Join us on a literary world trip!
Add this book to bookshelf
Grey
Write a new comment Default profile 50px
Grey
Subscribe to read the full book or read the first pages for free!
I want to read the book!
All characters reduced
Stop Chasing Happiness - A pessimist's guide to a good life - cover

Sorry, the publisher does not allow users to read this book from the country from which you are connecting.

Stop Chasing Happiness - A pessimist's guide to a good life

Frank Martela

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

  • 0
  • 1
  • 0

Summary

LIFE LESSONS FROM THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD


The secret to happiness? Stop trying to find it - it's not all it's cracked up to be.


Finding happiness is less about learning new tricks and more about unlearning ways of thinking holding you back: Stop chasing happiness, stop obsessing over what others think, stop caring too much about how you feel, stop making sacrifices for personal success.


Here, academic and philosopher Frank Martela unpacks why we value happiness, and why chasing it is actually making you miserable. He reveals the secrets to Finland's continued top rankings in the global happiness reports by showing that, actually, living with purpose and contentment is much more beneficial that striving to be happy.


Building on Frank's personal encounters with people from all walks of life during travels around Finland and abroad, this book blends personal stories and quirky anecdotes with the latest scientific research and ancient traditions to deliver a strong message about how you should approach life: what you should stop doing and what you should start doing instead, to find an enduring sense of contentment and an energizing sense of

purpose for your own life.
Available since: 03/20/2025.
Print length: 224 pages.

Other books that might interest you

  • A Strange Whim of the Sea - The Wreck of the USS Macaw - cover

    A Strange Whim of the Sea - The...

    Tim Loughman

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    On January 16, 1944, the submarine rescue vessel USS Macaw (ASR-11) ran aground at Midway Atoll while attempting to get a towing line to the stranded submarine USS Flier (SS-250). The Flier was pulled free six days later, but another three weeks of salvage efforts failed to dislodge the Macaw. Then on February 12, the sea accomplished that task, nudging the ship into deeper water. 
 
 
 
As night fell and the ship slowly sank, the twenty-two men on board sought refuge in the pilot house. By about 0230 Sunday, that compartment having flooded almost entirely, Burton gave the order to open the portside door and make for the foremast. Five of the men, including Burton himself, died, as did three sailors from the base at Midway in a pair of unauthorized and effectively suicidal rescue attempts that morning. 
 
 
 
This book traces the lives of the Macaw and her enigmatic captain, from birth on San Francisco Bay to death at Midway. Ultimately, for Paul Burton and the Macaw the real enemy was the sea, and in a deadly denouement told here in riveting detail, the sea won. Highlighting the underreported role auxiliary vessels played in the war, A Strange Whim of the Sea should engage the military historian and layperson alike with the previously untold story it tells of struggle, sacrifice, death, and survival in the Pacific in World War II.
    Show book
  • Navigating The World of Social Media - cover

    Navigating The World of Social...

    Waseem Khan

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR TIME, YOUR MIND, AND YOUR FAITH  
   UNCOVER THE SECRETS TO MASTERING YOUR SCREEN TIME WHILE DEEPENING YOUR CONNECTION TO YOUR FAITH  
In an age where social media dominates our daily lives, Muslims face the pressing challenge of balancing their online presence with their spiritual obligations. The constant lure of notifications, the endless scroll, and the fear of missing out can easily spiral into addiction, affecting both mental well-being and one's connection to faith.  
Navigating the World of Social Media by Waseem Khan addresses this modern dilemma, offering a comprehensive guide for Muslims seeking to overcome the pitfalls of social media addiction. Drawing on extensive neuroscience research, this book uncovers the psychological traps set by social media platforms and how they exploit the brain’s reward system to keep users hooked.  
What distinguishes this book is its unique integration of scientific analysis with Islamic principles. Waseem Khan explores the teachings of Islam, emphasising the critical importance of time in the faith and providing actionable strategies to reclaim it. Through practical advice, reflective exercises, and spiritual guidance, Navigating the World of Social Media empowers readers to break free from the distractions of the digital world and lead lives aligned with Islamic values.  
Whether you are grappling with smartphone addiction yourself or seeking to support others in your community, this book provides the tools, insights, and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of the digital age with confidence and faith.
    Show book
  • Get It Out - On the Politics of Hysterectomy - cover

    Get It Out - On the Politics of...

    Andréa Becker

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    At least one hysterectomy is performed every minute of the year, making it the most common gynecological surgery worldwide. By the age of sixty-five, one out of five people born with a uterus will have it removed. So, why do we seldom talk about this surgery? Highly performed yet overlooked, examining the paradox of hysterectomy begins to unravel the various problems with how we medically treat uteruses and the people who have them. 
 
