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Happiness, Suffering, & Transcendence Quartet #1
Finding True Happiness: Satisfying Our Restless Hearts
One of the hottest topics in contemporary culture is happiness—so much so that the United Nations declared an International Happiness Day in response to the immense popularity of Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy”. The explanation for this current fixation seems to lie in the contrary phenomenon—unhappiness. Despite the fact that we have tremendous access to every imaginable form of entertainment, we experience a pervading sense of insecurity, emptiness, and malaise amid sporadic peak experiences.
The problem seems to lie less in the external environment than in the internal one. We seem, in the words of Viktor Frankl, to be suffering from an absence of meaning that pervades both individuals and societies, giving rise to a collective emptiness, loneliness, and alienation.
Finding True Happiness attempts to provide a way out of this personal and cultural vacuum by helping people to identify and then reach for happiness. As Aristotle noted 2,400 years ago, happiness is the one thing we can choose for its own sake—everything else is chosen for the sake of happiness.
After an exhaustive investigation of philosophical, psychological, and theological systems of happiness, author Fr. Spitzer developed the “Four Levels of Happiness”, which he based on the classical thinkers Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas; the contemporary philosophers Marcel, Scheler, Buber, Ricoeur, and Jaspers; and the modern psychologists Maslow, Frankl, Erikson, Seligman, Kohlberg and Gilligan.
Finding True Happiness is both a philosophical itinerary and a practical guidebook for life’s most important journey—from the mundane and the meaningless to transcendent fulfillment. No other book currently available combines such breadth of practical advice and such depth of philosophical, psychological, and spiritual wisdom.
The problem seems to lie less in the external environment than in the internal one. We seem, in the words of Viktor Frankl, to be suffering from an absence of meaning that pervades both individuals and societies, giving rise to a collective emptiness, loneliness, and alienation.
Finding True Happiness attempts to provide a way out of this personal and cultural vacuum by helping people to identify and then reach for happiness. As Aristotle noted 2,400 years ago, happiness is the one thing we can choose for its own sake—everything else is chosen for the sake of happiness.
After an exhaustive investigation of philosophical, psychological, and theological systems of happiness, author Fr. Spitzer developed the “Four Levels of Happiness”, which he based on the classical thinkers Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas; the contemporary philosophers Marcel, Scheler, Buber, Ricoeur, and Jaspers; and the modern psychologists Maslow, Frankl, Erikson, Seligman, Kohlberg and Gilligan.
Finding True Happiness is both a philosophical itinerary and a practical guidebook for life’s most important journey—from the mundane and the meaningless to transcendent fulfillment. No other book currently available combines such breadth of practical advice and such depth of philosophical, psychological, and spiritual wisdom.
366 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2015
109 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Robert J. Spitzer
29 books107 followersRobert J. Spitzer, SJ, Ph.D., is a Jesuit priest, philosopher, and educator, and retired President of Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA).
Fr. Spitzer is currently the president of the Magis Center of Faith and Reason and the Spitzer Center for Ethical Leadership.
http://www.magisreasonfaith.org/
Fr. Spitzer is currently the president of the Magis Center of Faith and Reason and the Spitzer Center for Ethical Leadership.
http://www.magisreasonfaith.org/
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 3, 2021
I got this book for my Confirmation almost two years ago, and I'm not sure why I waited so long to read it when, in retrospect, it would have been good to read before Confirmation...but lately I read it in chunks on Wednesdays when our church is open for prayer time, and it's done a lot for my spiritual life. More than a book on the philosophy and almost psychology of happiness should.
Sheen starts off by discussing the four levels of happiness, and their roles in our lives. In addition, he talks about the feelings of cosmic emptiness which can come with relying only on the first two levels. The first half of the book is mostly devoted to those topics, and could honestly be understood by anyone (i.e. you don't have to be Christian/Catholic to enjoy that part!)
The second half is about the modes of finding Level 3 and Level 4 happiness, and cultivating a relationship with God. I really, really enjoyed h earing his thoughts, especially when he talks about prayer and discernment, interspersed with stories from his own life.
I would highly recommend this one to anyone who wants an academic but Christian view on happiness, wants to become happier, or is simply curious about the happiness found in the Christian life.
4.5 stars! (I've been reading this for so long that I had to reread the first half, so I feel justified in giving it a reread rating. :)) Rounded up to 5 for Goodreads.
Sheen starts off by discussing the four levels of happiness, and their roles in our lives. In addition, he talks about the feelings of cosmic emptiness which can come with relying only on the first two levels. The first half of the book is mostly devoted to those topics, and could honestly be understood by anyone (i.e. you don't have to be Christian/Catholic to enjoy that part!)
The second half is about the modes of finding Level 3 and Level 4 happiness, and cultivating a relationship with God. I really, really enjoyed h earing his thoughts, especially when he talks about prayer and discernment, interspersed with stories from his own life.
I would highly recommend this one to anyone who wants an academic but Christian view on happiness, wants to become happier, or is simply curious about the happiness found in the Christian life.
4.5 stars! (I've been reading this for so long that I had to reread the first half, so I feel justified in giving it a reread rating. :)) Rounded up to 5 for Goodreads.
