have anything to do with who is winning elections." (p. 27)
"The solution is for the level-headed - from liberal to conservative - to take back our political discourse. Our mainstream presidential candidates and are not radicals or reactionaries, and they should have the courage and integrity not to cater to the fringes in trying to win elections. The rest of us, for own happiness, need to send market signals that devalue the radicals - by shutting off their shrill voices when they are participating in politics ourselves, and by refusing to vote for the most extreme political candidates." (p. 38)
"Some might say children, conjuring up the image of a man and a woman joyfully embracing one another as they look down upon their new baby. But in fact many studies have shown that children do not make for happier marriages. On the contrary, the evidence shows that marital happiness takes a nosedive as couples move from childlessness to having their first baby; it continues southward until about the time the oldest child starts school. At this point, marriages rebound slightly, until the oldest child is an adolescent, at which point marital happiness falls even further. But this is the nadir: From that point until the kids leave home and beyond, marriages improve. Some studies find that relationships at this stage are happier than before the kids were born, although no doubt that is due to the fact that only the happiest marriages have survived to this point." (p. 64)
"Surveys of married couples conducted over the years find that there are many components far more conducive than children to marital bliss. In fact, a 2007 poll found that the top five factors people consider essential to happiness within marriage are, in order: sharing household chores, good housing, adequate income, a happy sexual relationship, and faithfulness. (Parenting comes in eighth on this list.)" (pp. 64-65)
"People find meaning in providing unconditional love for children. But this unconditional love itself is a source of happiness." (p. 69)
"'Hell is other people,' wrote the French existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre. This is probably true if the 'other people' in question are a bunch of French existentialists. For the rest of us, other people are a secret to happiness." (p. 74)
"I suggest that the evidence on happiness shows that too many moral choices leave us insecure and searching, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and thus miserable. Men and women are innately moral beings. As Albert Einstein famously put it, 'Morality is of the highest importance - but for us, not for God.'" (p. 96)
"To constrain actions legally affects morality very little. Rather, it entices people to behave in a way that avoids penalties - or to hide their actions from the law. This sort of approach not only fails to increase happiness, but also turns immoral people into criminals." (p. 97)
"Within the bounds of decency and sanity, I can write whatever I think is correct and valuable, even if others - even the people I work for - disagree with me. Part of the reason I enjoy this freedom (freedom that makes me very happy, by the way) is that I have a high level of job security - it is easier to get rid of fire ants than a tenured professor." (pp. 100-101)
"To add insult to injury, research indicates that the security measures we have taken cannot legitimately be considered effective or necessary. Even before the measures were taken, the chances of being on an airplane struck down by a terrorist were about one in 20 million, and there is no evidence that this probability has improved as a result of the policies." (p. 104)
"The dignity of the goal of defeating worldwide terrorism is hopelessly degraded when, in the next breath, we declare war on helmetless motorcycle riding and secondhand smoke." (p. 108)
"But once countries get past the prosperity level that solves large-scale health and nutrition problems, income differences pale in comparison with differences in more important factors - like culture and faith - in predicting happiness." (p. 115)
"It takes lots and lots of cash to make you feel less miserable - which suggests that other strategies (such as working on spiritual or family life, or volunteering for charity) might be more cost-effective than simply striving to get more money." (p. 117)
"It is success (not money) that we really crave." (p. 122)
[President Franklin Delano Roosevelt] "Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort." (p. 127)
"Materialism is common and grave error in which we substitute the symbols of success for success itself." (p. 132)
"Statistically, income equality does not explain any of the fluctuations in happiness or unhappiness over the past three decades." (p. 136)
"People's happiness rises when the average income increases relative to their own income, if they believe they have opportunities to succeed; they interpret the income average as a measure of their own potential." (p. 144)
"It is absolutely true that there is economic inequality in America - in fact, the gap between the richest and poorest members of society is far wider than in many other developed countries. But there is also far more opportunity, which is what is fundamentally important to both our personal happiness and our gross national happiness. Hard work and perseverance do hold the key to jumping from one economic class to the next. While it is true that we must solve the problems of absolute deprivation, such as hunger and homelessness, we must also recognize that the promise of rewards for hard work render the remaining inequality benign at worst - and a positive stimulant to achievement at best." (p. 148)
"Work also brings happiness because it gives our lives meaning - and meaning brings happiness, sooner or later. Work allows us to create value in an easily measurable way. As long as we do not lose sight of the fact that compensation for our efforts is only a symbol of this value, work reminds us that we are creators - that the world would be less valuable if we were not here. It is something that makes us feel like our lives are worth living. In terms of meaning, work is similar to parenting, which is also generative and creative." (p. 162)
"To the extent that work gives people a sense that they are in charge of their lives it will bring them joy. If work - or the lack of work - strips people of control, it will bring misery." (p. 165)
"Several studies have shown that teenagers who give and volunteer have higher self-esteem and optimism than those who don't give. In one study researchers followed 1,000 teenagers over five years and measured the extent of their charitable attitudes and behaviors through such questions as, 'For the job you expect to have in the future, how important is helping people?' and, 'How often do you spend time performing community service outside school?' The teenagers who were the most giving were least likely to be involved in street violence and teen pregnancies. They were also least likely to experience stress and negative feelings." (p. 179)
