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How and How Not to Be Happy

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How and How Not to Be Happy

By: J. Budziszewski
Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
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About this listen

It’s time to start asking the right questions about happiness.

The West is facing a happiness crisis. Today, less than a quarter of American adults rate themselves as very happy—a record low. False views of happiness abound, and the explosion in “happiness studies” has done little to dispel them. Why is true happiness so elusive, and why is it so hard to define?

In How and How Not to Be Happy, internationally renowned philosopher and happiness theorist, J. Budziszewski, draws on decades of study to dispel the myths and wishful thinking that blind people from uncovering lasting fulfillment.

Could happiness lie in health, wealth, responsibility, or pleasure? Should we settle for imperfect happiness? What would it even mean to attain perfect fulfillment? Budziszewski separates the wheat from the chaff, exploring how to attain happiness—and just as importantly, how not to.

©2022 J. Budziszewski (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing Career Success Motivation & Self-Improvement Personal Development Personal Success Happiness Career Inspiring
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Didn't mind the first half the book, was a bit thought provoking...then it just went down the path of god is the answer...any intellectual rigour went out the door along with my desire to continue with it.

Disappointing end

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First part is truly very good going in a logic train of arguments that's is eye opening.
Then starts rooting to God and relgion as Only way of finding happiness by forcing ideas with a convincing tone but words that lack sustain

Lost all credibility on the last part

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Terrible to listen to hard to make sense off. Could not finish. waste of money.

Not so great

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what have I just listened to? not sure, but review needs at least 15 words, the you have it

not my cup of tea

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If your into that sort of thing, perhaps you’ll enjoy it, if your not you won’t.

*Spoiler* the answer is religion

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The author's style is distracting and ponderous. He quotes early on his much larger treatise on the same subject concerning the writings of Thomas Aquinas. Such an approach might suit those who enjoy scholastic style, but even though quoting contemporary examples, this feels like something lifted from a very different century.

Not a happy book

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In the end that’s the message the author pushes. I listened longer than I should have.
The book was free... Free of any wizdom, free of any deep insights.

There was no hypothesis presented, no discussion on personality types. The author often expressed derogatory views about certain traits of behaviors that did not align with his narrow view of the world.

Unless you want to have bigoted views rammed down your throat, don’t bother with this one. Pitty I can’t give it a no star rating.

You will only find happiness through God

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Mainly about debugging other religions , in my opinion a classic over think of a topic and practice that should be about no thinking.
Very simple yet by the author does not fully grasp.

A opinion and book based on critical thinking

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interesting listening thought provoking kept me interested and taught me new things glad I read it

interesting

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if the first half is right and true isn't it logical that most of that fact came from biblical moral sense that the author learnt this from Gods point of what true happiness is rather than just his own thoughts on life. I haven't even listened or read it yet but this is how I would surmise a book like this would be written. I also think he's right almost. There can only be "1" TRUE God so which is it I would say one that teaches right from wrong, happiness, love,peace,Longsuffering also on our part, kindness, mildness, goodness, teaches us self control and when we realise all these things make for a far happier life for everyone ìf everyone were like this and to have faith in God we need to know he's there faith and to do this we need to read the bible to get to know him that like anything or anyone it has a name Gods is Jehovah he made us in likeness of himself so he too has the above qualities and wants us to be HAPPY it's because we think we can do it without him we are in an awful mess and UNHAPPY.

to mirko bustos

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