The good life : lessons from the world's longest scientific study of happiness

Title:

Author:

Waldinger, Robert J., 1951- author.

Added Author:

Schulz, Marc S.,

Personal Author:

Waldinger, Robert J., 1951- author.

ISBN:

9781982166694

Edition:

First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.

Physical Description:

ix, 341 pages : illustrations, 24 cm

General Note:

"Create a more meaningful and satisfying life"--Jacket.

Contents:

What makes a good life? -- Why relationships matter -- Relationships on the winding road of life -- Social fitness : keeping your relationships in good shape -- Attention to relationships : your best investment -- Facing the music : adapting to challenges in your relationships -- The person beside you : how intimate relationships shape our lives -- Family matters -- The good life at work : investing in connections -- All friends have benefits -- Conclusion: It's never too late to be happy.

Abstract:

"What makes a life fulfilling and meaningful? The simple but surprising answer is: relationships. The stronger our relationships, the more likely we are to live happy, satisfying, and overall healthier lives. In fact, the Harvard Study of Adult Development reveals that the strength of our connections with others can predict the health of both our bodies and our brains as we go through life"-- Provided by publisher.

Corporate Subject:

Harvard Study of Adult Development.

Subject Term:

Interpersonal relations.

Relationship quality.

Well-being.

Quality of life.

Happiness -- Social aspects.

Happiness -- Psychological aspects.

Happiness -- Research.

Genre:

Self-help publications.

Summary:

Holds:

Available:*

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Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

A New York Times Bestseller

What makes for a happy life, a fulfilling life? A good life? In their "captivating" ( The Wall Street Journal ) book, the directors of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted, show that the answer to these questions may be closer than you realize.

What makes a life fulfilling and meaningful? The simple but surprising answer is: relationships. The stronger our relationships, the more likely we are to live happy, satisfying, and healthier lives. In fact, the Harvard Study of Adult Development reveals that the strength of our connections with others can predict the health of both our bodies and our brains as we go through life.

The invaluable insights in this book emerge from the revealing personal stories of hundreds of participants in the Harvard Study as they were followed year after year for their entire adult lives, and this wisdom was bolstered by research findings from many other studies. Relationships in all their forms--friendships, romantic partnerships, families, coworkers, tennis partners, book club members, Bible study groups--all contribute to a happier, healthier life. And as The Good Life shows us, it's never too late to strengthen the relationships you already have, and never too late to build new ones. The Good Life provides examples of how to do this.

Dr. Waldinger's TED Talk about the Harvard Study, "What Makes a Good Life," has been viewed more than 42 million times and is one of the ten most-watched TED talks ever. The Good Life has been praised by bestselling authors Jay Shetty "an empowering quest towards our greatest need: meaningful human connection"), Angela Duckworth ("In a crowded field of life advice...Schulz and Waldinger stand apart"), and happiness expert Laurie Santos ("Waldinger and Schulz are world experts on the counterintuitive things that make life meaningful").

With "insightful [and] interesting" (Daniel Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness ) life stories, The Good Life shows us how we can make our lives happier and more meaningful through our connections to others.

Reviews (1)

Kirkus Review

A comprehensive examination of what makes a "good life," based on a study that "has followed the lives of two generations of individuals from the same families for more than eighty years." Waldinger and Schulz, the current director and associate director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which began in 1938, use the data from this massive research project to make a convincing argument about what constitutes a good life. Early in the book, they give their conclusion: "Good relationships keep us healthier and happier. Period." The authors present consistently fascinating insights about the lives of many of the study's participants, as well as those in related studies, showing what aspects of life are most beneficial, regardless of age, gender, class, wealth, or status. Encompassing the experiences of more than 1,300 descendants from the original 724 participants, the project is "the longest in‑depth longitudinal study of human life ever done"--and it is ongoing. The resulting book, write Waldinger and Schulz, "is deeply informed, appropriately, by the long and fruitful friendship of its authors." Most readers fully understand the chaos of modern-day life, "a haze of competing social, political, and cultural priorities, some of which have very little to do with improving people's lives." The Harvard Study, on the other hand, has always remained devoted to illuminating the "lived experiences" of the participants, showing the value of a wide variety of relationships, whether focused on family, friends, romantic partners, or work colleagues. Throughout, the authors maintain a conversational tone and include many of the questions and exercises used in the study to allow readers to examine their own relationships and to develop them further. The book is perfect for readers of Arthur Brooks, Daniel Pink, Angela Duckworth, and other writers who delve into how to fashion prosperous, fulfilling lives. An engrossing look at why relationships matter, featuring an unprecedented abundance of data to back it up. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.