 
 
Get It Out weaves centuries of medical history with rich qualitative data from 100 women, trans men, and nonbinary people who had, want, or are considering hysterectomy. In compelling detail, Andréa Becker reveals how America’s healthcare system routinely deprives people of the ability to control their own bodies along race and gender lines. When people ask for a hysterectomy, they are often met with pushback: Are you sick enough? Old enough? Have you had enough babies? Will you regret this? How will your future husband feel about this? Yet this pushback is not equally experienced. While some people are barred access, others are ushered toward a hysterectomy. These contradictory recommendations reveal the persistent biases entrenched within healthcare. 
 
 
 
Get It Out interrogates how little choice people with uteruses ultimately have over their reproductive health, and explores what these "choices" signify amid interlocking systems of inequality.
    Show book
  • The Yosemite - cover

    The Yosemite

    John Muir

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of one of America's most iconic natural wonders with "The Yosemite" by John Muir. This audiobook brings Muir's vivid descriptions and passionate advocacy for nature preservation to life, offering listeners a breathtaking journey through the Yosemite Valley and its surrounding wilderness. 
John Muir, a renowned naturalist and founder of the Sierra Club, meticulously details the geological formations, flora, and fauna of Yosemite National Park. His poetic language and keen observations capture the grandeur of the towering granite cliffs, majestic waterfalls, and ancient sequoias, painting a vivid picture of this pristine landscape. 
In "The Yosemite," Muir not only shares his deep reverence for the natural world but also imparts his urgent message on the importance of conservation. His writings have been instrumental in the establishment and protection of many national parks, and his legacy continues to inspire environmentalists today. 
This audiobook edition, expertly narrated to capture Muir's passion and eloquence, invites listeners to immerse themselves in the serene beauty of Yosemite. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, an outdoor adventurer, or simply someone who appreciates eloquent writing, "The Yosemite" offers a rich auditory experience that will transport you to the heart of one of nature's most magnificent creations. 
Perfect for commutes, workouts, or quiet moments at home, "The Yosemite" is an ideal companion for anyone seeking to connect with the natural world. Let John Muir's words inspire a deeper appreciation for the beauty and fragility of our planet. 
Start listening to "The Yosemite" today and let John Muir guide you through the breathtaking landscapes that have captivated visitors for generations.
    Show book
  • The Uninnocent - Notes on Violence and Mercy - cover

    The Uninnocent - Notes on...

    Katharine Blake

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    On a Thursday morning in June 2010, Katharine Blake's sixteen-year-old cousin walked to a nearby bike path with a boxcutter, and killed a young boy he didn't know. It was a psychological break that tore through his brain, and into the hearts of those who loved both boys—one brutally killed, the other sentenced to die at Angola. 
 
 
 
In The Uninnocent, Blake wrestles with the implications of her cousin's break, as well as the broken machinations of America's justice system. As her cousin languished in a cell on death row, where he was assigned for his own protection, Blake struggled to keep her faith in the system she was training to join. 
 
 
 
Consumed with understanding her family's new reality, Blake became obsessed with heartbreak, seeing it everywhere. As she delves into a history of heartbreak—through science, medicine, and literature—and chronicles the uneasy yet ultimately tender bond she forms with her cousin, Blake asks probing questions about justice, faith, inheritance, family, and, most of all, mercy. 
 
 
 
Sensitive, singular, and powerful, effortlessly bridging memoir, essay, and legalese, The Uninnocent is a reckoning with the unimaginable, unforgettable, and seemly irredeemable.
    Show book
  • How Ableism Fuels Racism - Dismantling the Hierarchy of Bodies in the Church - cover

    How Ableism Fuels Racism -...

    Lamar Hardwick

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    2024 International Impact Book Award (Religion) 
 
★ Publishers Weekly starred review 
 
"Marshaling fine-grained historical detail and scrupulous analysis, Hardwick persuades."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) 
 
As a Black autistic pastor and disability scholar, Lamar Hardwick lives at the intersection of disability, race, and religion. Tied to this reality, he heeded the call to write How Ableism Fuels Racism to help Christian communities engage in critical conversations about race by addressing issues of ableism. 
 
Hardwick believes that ableism--the idea that certain bodies are better than others--and the disability discrimination fueled by this perspective are the root causes of racial bias and injustice in American culture and in the church. Here, he uses historical records, biblical interpretation, and disability studies to examine how ableism in America led to the creation of images, idols, and institutions that perpetuate both disability and racial discrimination. 
 
He then goes a step further, calling the church into action to address the deep-seated issues of ableism that started it all and offering practical steps to help readers dismantle ableism and racism both in attitude and practice.
    Show book