Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill

This is revolutionary look at happiness, deep and tremendously engaging, from one of the world’s most compelling voices on the subject. As a young man in France, Matthieu Ricard found himself looking for a different approach to living. The son of a prominent French philosopher, Ricard grew up among the famous thinkers and artists of his parents’ generation. He chose the path of science, studying molecular biology under a Nobel winning scientist. Then, on his first trip to India in 1967, a seed was planted for a very new sort of future, a future in which seeking inner happiness took precedent over all other goals. This book is the fruit of that seed - a revolutionary look at happiness. Matthieu Ricard combines science with spirit, bringing modern psychological research together with Buddhist thought and bridging the dialogue between East and West. He makes a passionate case for happiness as a goal that deserves at least as much energy as any other in our lives. Wealth? Fitness? Career success? How can we possibly place these above true and lasting well-being? Drawing from works of fiction and poetry, contemporary western philosophy, Buddhist thought, current psychological and scientific research and personal experience, Ricard weaves an inspirational and forward looking account of how we can begin to rethink our realities in a fast moving modern world. Ricard’s insights could not be more timely or essential, as evidence grows of well-being’s profound and measurable effects on the body and mind. With revelatory lessons and exercises that blaze a clear path for readers, this is an eloquent and groundbreaking guide to a happier life.