"Giving delivers direct psychological and physiological benefits. But it also benefits us in an indirect way: It makes other people like us more. There is evidence that we are held in higher esteem and rewarded when people see us behaving generously." (p. 184)
"But no matter what a person's political views or religious affiliation, charity by itself makes one happier." (p. 192)
"The pursuit of happiness is central to everything we do, and our values are what make this pursuit possible." (p. 195)
"In truth, America is an oasis of happiness-producing freedom in a world that generally doesn't believe citizens can handle freedom - and doesn't trust them to try. But the truth is that freedom brings happiness, and so we must guard it jealously and fight against its abridgment. Furthermore, the idea of freedom is America's gift to the world, which is why we must not only promote it aggressively, but also use it in our own country in a responsible way - a way that demonstrates why it makes us a happy nation." (p. 199)
"As an economist, I adore economic growth. But for an already-rich country, economic growth is important only because of what it indirectly provides: the opportunities for people to work, to support themselves instead of relying on the state, to serve others, and to succeed in their personal and professional lives. Economic growth is not, and can never be, a direct measure of our national happiness. A narrow focus on gross domestic product, without a conversation about how it meshes with and enhances our culture and values, will not necessarily enhance our gross national happiness. It may, in fact, take us in the wrong direction altogether." (p. 201)
"If you want $100 in authentic happiness, give that money away to your favorite charity. You will experience a 'Helper's High,' lower your stress hormones, and maybe even identify yourself as a leader to others and become more successful as a result. Given the price of therapy and prescriptions these days, this is about the best deal in town." (pp. 203-204)
And finallly....
"Nine main lessons for increasing our gross national happiness:
1. Right or left, political extremism is bad for our nation's happiness
2. America must defend its tradition of religious faith
3. Family life must be protected
4. We should be quick to defend freedom, but slow to abridge it
5. For happiness, our national priority should be success, not just economic growth
6. We must look for ways to promote opportunity, not economic equality
7. We should celebrate our work, not impose greater leisure
8. A happy America must continue to be a giving nation
9. Happiness is easiest to find in limited government" (pp. 196-204)
new word: riven
Most of the narrative seemed quite rational, even if it didn't feel intuitively correct. The statistical analysis is fascinating, and I liked his way of explaining the concepts. It's not all that long of a book, but I found that I digested it slowly, and with several breaks in between.
One of the concepts I found surprising was his discussion about wealth inequality in America. After watching this video, I couldn't help but wonder if the conditions in America still exist for the lowest ranks of individuals to pull themselves up into the higher echelons of earning merely by hard work, talent, opportunity and potential. It isn't all that encouraging, to be honest, and I wonder if we're an unhappier country for it.
Which brings me to another point. This book was published in 2008, which doesn't seem to be that long ago, but when he mentions the threat of Osama bin Laden or the unknown of who would replace President George W. Bush as the next leader of our nation, the book feels quite dated. I think a revised edition with some small updates would really bring this book back into relevance. It was a worthwhile read, just out of synch at times.
One final note: I saw that there's a link to a test that assesses both happiness and unhappiness, the Positive Affectivity and Negative Affectivity Scale (PANAS) - Momentary Feedback Test that is a self-rated test of moods - good and bad. (p. 6) It's very short and pretty common sense list of feelings that will help gauge if a person is feeling good and/or bad feelings. It may not change how a person feels at any given time, but the data collected overall can assist the researchers in assessing our national happiness levels. The website can be found here and has some interesting articles to read, too.
interesting quotes:
" In the Declaration of Independence, the founders did not treat happiness as some fuzzy concept - they obviously believed people knew it, wanted it, and had the right to pursue it. Happiness was - along with life and liberty - the connection between the Creator and our nation's destiny. The ability of citizens to pursue and achieve their happiness was a measure of the effectiveness and morality of the state." (p. 2)
"...it turns out that happiness and unhappiness, while not unconnected, are not exactly opposites either. Images of the brain show that the left cerebral cortex is more active than the right when we are experiencing happiness, whereas the right side becomes active when we are unhappy." (p. 5)
"Martin Seligman, the eminent psychologist who has done more than any other scholar to popularize the study of positive moods, believes that happiness (like alcoholism) is one of the traits over which we have significant behavioral control." (pp. 11-12)
"The fact that Americans are generally quite happy actually has a downside. Researchers have found that as a result of being generally accustomed to happiness, negative events bring us down more than they do people in other countries, and positive events have less of an uplifting effect on us. A 2007 study measured the number of positive events it takes to offset a negative event in our lives. For Americans, this number is about two. For Koreans and Japanese - whose baseline happiness levels are quite a bit lower than Americans' - the number is closer to one. In other words, greater average happiness brings greater expectations." (p. 13)
"I believe that the pursuit of happiness is a deeply moral obligation, on both the personal and the national level. You will learn in this book that your happiness affects me. Happy people treat others better than unhappy people do. They are more charitable than unhappy people, have better marriages, are better parents, act with greater integrity, and are better citizens. Happy people not only work harder than unhappy people, but volunteer more, too - meaning that they increase our nation's prosperity and strengthen our communities. In short, happy citizens are better citizens. Better citizens are vital to making our nation healthy and strong. And a strong, prosperous America can and should be a happy leader for the world." (pp.16-17)
