Happiness: What Studies on Twins Show Us about Nature, Nurture, and the Happiness Set Point

Rating:
Summary: Quantitative...but mostly qualitative happiness
Review: The early parts of this book worried me. I was afraid that the entire book would be filled with facts, figures, and statistical support for the author's point of view.

I was pleasantly surprised when the book changed to a more subjective mode of discussion. Dr. Lykken shares many personal experiences and tells us what has made him happy. He generalizes his experiences and extrapolates the results to the rest of the population. Even though at times he seems preachy, his conclusion are, in my mind, dead on.

This book must be read with an open mind. The reader who disagrees with his arguments without pondering them, dismisses potential sources of contentment and happiness.

My advice is to read past the statistical support and attempt to understand the main ideas that Dr. Lykken presents. One might be much happier after having done so.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable reading. Valuable information. Buy for loved ones.
Review: This is a charming book full of scientific facts, stories, opinions, and personal wisdom. Lykken both entertains and informs his readers while he spreads the news arising from his research about how to make lives happier. This is no "ten rules to make you a better person" book. It is, rather, a book to be read and savored as you get to know the research of Lykken and his colleagues on the personalities and characteristics of more than four thousand twins whom they have studied in their search for the sources of personal traits. Facts are not recited or listed, instead they are illustrated with stories, examples and personalities that will help the reader recall the real messages after the particular numbers from the research studies have faded from memory.

The overall message is clear; you do have a genetic set point for happiness (just as you have for many other characteristics) but you are not helpless in the hands of the "genetic steersman." There are many things you can do to increase your feelings of happiness in your daily life no matter where your set point happens to be. About half the book is devoted to documenting, illustrating, and explaining such strategies. There are also a number of ways to avoid the "thieves of happiness" (depression, fear and anger), and a short section is devoted to dealing with these villians too.

But this book is not a textbook to be studied for some coming examination; it carries a personal message about living life in a particular way. Lykken's way is illustrated throughout the life span, starting from childbirth and infancy and proceeding through child development, parenting, marriage, work, and retirement. In short, the book presents a general approach to living one's life in such a way as to maximize one's happiness therein.(And, as a by-product, producing happier family members and better citizens.)

As you read the book, you will come to know Dr. Lykken, his colleagues, and his family (including even the pets). He comes through to this reader as a calm, thoughtful, contented, and happy man. Professionally, he is a clinical psychologist, turned full-time researcher, who has thought clearly and earnestly about living. He has investigated many aspects of personality through research and now shares his views with us in this book.

I have sent copies of this book to my three grown children who have families of their own. And I have already heard that they enjoy it as much as I have. I hope that it also helps them increase their harvest of happiness.

Rating:
Summary: Quantitative...but mostly qualitative happiness
Review: What an enjoyable read! The fascinating psychological research, and studies are there - but the happy wave of the book is given in Lykken's personal life details. We trust his grasp - on this many times elusive and absolutely paragon, of human emotions.

Rating:
Summary: 'Happiness' - what is it? Written by someone that knows.
Review: What an enjoyable read! The fascinating psychological research, and studies are there - but the happy wave of the book is given in Lykken's personal life details. We trust his grasp - on this many times elusive and absolutely paragon, of human emotions.