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sve100's review against another edition
3.0
Макар на моменти книгата да звучи доста наивно, повечето разсъждения са валидни и досега.
За съжаление не споделям мнението, че щастливият човек трябва да е обърнат само навън.
Без първо да опознае себе си, да излекува травмите, оставени от родителите (които бегло се загатват в тази книга), човек трудно би могъл да намери щастие навън. Така добрите насоки, дадени от Ръсел, биха останали само кухи съвети, подходящи за хора, които търсят лесни и бързи решения.
За съжаление не споделям мнението, че щастливият човек трябва да е обърнат само навън.
Без първо да опознае себе си, да излекува травмите, оставени от родителите (които бегло се загатват в тази книга), човек трудно би могъл да намери щастие навън. Така добрите насоки, дадени от Ръсел, биха останали само кухи съвети, подходящи за хора, които търсят лесни и бързи решения.
siddharthagolu's review
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
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
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
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.