"Most scholars and intellectuals would tell you in no uncertain terms that, notwithstanding all the rage and despair of the political left during the presidency of George W. Bush, liberals are, and always have been, happier than conservatives. But this is hardly surprising; after all, intellectuals are disproportionately political liberal. And it is human nature to believe your own tribe has the best minds, the best looks, the best jokes - and the happiest people." (pp. 23-24)
"Living in San Francisco by itself would make a conservative of any age emotionally rigid and prone to weeping." (p. 25)
"The happiness gap between conservatives and liberal is, in fact, astonishingly large and enduring, and it doesn't have anything to do with who is winning elections." (p. 27)
"The solution is for the level-headed - from liberal to conservative - to take back our political discourse. Our mainstream presidential candidates and are not radicals or reactionaries, and they should have the courage and integrity not to cater to the fringes in trying to win elections. The rest of us, for own happiness, need to send market signals that devalue the radicals - by shutting off their shrill voices when they are participating in politics ourselves, and by refusing to vote for the most extreme political candidates." (p. 38)
"Some might say children, conjuring up the image of a man and a woman joyfully embracing one another as they look down upon their new baby. But in fact many studies have shown that children do not make for happier marriages. On the contrary, the evidence shows that marital happiness takes a nosedive as couples move from childlessness to having their first baby; it continues southward until about the time the oldest child starts school. At this point, marriages rebound slightly, until the oldest child is an adolescent, at which point marital happiness falls even further. But this is the nadir: From that point until the kids leave home and beyond, marriages improve. Some studies find that relationships at this stage are happier than before the kids were born, although no doubt that is due to the fact that only the happiest marriages have survived to this point." (p. 64)
"Surveys of married couples conducted over the years find that there are many components far more conducive than children to marital bliss. In fact, a 2007 poll found that the top five factors people consider essential to happiness within marriage are, in order: sharing household chores, good housing, adequate income, a happy sexual relationship, and faithfulness. (Parenting comes in eighth on this list.)" (pp. 64-65)
"People find meaning in providing unconditional love for children. But this unconditional love itself is a source of happiness." (p. 69)
"'Hell is other people,' wrote the French existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre. This is probably true if the 'other people' in question are a bunch of French existentialists. For the rest of us, other people are a secret to happiness." (p. 74)
"I suggest that the evidence on happiness shows that too many moral choices leave us insecure and searching, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and thus miserable. Men and women are innately moral beings. As Albert Einstein famously put it, 'Morality is of the highest importance - but for us, not for God.'" (p. 96)
"To constrain actions legally affects morality very little. Rather, it entices people to behave in a way that avoids penalties - or to hide their actions from the law. This sort of approach not only fails to increase happiness, but also turns immoral people into criminals." (p. 97)
"Within the bounds of decency and sanity, I can write whatever I think is correct and valuable, even if others - even the people I work for - disagree with me. Part of the reason I enjoy this freedom (freedom that makes me very happy, by the way) is that I have a high level of job security - it is easier to get rid of fire ants than a tenured professor." (pp. 100-101)
"To add insult to injury, research indicates that the security measures we have taken cannot legitimately be considered effective or necessary. Even before the measures were taken, the chances of being on an airplane struck down by a terrorist were about one in 20 million, and there is no evidence that this probability has improved as a result of the policies." (p. 104)
"The dignity of the goal of defeating worldwide terrorism is hopelessly degraded when, in the next breath, we declare war on helmetless motorcycle riding and secondhand smoke." (p. 108)
"But once countries get past the prosperity level that solves large-scale health and nutrition problems, income differences pale in comparison with differences in more important factors - like culture and faith - in predicting happiness." (p. 115)
"It takes lots and lots of cash to make you feel less miserable - which suggests that other strategies (such as working on spiritual or family life, or volunteering for charity) might be more cost-effective than simply striving to get more money." (p. 117)
"It is success (not money) that we really crave." (p. 122)
[President Franklin Delano Roosevelt] "Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort." (p. 127)
"Materialism is common and grave error in which we substitute the symbols of success for success itself." (p. 132)
"Statistically, income equality does not explain any of the fluctuations in happiness or unhappiness over the past three decades." (p. 136)
"People's happiness rises when the average income increases relative to their own income, if they believe they have opportunities to succeed; they interpret the income average as a measure of their own potential." (p. 144)
"It is absolutely true that there is economic inequality in America - in fact, the gap between the richest and poorest members of society is far wider than in many other developed countries. But there is also far more opportunity, which is what is fundamentally important to both our personal happiness and our gross national happiness. Hard work and perseverance do hold the key to jumping from one economic class to the next. While it is true that we must solve the problems of absolute deprivation, such as hunger and homelessness, we must also recognize that the promise of rewards for hard work render the remaining inequality benign at worst - and a positive stimulant to achievement at best." (p. 148)
