siddharthagolu's review against another edition
5.0
This is just a placeholder until I find the time to properly convey my thoughts because this book absolutely deserves it.
alexmsevans's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 Despite my fairly average rating, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to pick it up. I personally love Bertrand Russell and his witty style of writing. Many, if not most, of the points made resonated with me, and his advice is something I will look towards implementing in my life.
Where the book went wrong is simply due to its age. Yes, there were many prejudices held in the '30s that the modern reader has to grit through, but perhaps even more damning is the change in modern social dynamics. While the points of race and gender felt uncomfortable at best, these anecdotes did not necessarily change Russell's overall point. However, when it came to talking about the social expectations of women, marriage, and work, our current political climate has changed so much that at times the entire point becomes irrelevant. Still, there wasn't a single idea that was too seriously impacted by these faults, and Russell provides enough examples outside of these to get the argument across.
Where the book went wrong is simply due to its age. Yes, there were many prejudices held in the '30s that the modern reader has to grit through, but perhaps even more damning is the change in modern social dynamics. While the points of race and gender felt uncomfortable at best, these anecdotes did not necessarily change Russell's overall point. However, when it came to talking about the social expectations of women, marriage, and work, our current political climate has changed so much that at times the entire point becomes irrelevant. Still, there wasn't a single idea that was too seriously impacted by these faults, and Russell provides enough examples outside of these to get the argument across.
eb00kie's review against another edition
4.0
One self-help to rule them all...
Besides, Russell has the unfair advantage of being pleasant to listen to, whatever he's saying; here it is with a frank and mellow manner that he raises a couple of pertinent points. For example, he points out that in the USA leisure is regarded as pointless, as long as it does not increase status or income. I found that seldom disproven. He then proceeds to reassure us that these "dinosaurs" have fewer and fewer children due to their lack of love of life and will die out.
He also discusses boredom, excitement and the so-called "simple pleasures", subjects often ignored or treated superficially, fatigue, which I have never found elsewhere, as if from a mild superstition against lack of pep, envy, persecution mania and so on.
As usual, I don't care for hyperbola, stereotype and extremes and, to be fair, Russell seldom turns to either. Unto the "more pleasant" sources of happiness, Russell places the "man of science" upon a pedestal as a person who finds it easiest to achieve happiness, but his "man of science" is a vague notion. Some do get lonely, especially in our days of specialization, some do have "coterie"s, like Russell's unhappiest, the artist, and, may I say, some never seemed particularly happy either. When I studied mathematics 30 hours weekly, I used to think the philosophers were the "happiest". I guess it goes to show that envy appears in all sorts of environments, irrationally.
htb2050's review against another edition
5.0
This book was amazing. Almost I every chapter I could identify myself with the one or the other example that he had given. It was written in 1930 but the advice is applicable for all times.
misterfix's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely little book that neatly covers the significant impediments to happiness. Russell's inimitable wit and sharp POV are in evidence. Skip the Deepak and get the BR.
sherif's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
nithesh_123's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book that I would recommend to my kids once they achieve a reasonable degree of maturity. I wish that I had read this a couple of years earlier. Better late than never. In fact this book has come to my attention at the right juncture of my life. The firm foundations to the kind of happiness that Russel talks about must be laid in our 20s .
In his inimitable he dissects the causes of unhappiness ie boredom, fatigue, envy, sense of sin, persecution mania, fear of public opinion etc. In the second part he goes on to describe the causes of happiness ie zest, affection, the family, work, impersonal interests etc.
I must confess that I did realize some gaps in my own understanding of happiness. However, this book doesn't fall in the category of self help or that of deep shit philosophy. It is like a conversation with your wise uncle on a pleasant Saturday afternoon.
In his inimitable he dissects the causes of unhappiness ie boredom, fatigue, envy, sense of sin, persecution mania, fear of public opinion etc. In the second part he goes on to describe the causes of happiness ie zest, affection, the family, work, impersonal interests etc.
I must confess that I did realize some gaps in my own understanding of happiness. However, this book doesn't fall in the category of self help or that of deep shit philosophy. It is like a conversation with your wise uncle on a pleasant Saturday afternoon.