السعادة: كشف أسرار الثروة النفسية

by Ed Diener, Robert Biswas-Diener, مها بكير (Translator)

هل السعادة مفيدة لصحتك، وثروتك، وعلاقاتك الإجتماعية؟
هل يوجد مستوى أمثل للسعادة لكي تحقق أهدافك؟
هل توجد نقطة محددة للسعادة وهل يمكن تغييرها؟
هل تعرف مستواك في الثروة النفسية؟

قام الدكتور إد داينر المعروف بأنه أبرز خبير عالمي في السعادة، باستخدام التطور الأساسي الذي حققه في مجال حسن الحال الذاتي، فتحدى افتراضاتنا الحديثة عن أسباب السعادة ونتائجها.

ويشترك إد وابنه بيزواس سويا في التوصل إلى نتائج ثلاثة عقود من البحث عن السعادةلكي تساعد في كشف أسرار هذه الكأس المقدسة.

ويقدم فريق الأب والابن في هذا الكتاب الجذاب الدليل العلمي على أن السعادة ليست شيئا نبالغ في تقديره، ولكنها جيدة لصحة الناس، وعلاقاتهم الإجتماعية، والنجاح في العمل وطول العمر، والإيثار.

وقد بينا أيضا لماذا لا تعتبر السعادة المفرطة هدفًا مثمرًا.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Health, Mental Health

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was between a 3 and 4 on this one. The views on happiness deserve a 4 because they are very well-articulated and well-researched. Certainly this book is full of great information on the factors that influence happiness. The authors present a well-rounded, data-based view of happiness, but they do so in a fairly tame, academic style. Sometimes it seems like they go almost too far to avoid seeming biased, but their overall position is one of advocating for overall psychological wealth (happiness) by doing things that on average tend to promote psychological wealth. I am sure they would have gotten an "A" on this if they had turned it in for a scientific class, but probably a "C" or so in creative writing. I am sure most people would benefit from reading this, but don't expect to get too excited by the writing style.

[Mallory Kimble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot of information about varying aspects of happiness - wealth, relationships, religion, etc. Though it referenced many scientific research studies, it was still an enjoyable read. I especially liked the part on wealth that said: Happiness = What We Have/(divided by)What We Want

We can make ourselves happier just by wanting less!

[عمر العريفي · Rating 5 out of 5]

أفضل كتاب قرأته عن السعادة، على أسس علمية وفلسفية

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a surprise in this book: money matters for happiness. I had learned in the other psychology books that I had read that money doesn’t matter, at least from one point on. After one reaches a middle income, the further gains in wealth do not contribute to the level of happiness. Reading Diener I am puzzled, because the emphasis seems to have shifted. Even in this book, there is a caveat: it is one of the elements of well being, some poor people are happy, etc. but it comes as a bit of a shock, after indulging in the feeling: it doesn’t work so well for us lately, financially we do not prosper, notwithstanding this issue, we’ll be all right, money is not a stumbling block. I remember Nettle, in the science behind your smile emphasizing the relative prosperity. We are unhappy because we want to keep up with Joneses, we are programmed to want things, but if we all agreed to step down, limit the number of things we get, we could all be happier and things along these lines.

From the Diener perspective, it seems that studies show that money count, the rich people are happier. True, there are other things that matter, they have studied people in Calcutta (Kolkata today) and found poor people who were not unhappy, but the most happy people live in the richest countries and vice versa the unhappiest in the poorest.

[Bridgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was similar to other books on happiness and positive psychology that I have been reading. I liked the discussion of how AIM (attention, interpretation, and memory) can make people more or less happy. This book seemed to have a different view of how important money is in happiness levels (it emphasized that happiness is often higher when people have more money -- including lottery winners, which is different from what I have read before).

[Lawrence Danks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Drs. Diener provide a wealth of research information on what causes happiness and what doesn't. This isn't a fast read, but it is a very interesting and productive one.

[Arthur · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly common sense. A few useful things. Did not have too much information.