"Work also brings happiness because it gives our lives meaning - and meaning brings happiness, sooner or later. Work allows us to create value in an easily measurable way. As long as we do not lose sight of the fact that compensation for our efforts is only a symbol of this value, work reminds us that we are creators - that the world would be less valuable if we were not here. It is something that makes us feel like our lives are worth living. In terms of meaning, work is similar to parenting, which is also generative and creative." (p. 162)
"To the extent that work gives people a sense that they are in charge of their lives it will bring them joy. If work - or the lack of work - strips people of control, it will bring misery." (p. 165)
"Several studies have shown that teenagers who give and volunteer have higher self-esteem and optimism than those who don't give. In one study researchers followed 1,000 teenagers over five years and measured the extent of their charitable attitudes and behaviors through such questions as, 'For the job you expect to have in the future, how important is helping people?' and, 'How often do you spend time performing community service outside school?' The teenagers who were the most giving were least likely to be involved in street violence and teen pregnancies. They were also least likely to experience stress and negative feelings." (p. 179)
"Giving delivers direct psychological and physiological benefits. But it also benefits us in an indirect way: It makes other people like us more. There is evidence that we are held in higher esteem and rewarded when people see us behaving generously." (p. 184)
"But no matter what a person's political views or religious affiliation, charity by itself makes one happier." (p. 192)
"The pursuit of happiness is central to everything we do, and our values are what make this pursuit possible." (p. 195)
"In truth, America is an oasis of happiness-producing freedom in a world that generally doesn't believe citizens can handle freedom - and doesn't trust them to try. But the truth is that freedom brings happiness, and so we must guard it jealously and fight against its abridgment. Furthermore, the idea of freedom is America's gift to the world, which is why we must not only promote it aggressively, but also use it in our own country in a responsible way - a way that demonstrates why it makes us a happy nation." (p. 199)
"As an economist, I adore economic growth. But for an already-rich country, economic growth is important only because of what it indirectly provides: the opportunities for people to work, to support themselves instead of relying on the state, to serve others, and to succeed in their personal and professional lives. Economic growth is not, and can never be, a direct measure of our national happiness. A narrow focus on gross domestic product, without a conversation about how it meshes with and enhances our culture and values, will not necessarily enhance our gross national happiness. It may, in fact, take us in the wrong direction altogether." (p. 201)
"If you want $100 in authentic happiness, give that money away to your favorite charity. You will experience a 'Helper's High,' lower your stress hormones, and maybe even identify yourself as a leader to others and become more successful as a result. Given the price of therapy and prescriptions these days, this is about the best deal in town." (pp. 203-204)
And finallly....
"Nine main lessons for increasing our gross national happiness:
1. Right or left, political extremism is bad for our nation's happiness
2. America must defend its tradition of religious faith
3. Family life must be protected
4. We should be quick to defend freedom, but slow to abridge it
5. For happiness, our national priority should be success, not just economic growth
6. We must look for ways to promote opportunity, not economic equality
7. We should celebrate our work, not impose greater leisure
8. A happy America must continue to be a giving nation
9. Happiness is easiest to find in limited government" (pp. 196-204)
new word: riven
October 27, 2008
A somewhat-disappointing book about an important topic. First about the topic: empirical research (and psychology and neuroscience, which play second fiddle in this book) is beginning to reveal what makes us more or less happy. And many of the correlations and causes are surprising; meaning that most of us are to some degree ignorant about what will make us happy. Brooks, an empirical researcher -- or number cruncher, as he puts it -- has contributed to combating this ignorance by using regression analysis to tease out a number of correlations from a sea of survey data.
The disappointment is that, having found these correlations, Brooks then goes two steps further. First, he speculates about which way the causation points, but without saying that he is speculating. This does not inspire confidence. And when he suggests alternative theories or explanations, which is not often, it is only to dismiss them. Is there any data to back up his causal arguments or dismissals? I wish he would say. Second, Brooks suggests changes to government policy based on his causal speculation. These suggestions are interesting, but they are even less tethered to objective data.
The most egregious example may be Brooks' section on economic freedom. He cites data showing that people tend to be more happy in the countries that score highest in measures of economic freedom. There's your correlation. But Brooks goes on as if this were proof of causation, explaining by way of illustration that people living in Soviet planned economies in the 1990s were very unhappy. (Spot any confounding factors there? In addition to having less economic freedom, those folks also had less religious freedom, less political freedom, less physical mobility, less clothing, less food, etc.) He next suggests that America reduce its economic regulations to improve economic freedom and thus happiness. But do the minimum wage, anti-discrimination laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, the prohibition on selling your own body organs -- all arguably restrictions on economic freedom -- really make us less happy?
I guess my beef boils down to the fact that this book is one part empirical research, one part fun speculation, and one part (it feels at times) political manifesto. Like I said, disappointing -- but maybe still important.
The disappointment is that, having found these correlations, Brooks then goes two steps further. First, he speculates about which way the causation points, but without saying that he is speculating. This does not inspire confidence. And when he suggests alternative theories or explanations, which is not often, it is only to dismiss them. Is there any data to back up his causal arguments or dismissals? I wish he would say. Second, Brooks suggests changes to government policy based on his causal speculation. These suggestions are interesting, but they are even less tethered to objective data.
