The Secrets of Happiness: Three Thousand Years of Searching for the Good LifeUnhappy 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. |
Contents
| 1 | |
LIVING FOR PLEASURE | 23 |
Pleasure Is Good The Epicureans | 46 |
CONQUERING DESIRE | 67 |
The Enlightened One Buddhism | 93 |
TRANSCENDING REASON | 115 |
The Alchemy of Happiness Islam | 141 |
Contents | 142 |
ENDURING SUFFERING | 167 |
The Hidden Face of God Judaism | 192 |
Conclusion | 209 |
| 223 | |
Other editions - View all
The Secrets of Happiness: Three Thousand Years of Searching for the Good Life Richard Schoch No preview available - 2008 |
The Secrets of Happiness: Three Thousand Years of Searching for the Good Life Richard W. Schoch No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
action Alchemy of Happiness ancient Aquinas Aristotle Arjuna become believed Bentham Bhagavad Gita bhakti yoga Buddha Buddhism called centuries Cicero death desire detachment divine else’s Enlightened One Buddhism Epicureans Epicurus evil experience faith feel find happiness freedom Ghazali Gita goal God’s Greatest Happiness Greek Happiness Islam Happiness The Utilitarians Heaven Christianity Hindu Hinduism hoopoe human imagination jnana yoga Job’s journey karma karma yoga knowledge Krishna life’s lives man’s Marcus means Meditations Menoeceus Mill Mind The Stoics moral mystic never nirvana Nizamiyya one’s ourselves path to happiness perfect person philosopher piness pleasures and pains question rational reality reason religious renounce ritual Roman search for happiness SECRETS OF HAPPINESS Seneca Siddhartha Simurgh someone spiritual Stockdale Stoicism story suffering Sufi Sufism Summa Summa Theologiae teaching tells things tion tradition trans true truth ultimate Utilitarians virtue virtuous vision wisdom words worldly