[Christopher Koene · Rating 5 out of 5]

What sets this book apart from the countless self-help titles promising eternal bliss is the rigorous, scientific approach to understanding happiness. Rather than offering empty platitudes or quick fixes, Diener draws on decades of psychological research to provide evidence-based insights into what truly contributes to well-being.

What I found most valuable was the book's nuanced perspective on balance. Diener doesn't fall into the trap of suggesting we should pursue maximum happiness at all costs. Instead, he thoughtfully explores how the relentless pursuit of perpetual euphoria can actually backfire, leading to negative consequences. This realistic framework acknowledges that a meaningful life includes the full spectrum of human emotions—not just constant positivity. In fact, we may already be just as happy as we should be!

The book brilliantly illustrates that psychological wealth isn't about achieving an impossible state of unending joy, but rather about cultivating sustainable well-being, purpose, and resilience. Diener's research-backed approach gives readers the tools to understand happiness as a complex, multifaceted experience rather than a simple destination to reach.

I especially liked the chapter on AIM, “Attention, Interpretation, and Memory”. We have incredible control over our own happiness despite circumstances around us. And, in fact, what is also clear through the book is that a great contributor to unhappiness isn’t so much what we do or don’t have, but how much we want or think we deserve in relation to what we do and don’t have. But you’ll have to read the book for yourself to fully gain these insights.

For anyone seeking a thoughtful, scientifically sound exploration of happiness that respects the complexity of human experience, this book is essential reading. It's refreshingly honest, intellectually rigorous, and ultimately far more helpful than any promise of eternal happiness could ever be.

Highly recommended.

[Bohdana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Really frustrating with the citations (sometimes they mention scholars and articles other times they cite things as vaguely as 'new studies show' or something like it which just drove me up a wall sometimes). It's a popular book but I still don't like the lack of footnotes or endnotes (it does have 'further reading' and 'references' though). Overall it was interesting to read and the book itself was written in a way that is easy to understand.

So how to increase your psychological wealth ("your true net worth" p. 3) and happiness ("subjective well-being" p. 4)? The authors talk about how psychological wealth can be impacted by certain factors and aspects such as finding meaning and purpose, social relationships (and thing what may make up a healthy relationship), money (and people's views of it), spirituality*, genes, happiness forecasting (like thinking in the long term, personal experience over imagination when making decisions, avoiding the focusing illusion...), AIM (what people focus on and the way they interpret events...), happiness as a resource, and happiness as a process.
______________
*they are biased in this but it's okay, everyone has a bias and can't fit that much in 1 chapter.

[Dana Mitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

for my class--better as a resource than something students would read.

front jacket--father son team travel teh world
happiness is not overrated--tend to have higher incomes
but can be too happy--happiness can be detertrimental
high income is correlated, but excessive materialism is toxic to it. hou can not buy happiness.

Their model is Attention, interpretation and memory--a way of learning to react in positive ways--its connected to growth mindset

Quotes
“The ingredients of psychological wealth…some components of true wealth:
• Life satisfaction and happiness
• Spirituality and meaning in life
• Positive attitudes and emotions
• Loving social relationships
• Values and life goals to achieve them
• Physical and mental health
• Material sufficiency to meet our needs

[Kevin Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it had good things to say and will probably refer back to it for reminders of what things contribute to a sense of well-being/happiness. I wish the book had been a bit more engaging to read through. This is sort of odd because I actually felt they did a pretty good job of sometimes stating facts but balancing that with anecdotes or applicable research studies. It doesn't have the narrative energy of freakonomics or Malcolm gladwell.

[Michael Moseley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It did what it said on the cover. Exploring happiness who has it, who struggles to get it. Why correlations between happiness and wealth not as straight forward as you think. Is it a choice? Possibly for some. The complex story of what makes us happy and why is probably a subject for a series of books not just a few hundred pages. It did make me think about it and what I could do to increase mine and would recommend to anyone who wants to take more control over their life to read it.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Dr. Diener is one of the most-cited researchers on personal well-being. I have applied the findings presented in this book to my own life and well...I'm happier! Try it yourself.