The most egregious example may be Brooks' section on economic freedom. He cites data showing that people tend to be more happy in the countries that score highest in measures of economic freedom. There's your correlation. But Brooks goes on as if this were proof of causation, explaining by way of illustration that people living in Soviet planned economies in the 1990s were very unhappy. (Spot any confounding factors there? In addition to having less economic freedom, those folks also had less religious freedom, less political freedom, less physical mobility, less clothing, less food, etc.) He next suggests that America reduce its economic regulations to improve economic freedom and thus happiness. But do the minimum wage, anti-discrimination laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, the prohibition on selling your own body organs -- all arguably restrictions on economic freedom -- really make us less happy?
I guess my beef boils down to the fact that this book is one part empirical research, one part fun speculation, and one part (it feels at times) political manifesto. Like I said, disappointing -- but maybe still important.
July 19, 2008
Aurthur Brooks follows his previous book "Who Really Cares" with another very interesting and important read. He starts where the Declaration of Independance famously declares "pursuit of Happiness" as being self-evident and endowed by our Creator.
Is this true? Brooks rigorous analysis of the data takes you through this thought, discovering what makes Americans happy. More importantly he discuses it’s critical role in making us the most prosperous nation and how we can further enrich our nation, or at least not embitter our people.
“Gross National Happiness” produces results not expected and should be read if happiness and it’s pursuit is something important to you.
Is this true? Brooks rigorous analysis of the data takes you through this thought, discovering what makes Americans happy. More importantly he discuses it’s critical role in making us the most prosperous nation and how we can further enrich our nation, or at least not embitter our people.
“Gross National Happiness” produces results not expected and should be read if happiness and it’s pursuit is something important to you.
November 28, 2008
This was an interesting book based on the idea in Bhutan to measure the country's Gross National Happiness. In America, the "pursuit of happiness" is actually a part of our Declaration of Independence, so how are we doing as a country to pursue happiness? This book studies how happy Americans are and what ultimately makes them happy. It's very interesting to see that what those things are: conservative, smaller government; family; freedom; economic mobility, not necessarily economic equality; working; and charity and giving. Basically meaning, purpose and values create happiness in our lives! :)
July 31, 2009
The only thing I didn't like about this book is that it tends to get bogged down a little in citing study after study. Still, a very thought-provoking book on the nature of happiness. Are liberals more happy, or conservatives? Does religion make us happier? Do families? Money?
He answers the questions using data every step of the way and finds some surprising answers. Much of what he concludes confirms what we already intuitively know, but he supplies a fresh and interesting perspective to the analysis. I finished the book yesterday, yet I'm still thinking through it. A great, engaging read.
He answers the questions using data every step of the way and finds some surprising answers. Much of what he concludes confirms what we already intuitively know, but he supplies a fresh and interesting perspective to the analysis. I finished the book yesterday, yet I'm still thinking through it. A great, engaging read.
December 18, 2023
I really enjoyed this non fiction book. Arthur C. Brooks is one of my favorite non-fiction writers and influencers. In this book he uses survey data from all over the world to tease out the things that actually make us happier as a person, family, community, and country. I know Dr. Brooks is a man of faith so there is bias but I agree with his conclusions as does my faith. On average, moral people are happier, conservatives are happier, married people are happier, parents are not necessarily happier, Americans are happier, generous people are happier. It turns out even people with glasses are happier. I guess I am one happy guy! Turns out modern science agrees with gospel truths! Love it.
February 10, 2024
Great and insightful read on how we can quantify happiness from a statistical perspective
May 6, 2021
This was a painful read, not because it was more vacuous than a Coulter or D'Souza book, but because Arthur C. Brooks is supposed to be better than this. His reputation, at least in my social circles, is a serious thinker who transcends political partisanship. The marketing for this book made me believe that I was going to read a serious study or analysis regarding which types of political policies can maximize societal wellbeing.
And then I read this....
Gross National Happiness:
Ch 1 -- Happiness
Happiness is difficult to define and more difficult to measure.
Ch 2 -- Religion
Religion makes you happy. Republicans want you to be religious, Democrats (i.e. ATHEISTS) don't.
Ch 3 -- Family
Marriage makes you happy. Republicans want you to get married, Democrats (i.e. FEMINISTS) don't.
Also kids make you unhappy. BUT those kids will probably be happy so you should have kids to increase the overall happiness of society. Republicans want you to have kids, Democrats don't.
Ch 4 -- Freedom
Politically free countries are happy. Morally free people (relativists) are unhappy. Republicans like political freedom, Democrats like moral freedom.
Ch 5 – Money
Money doesn't buy happiness. Maybe *some* corporations pretend it does but the biggest liar is the GOVERNMENT who funds LOTTERIES even though winning the jackpot won't make the citizens happier.
Ch 6 -- Inequality
Inequality is not really a problem. Only Americans who *believe* inequality leads to lower economic mobility are less happy. So stop talking about it and you'll be happier.
The End
In case it isn't obvious, Brooks makes several huge mistakes.