October 9, 2018
I heard Father Spitzer speak on the 4 Levels of Happiness. It wasn't like a lightbulb went off, it was like getting struck by lightening. It immediately changed how I viewed my existence. Out of 450 books I've read and chronicled on Good Reads, this one is the most important. I wish the message of the 4 Levels of Happiness reached more people.
April 3, 2019
It didn't actually take me over two years of active reading to finish this book. But I left it at my office and later my truck as a "15-minutes-to-kill" book, and then didn't have many opportunities to read it. Also, I didn't like it at all.
I picked this up because Bishop Robert Barron had recommended the author, Robert Spitzer. This is the first in a four-book series directed toward the spiritual life. This book is about finding happiness, the next two books are about transcendence, and the final book is about suffering and faith (or so the first book explains).
The main thesis of this book is that there are four levels of happiness. The lowest level is immediate physical desires, the second is "ego-comparative" (e.g., seeking public recognition), the third is more outward looking (i.e., basically being a "good" person), and the fourth is truly transcendent happiness that comes from knowing God. The book walks through an explanation of those four levels, explains why each of the first three necessarily is insufficient for true happiness, and then discusses how to "progress" from level 1 to level 4 happiness.
None of that is bad. In fact, I think the author is basically correct about everything he writes, but I still cannot recommend anyone read this book.
First: I appreciate a well-organized structure and signposting to help orient a reader. But this book takes it to truly insane levels. Almost every single page cross-references a discussion that will come later in the book or one that already happened. The author spends so much time reminding the reader of what has been said and what will be said that it totally bogs down what is actually being said. Perhaps even more obnoxiously, the signposting isn't restricted to the contents of this book—he *constantly* refers to the four-volume series as "this quartet" and *constantly* mentions things that will be covered in the other three volumes.
Second: Similar to the excruciatingly mechanical signposting, the book is numbingly pedantic in its coverage. Again, I appreciate well-organized and thorough. But this definitely feels like a book where the author wrote a high level outline. Then wrote the next level outline down. Then wrote the next level outline down. And just keep going until he had iteratively hit a 300-page goal. Thus we end up with chapters that talk about the virtue of prayer, then have subsections addressing each type of prayer, then further subsections addressing specific prayers within each sub-type, and then individual paragraphs addressing each sentence of the Our Father. That may sound like an orderly read, but I found it grueling.
Third: I just don't know who this book is for. It is heavily footnoted and filled with citations, like an academic text. But the content is far too basic for an academic reader. Serious practicing Christians will find most of the content completely skippable, but it is tough to imagine that an absolute beginner will have the need or tolerance to read, e.g., 40-50 pages of how to do various Ignatian spiritual exercises. And I just can't conceive of the profile of the person who might not only want to read this 300 page book, but also the ~1400 total pages across the four books in "this quartet."
As one small selection that perhaps epitomizes some of these critiques, consider the mid-book suggestion that readers should pursue other "essential thinkers." A perfectly great idea! But the book then list authors in 5 categories: (1) Philosophy, (2) Contemporary New Testament scholarship, (3) Contemporary systematic theology, (4) Christian/Catholic literature, and (5) Catholic political theory. The list for the first category reads, verbatim:
Who in the world is the target audience for such a list of twelve names with no further context? There are equally long and context-less lists for EACH of the other four categories. No beginner would benefit from 30-40 names shot off in rapid fire, and no serious academic would find it enlightening.
This all sounds extremely negative, because I am down on this particular book. But at the same time, I feel like the author is a bit like an extremely effective weapon who has been pointed at the wrong target. I can imagine enjoying a book with the same thorough approach but focused on a more appropriate scope and subject-matter. In fact, despite my distaste for this volume, I'm tempted to pick up other books in the "quartet" that look much more interesting.
I picked this up because Bishop Robert Barron had recommended the author, Robert Spitzer. This is the first in a four-book series directed toward the spiritual life. This book is about finding happiness, the next two books are about transcendence, and the final book is about suffering and faith (or so the first book explains).
The main thesis of this book is that there are four levels of happiness. The lowest level is immediate physical desires, the second is "ego-comparative" (e.g., seeking public recognition), the third is more outward looking (i.e., basically being a "good" person), and the fourth is truly transcendent happiness that comes from knowing God. The book walks through an explanation of those four levels, explains why each of the first three necessarily is insufficient for true happiness, and then discusses how to "progress" from level 1 to level 4 happiness.
None of that is bad. In fact, I think the author is basically correct about everything he writes, but I still cannot recommend anyone read this book.
First: I appreciate a well-organized structure and signposting to help orient a reader. But this book takes it to truly insane levels. Almost every single page cross-references a discussion that will come later in the book or one that already happened. The author spends so much time reminding the reader of what has been said and what will be said that it totally bogs down what is actually being said. Perhaps even more obnoxiously, the signposting isn't restricted to the contents of this book—he *constantly* refers to the four-volume series as "this quartet" and *constantly* mentions things that will be covered in the other three volumes.
