Happiness book cover

Happiness by Richard Layard Summary

Happiness
Richard Layard
3.71 (1057 Reviews)
Psychology
Economics
Philosophy
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Points Clés
Auteur
Questions Fréquentes

Overview of Happiness

In "Happiness," economist Richard Layard challenges our wealth-equals-happiness assumption with startling evidence: despite decades of economic growth, happiness hasn't increased. This groundbreaking work sparked a revolution in policy-making, proving mental health and relationships - not money - hold the true keys to wellbeing.

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Points clés

1

The Paradox of Prosperity: Why Money Doesn't Buy Happiness

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Despite becoming twice as wealthy over the past fifty years, people in Western societies aren't any happier. This devastating paradox sits at the heart of Richard Layard's groundbreaking work. We enjoy better health, smarter technology, and unprecedented comfort, yet happiness levels remain stubbornly flat across the United States, Britain, and Japan. Brain scans confirm this isn't just subjective complaining-happiness corresponds to specific neural activity, with positive feelings increasing electrical activity in the left frontal cortex. What makes this particularly troubling is that within any society, wealthier people consistently report being happier than their poorer counterparts. Yet as entire societies grow richer, average happiness doesn't increase. Why? Two powerful psychological mechanisms are at work: social comparison and habituation. We judge our situation not by absolute standards but by comparing ourselves to others nearby. When everyone's income rises together, relative positions remain unchanged. Additionally, we quickly adapt to improvements-lottery winners return to baseline happiness within just one year of their windfall, perpetually stuck on a "hedonic treadmill" that keeps us running just to stay in place.

2

The Seven Pillars That Actually Support Well-Being

3

The Fraying Social Fabric

4

Training the Mind for Happiness

5

The Biology of Bliss

6

Cooperation in a Competitive World

7

Creating a Happier Society

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Happiness n'est pas qu'un simple livre — c'est une masterclass en Psychology. Pour vous aider à absorber ses leçons de la manière qui vous convient le mieux, nous proposons cinq modes d'apprentissage uniques. Que vous soyez un penseur profond, un apprenant rapide ou un amateur d'histoires, il y a un mode conçu pour votre style.

Mode Résumé Rapide - Lisez ou écoutez le résumé de Happiness en 10 minutes

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Résumé de Happiness en 10 Minutes

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Mode Fiches mémo - Top 10 Idées de Happiness en Bref

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Top 10 Idées de Happiness en Bref

Condensez Happiness en indices de mémoire rapides mettant en évidence les principes clés de franchise, de travail d'équipe et de résilience créative.

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Mode Fun - Leçons de Happiness Racontées en Histoires de 23 Min

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Leçons de Happiness Racontées en Histoires de 23 Min

Découvrez Happiness à travers des récits vivants qui transforment les leçons d'innovation en moments mémorables et applicables.

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
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star
star
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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star
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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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201
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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