First, to his credit, Brooks admits many times that happiness is difficult to measure and harder to isolate as a causal factor. Does marriage cause happiness or does happiness cause marriage? Is it actually marriage that brings happiness or is it cohabitation? What about spouses with good-not-great marriages? Brooks doesn't know. So while his evidence is presented with caution, his conclusion (Republican policies cause happiness) is stated boldly.
Secondly, he assumes many things about Democrats that are no part of any Democratic platform, agenda, or campaign. He says Democrats are anti-marriage, for example, and presents some version second-wave 1960s feminism as proof.
Thirdly, I found his entire approach purposefully biased. It would be quite easy to cherrypick data to show Democratic policies also favor factors that cause happiness (Dems favor paid paternity leave, prenatal care, mental health funding, etc).
I prefer the approach in other books, such as Social Democratic Capitalism by Lane Kenworthy and Blue Zones of Happiness by Dan Buettner, wherein the authors essentially ask "who are the happiest people and what factors separate them?" Are red counties happier than blue ones? Are conservative nations more satisfied with life than progressive nations? Brooks doesn't even ask these relevant questions. The reason he avoids these paths is obvious; they wouldn't lead him to his preferred conclusion.
And then I read this....
Gross National Happiness:
Ch 1 -- Happiness
Happiness is difficult to define and more difficult to measure.
Ch 2 -- Religion
Religion makes you happy. Republicans want you to be religious, Democrats (i.e. ATHEISTS) don't.
Ch 3 -- Family
Marriage makes you happy. Republicans want you to get married, Democrats (i.e. FEMINISTS) don't.
Also kids make you unhappy. BUT those kids will probably be happy so you should have kids to increase the overall happiness of society. Republicans want you to have kids, Democrats don't.
Ch 4 -- Freedom
Politically free countries are happy. Morally free people (relativists) are unhappy. Republicans like political freedom, Democrats like moral freedom.
Ch 5 – Money
Money doesn't buy happiness. Maybe *some* corporations pretend it does but the biggest liar is the GOVERNMENT who funds LOTTERIES even though winning the jackpot won't make the citizens happier.
Ch 6 -- Inequality
Inequality is not really a problem. Only Americans who *believe* inequality leads to lower economic mobility are less happy. So stop talking about it and you'll be happier.
The End
In case it isn't obvious, Brooks makes several huge mistakes.
First, to his credit, Brooks admits many times that happiness is difficult to measure and harder to isolate as a causal factor. Does marriage cause happiness or does happiness cause marriage? Is it actually marriage that brings happiness or is it cohabitation? What about spouses with good-not-great marriages? Brooks doesn't know. So while his evidence is presented with caution, his conclusion (Republican policies cause happiness) is stated boldly.
Secondly, he assumes many things about Democrats that are no part of any Democratic platform, agenda, or campaign. He says Democrats are anti-marriage, for example, and presents some version second-wave 1960s feminism as proof.
Thirdly, I found his entire approach purposefully biased. It would be quite easy to cherrypick data to show Democratic policies also favor factors that cause happiness (Dems favor paid paternity leave, prenatal care, mental health funding, etc).
I prefer the approach in other books, such as Social Democratic Capitalism by Lane Kenworthy and Blue Zones of Happiness by Dan Buettner, wherein the authors essentially ask "who are the happiest people and what factors separate them?" Are red counties happier than blue ones? Are conservative nations more satisfied with life than progressive nations? Brooks doesn't even ask these relevant questions. The reason he avoids these paths is obvious; they wouldn't lead him to his preferred conclusion.
August 28, 2010
Highly recommended.
I heard Brooks speak about his later book, Who Really Cares, about charitable giving. I was impressed and decided to look up more of his work. The conclusions here about what, statistically, causes true happiness, were sometimes expected and sometimes surprising. I especially recommend the chapter on work. (It turns out that 89% of Americans are happy with their jobs, despite the ubiquitous grumbling). While applicable individually, I like that this book is more about happiness of communities and nations than just making yourself a happier person.
This book is also a nice ego boost, first because Brooks talks quite a bit about the points of American culture that make us happier than the rest of the world, and second because some of the conclusions are ones you already believe in. The thought provoking part comes when he makes recommendations counter to what you think should be the case (guaranteed at least a few times in the book). "Can that really make us happy?" you ask yourself. "And if so, would a policy that increases happiness while failing to achieve my other goals be worth it? Are my values misplaced? Or is Brooks mistaken?"
Happiness is not necessarily the most important thing, but it is very worth considering how happiness is affected by the culture and policies we espouse. As Brooks reminds us at the end of the book, he isn't telling us what the right answers are, just the consequences of our choices. "I'm not trying to lecture you on how to be a better person--just a happier one."
I heard Brooks speak about his later book, Who Really Cares, about charitable giving. I was impressed and decided to look up more of his work. The conclusions here about what, statistically, causes true happiness, were sometimes expected and sometimes surprising. I especially recommend the chapter on work. (It turns out that 89% of Americans are happy with their jobs, despite the ubiquitous grumbling). While applicable individually, I like that this book is more about happiness of communities and nations than just making yourself a happier person.