[Youssef (MA) · Rating 4 out of 5]

رائع و مبهر في معلوماته هدا الكتاب ، مليء بتجارب في علم النفس من متخصصين في المجال
يستحق القراءة و اكثر من مرة

[David B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Cathy Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for a college class and I loved it. Easy to read. Great stories and examples. Also great research presented in a way that's easy to understand. Definitely recommend this one.

[Harvir Sandhu]

DNF. Couldn’t get through it.

[Darren Soon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good content. I’m interested in the science based objective treatment of the topic. If i wasn’t so inclined I’d probably put down the book after a few chapters

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers pretty much the same material and in the same fashion as other books on positive psychology and happiness.

[Robert Więckowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, the book is a 3.5-star read.

[Ehab mohamed · Rating 3 out of 5]

السعادة في السعي وليست مقتصرة على تحقيق الهدف حتى وإن كان تحقيقه سيتسسب في فورة من السعادة ولكن سرعان ما سيتكيف الإنسان ويعود إلى حالة معتدلة من السعادة.

السعادة بتخليك أكثر كفاءة وإنجازًا والإنجازات بتخليك أكثر سعادة.

السعادة بتخلى علاقاتك الإجتماعية أكثر وحالتك الصحية أفضل.

وجود السعادة لا يعني التخلص من كل المشاعر السلبية ولكن معناها أن تكون المشاعر الإيجابية أكثر من المشاعر السلبية في المتوسط علمًا أننا نحتاج إلى مشاعر سلبية مثل القلق والتردد والخوف والذي يحمينا من اتخاذ قرارات متهاونة وغير مدروسة.

الإ؟فراط في السعادة لا بد أن لا يكون هدفًا لأن الإفراط في السعادة وطلبها قد يجعل صاحبها أهوج متهور لا يستجيب للهاديات النفسية والبدنية التي تدل على وجود ثمة خطأ وربما يدفعه الإفراط في طلب السعادة إلى معاقرة الخمر والإدمان

الأغنياء أكثر سعادة من الفقراء والدول الصناعية الكبرى أكثر سعادة من الدول الفقيرة التي تغيب فيها المساواة والعدالة الإجتماعية والديموقراطية.... والفقر يمكن أن يوصف به الأغنياء الذين دائمًا ما يدخلون أنفسهم في مقارنة إجتماعية مع من هم أكثر ثراء منهم مما يجعلهم دائمًا في حالة حاجة وعوز.

المال ممكن يشتري السعادة إلا إذا تحول المال لهدف في حد ذاته وليس وسيلة لتحقيق حياة متزنة وسعيدة .

المتدينون أكثر سعادة من غير المتدينين علمًا أن لفظ (المتدين) يمكن إطلاقه على كل من يمتلك مجموعة من القيم والمثل العليا والإيمان بوجود معنى وهدف أسمى للحياة.

هناك مجموعة من سيئي الحظ الذين يولدون بجينات تجعلهم أكثر ميلًا للإنطواء والإكتئاب والحل مع هؤلاء هو العلاج الدوائي أو النفسي مع التركيز على التفكير الإيجابي وهؤلاء مطالبون بمجهود أكبر لنيل السعادة

[Jen Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for an article I'm writing (about "Happiness"), and my friend Robert co-wrote it with his father. They are both psychologists and/or study positive psychology. It is a great summary of the available scientific research on happiness, and a lot of it was interesting, but it wasn't exactly what i was looking for as a reader, though I don't doubt that the book wasn't entirely written for my demographic.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on scientific research instead of "feel-goody gobbledygook." It is a very useful book to read. Some surpising insights; that happiness is not a destination, that happiness is helpful and functional, that we need relationships, that too much happiness (euphoria) can be harmful. The most useful section I found was where AIM (Attention, Interpretation, and Memory) is discussed.

[Kyle Farris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing about this book actually surprised me. I'm not sure if it is because of my previous studies in theology, or if it is because of recent studies in leadership, but there wasn't anything in "Happiness" that was truly an unlocked mystery for me. Either way, it served as a decent reminder of what is necessary for people to thrive.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating information and fun to read.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent survey on Happiness research.

[Quan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely well written book about happiness, explained in actual science.