This book is also a nice ego boost, first because Brooks talks quite a bit about the points of American culture that make us happier than the rest of the world, and second because some of the conclusions are ones you already believe in. The thought provoking part comes when he makes recommendations counter to what you think should be the case (guaranteed at least a few times in the book). "Can that really make us happy?" you ask yourself. "And if so, would a policy that increases happiness while failing to achieve my other goals be worth it? Are my values misplaced? Or is Brooks mistaken?"
Happiness is not necessarily the most important thing, but it is very worth considering how happiness is affected by the culture and policies we espouse. As Brooks reminds us at the end of the book, he isn't telling us what the right answers are, just the consequences of our choices. "I'm not trying to lecture you on how to be a better person--just a happier one."
June 25, 2009
I gave this book 5 stars but I'd like to place an asterisk next to it with the admonition that books about public policy are not for everybody. However, I do think everyone could benefit from reading this book.
Arthur Brooks idea of maximizing happiness rather than consumption (GDP) is so simple and profound that it's bound to be revolutionary. Gross National Happiness is filled with insights into what really makes us happy and how we can get more of it. Traditional economics is based on the flawed assumption that utility (happiness) is derived from some optimal combination of consumption. An important simplification that allows us to model decisions, but this same assumption can be very dangerous, especially as we try to create policy that maximizes utility (happiness).
For those involved in policy decisions or for those that consider themselves an informed voter this book is a must read.
***I'd also like to give special thanks to Rachel Ayerst and the author Arthur Brooks for sending me, a poor college student interested in public policy, a signed copy after I mentioned that I hoped to read the book. I hope that kind act brings them both lots of happiness.***
Tim Ernst
timothyernst@gmail.com
Arthur Brooks idea of maximizing happiness rather than consumption (GDP) is so simple and profound that it's bound to be revolutionary. Gross National Happiness is filled with insights into what really makes us happy and how we can get more of it. Traditional economics is based on the flawed assumption that utility (happiness) is derived from some optimal combination of consumption. An important simplification that allows us to model decisions, but this same assumption can be very dangerous, especially as we try to create policy that maximizes utility (happiness).
For those involved in policy decisions or for those that consider themselves an informed voter this book is a must read.
***I'd also like to give special thanks to Rachel Ayerst and the author Arthur Brooks for sending me, a poor college student interested in public policy, a signed copy after I mentioned that I hoped to read the book. I hope that kind act brings them both lots of happiness.***
Tim Ernst
timothyernst@gmail.com
August 11, 2016
I like the way that Brooks approaches his subject for this book. While I understand that all research is imperfect, a large body of research that finds similar results suggests patterns that deserve some attention. At the beginning of the appendix, he writes, "In this book, I reach virtually all of my conclusions on the basis of statistics - those generated by my own analysis as well as those compiled through the empirical work of other scholars. A huge number of studies, and literally gigabytes of data, are lurking behind the preceding chapters."
As a brief summary, the research which underlies this book supports the following statements about our national happiness (taken from the list in the conclusion):
1. Right or left, political extremism is bad for our nation's happiness
2. America must defend its tradition of religious faith
3. Family life must be protected
4. We should be quick to defend freedom, but slow to abridge it
5. For happiness, our national priority should be success, not just economic growth
6. We must look for ways to promote opportunity, not economic equality
7. We should celebrate our work, not impose greater leisure
8. A happy America must continue to be a giving nation
9. Happiness is easiest to find in limited government
As a brief summary, the research which underlies this book supports the following statements about our national happiness (taken from the list in the conclusion):
1. Right or left, political extremism is bad for our nation's happiness
2. America must defend its tradition of religious faith
3. Family life must be protected
4. We should be quick to defend freedom, but slow to abridge it
5. For happiness, our national priority should be success, not just economic growth
6. We must look for ways to promote opportunity, not economic equality
7. We should celebrate our work, not impose greater leisure
8. A happy America must continue to be a giving nation
9. Happiness is easiest to find in limited government
August 1, 2011
What makes us happy? Arthur C Brooks believes he knows.
In his book "Gross National Happiness", Brooks makes the case for what he believes makes for a happier nation. Throughout his book, his research indicates what makes people happy: work, charity, marriage, and above all- freedom! He shows that people are happiest in countries where they feel the most free. And he shows through data what America needs if we are to be a happier nation.
A couple years ago, I was at a Sarah Palin rally here in Florida. One of the local politicians to take the stage before her was a petite woman from Sarasota dressed smartly in a business suit and shoulder length dark hair. She told us "An elderly man once asked me at one of my fundraisers 'Why is it that you Republican women are so much better looking than the Democrat women?' I told him it's not that we're prettier, we're just happier."
Brooks' research also spreads doubt on certain myths about conservatives. Conservatives are more likely to give to charity and volunteer. They're also nearly twice as happy as their counterparts on the left. And if they're not happy yet, this book is sure to make them smile.
In his book "Gross National Happiness", Brooks makes the case for what he believes makes for a happier nation. Throughout his book, his research indicates what makes people happy: work, charity, marriage, and above all- freedom! He shows that people are happiest in countries where they feel the most free. And he shows through data what America needs if we are to be a happier nation.
A couple years ago, I was at a Sarah Palin rally here in Florida. One of the local politicians to take the stage before her was a petite woman from Sarasota dressed smartly in a business suit and shoulder length dark hair. She told us "An elderly man once asked me at one of my fundraisers 'Why is it that you Republican women are so much better looking than the Democrat women?' I told him it's not that we're prettier, we're just happier."
Brooks' research also spreads doubt on certain myths about conservatives. Conservatives are more likely to give to charity and volunteer. They're also nearly twice as happy as their counterparts on the left. And if they're not happy yet, this book is sure to make them smile.
January 5, 2010
Very interesting book written by an erstwhile liberal. Despite coming down somewhat strongly on the conservative side of many issues, Brooks goes to great lengths to justify the conclusions he reaches while being careful to not read too much into the data. For instance, he points out that the extreme left is most apt to *hate* those with opposing viewpoints but that the extreme right *also* has this same tendency (just not as high a percentage of that population).
Generally, he makes a strong case that:
1. Conservatives are generally happier than liberals.
2. This is mainly due to religion, marriage/family, and charitable giving.
He lost my attention a little towards the end, but I did appreciate his last chapter where he talks about how these findings ought to influence our political actions.
Generally, he makes a strong case that:
1. Conservatives are generally happier than liberals.
2. This is mainly due to religion, marriage/family, and charitable giving.
He lost my attention a little towards the end, but I did appreciate his last chapter where he talks about how these findings ought to influence our political actions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2011
I found this book in the clearance section of Big Lots and almost put it down without buying it until I noticed that the fist review on the back was from PJ O'Rourke, and I figured if he likes it it's got to be good.
And it is. It's an interesting look at the studies of what produces happiness, mostly from a political/sociological perspective. While there are some areas I would have been curious for him to touch on (do pets make people happier?), it's interesting to see the relationship between things like money, kids, marriage, and politics and happiness. The author keeps it light and funny.
And it is. It's an interesting look at the studies of what produces happiness, mostly from a political/sociological perspective. While there are some areas I would have been curious for him to touch on (do pets make people happier?), it's interesting to see the relationship between things like money, kids, marriage, and politics and happiness. The author keeps it light and funny.
July 3, 2008
This was written by a (former) liberal, a tenured professor who, like Barack Obama, believed Conservatives were bitter and clung to their guns and religion. During his research of many studies made on happiness in America he discovered that the level of happiness in Conservatives is much higher than in Liberals. He learned he had always been incorrect in thinking that Liberals were happy and Conservatives were unhappy. He goes into great detail on why. Also compares happiness with that in other countries and why. Lots of great info in this.
May 24, 2012
A lot of people don't understand why I would be republican considering my views about social inequality. This book gives empirical evidence supporting many of my beliefs about limited government and redistribution of income as well as the need for strong families and the promotion of good values. Using survey data from the United States and abroad and numerous other economic, psychology, and other social science studies the author gets at the root of happiness and politics. I highly suggest reading this book.
January 21, 2019
Ideologically this book differs from a couple things that I've read lately. Which I try to do often because I want a good mix of opinions. I found it to be fascinating when compared with Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression - and the Unexpected Solutions. I find Brooks, in spite of all the data in his books, to be a very good writer and fun speaker.
December 22, 2010
This was recommended by a friend of my wife and despite the cheesy title and the difficulty of trying to capture what is meant by happiness, I really enjoyed this book. Some parts were common sense but other parts were fascinating (particularly the part about how children effect happiness). Made for good conversation with my wife which makes for a good read in my book.
July 24, 2012
I initially had a hard time w/this book in that the first chapter kind of irritated me. I felt that the author came across as quite judgmental. However, I'm glad I decided to read it from beginning to end because it really was an interesting book to read, whether or not I agreed w/it. Some things I read surprised me, while others didn't.
January 3, 2013
I enjoyed the first couple of chapters of this, as far an content goes. The format was a little boring. I couldn't make it through any more and had already renewed it three times at the library. So I just gave up.
May 20, 2011
Interesting data on the link between charity and happiness. Giving empowers everyone in profound ways and positively effects individuals, families, communities, country and beyond.... Perhaps the best platform for 'Hope and Change'.
January 25, 2013
At some point, exponential economic growth expectations coupled with a finite resource base may become a major source of national dissatisfaction. GNH may provide a different "yard stick" to measure soverign success as well as individual success.
May 23, 2013
Brooks attempts to display a set of statistics that matched with the "right" policies will encourage and increase American happiness. I personally disagree with some of the opinions, and question the lens Brooks uses with his statistics, but overall, the read is worth it.
August 7, 2017
Nicely developed exposition on what constitutes (major features of) happiness and general strategies for increasing happiness. A close approximation to behavioral prescriptions we and our country could implement to make our lives more pleasant and "happy."
July 21, 2009
I loved this book! It rang true with me, was inspiring, entertaining and reaffirmed those things I already believe--so how could I not love it?
June 1, 2009
Interesting premise, though like most of these type books, could have been a magazine article
June 11, 2009
Ugh, did not get far through this book before I realized that the author intended to use "the pursuit of happiness" only as a platform from which to discuss his conservativism. No thanks.
October 16, 2010
Another well researched book. I enjoy Arthur Brooks and his calm thoughtful style. He always makes me think and challenges me to do a little better.
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