Second: Similar to the excruciatingly mechanical signposting, the book is numbingly pedantic in its coverage. Again, I appreciate well-organized and thorough. But this definitely feels like a book where the author wrote a high level outline. Then wrote the next level outline down. Then wrote the next level outline down. And just keep going until he had iteratively hit a 300-page goal. Thus we end up with chapters that talk about the virtue of prayer, then have subsections addressing each type of prayer, then further subsections addressing specific prayers within each sub-type, and then individual paragraphs addressing each sentence of the Our Father. That may sound like an orderly read, but I found it grueling.
Third: I just don't know who this book is for. It is heavily footnoted and filled with citations, like an academic text. But the content is far too basic for an academic reader. Serious practicing Christians will find most of the content completely skippable, but it is tough to imagine that an absolute beginner will have the need or tolerance to read, e.g., 40-50 pages of how to do various Ignatian spiritual exercises. And I just can't conceive of the profile of the person who might not only want to read this 300 page book, but also the ~1400 total pages across the four books in "this quartet."
As one small selection that perhaps epitomizes some of these critiques, consider the mid-book suggestion that readers should pursue other "essential thinkers." A perfectly great idea! But the book then list authors in 5 categories: (1) Philosophy, (2) Contemporary New Testament scholarship, (3) Contemporary systematic theology, (4) Christian/Catholic literature, and (5) Catholic political theory. The list for the first category reads, verbatim:
Philosophy. Saint Augustine, Saint Thomas Aquinas, John Henry Newman, Etienne Gilson, Jacque Maritain, Josef Pieper, Max Scheler, Gabriel Marcel, Mortimer Adler, Bernard Lonergran, Karl Rahner, and Edith Stein. Most of these thinkers also wrote theological works but were firmly grounded in philosophical foundations (using the evidence of reason as distinct from revelation).
Who in the world is the target audience for such a list of twelve names with no further context? There are equally long and context-less lists for EACH of the other four categories. No beginner would benefit from 30-40 names shot off in rapid fire, and no serious academic would find it enlightening.
This all sounds extremely negative, because I am down on this particular book. But at the same time, I feel like the author is a bit like an extremely effective weapon who has been pointed at the wrong target. I can imagine enjoying a book with the same thorough approach but focused on a more appropriate scope and subject-matter. In fact, despite my distaste for this volume, I'm tempted to pick up other books in the "quartet" that look much more interesting.
October 22, 2017
This book is the first of a four book series. (The fourth volume is not yet available). Father Spitzer thoroughly discusses the topic of happiness in a more philosophically and theologically rigorous level than the usual self-help books on happiness do. He discusses the first three levels of happiness, which correspond to one or more levels of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Then, he adds a fourth level of happiness, transcendence, which extends beyond Maslow's hierarchy. If you don't like to read about philosophy or theoretical physics, you may wish to skip Chapter 2, which is a thorough exploration of the idea of transcendence from both philosophical and scientific views. Father Spitzer has a broad and deep intellect; this book is not an easy read but I found it very satisfying and comforting.
Some favorite quotes: "The courageous confrontation of evil (and the self-sacrifice it frequently entails) is an act of love - noble love - for the sake of the whole spiritual community."
"... if we ignore the spiritual and moral significance of our lives, we underestimate our dignity and destiny, giving rise to a sense of wasting our lives and ourselves. However, if we enter into the spiritual and moral struggle to which we are called, not only for the sake of ourselves, but for others and for God, we have a sense of optimal purpose and noble love - of bringing our highest mission and nature to fulfillment - and this sense of noble purpose makes us spiritually and transcendently happy."
Some favorite quotes: "The courageous confrontation of evil (and the self-sacrifice it frequently entails) is an act of love - noble love - for the sake of the whole spiritual community."
"... if we ignore the spiritual and moral significance of our lives, we underestimate our dignity and destiny, giving rise to a sense of wasting our lives and ourselves. However, if we enter into the spiritual and moral struggle to which we are called, not only for the sake of ourselves, but for others and for God, we have a sense of optimal purpose and noble love - of bringing our highest mission and nature to fulfillment - and this sense of noble purpose makes us spiritually and transcendently happy."
April 28, 2021
This book is not what I was expecting. It does not read like a self help book because it’s not. This book is an in depth study of the dimensions of happiness within a persons life and how happiness can be achieved. It is written by a Jesuit, so it’s very academic with a respectable bibliography. It relies heavily on philosophy, theology, and psychology to offer examples. This book is great for readers who are deep in faith and for those who are questioning. It addresses many aspects and can benefit each group differently. I also think it should be required reading for counselors or therapists who wish to incorporate religion into their practice. The reason that I did not give this book 5 stars is because it is written very scholarly and reads at a fairly high level. It may not be as easily digestible by those who are not used to this type of writing.
January 2, 2021
I started this book for my book club last year and never finished. I remember really enjoying it so I started over during Christmas break and indeed--this is a great book. Happiness is a fixation of many books and authors, and this Jesuit priest looks at happiness by investigating happiness from the philosophical, psychological and theological perspectives, drawing on the writing of Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, Martin Buber, Erik Erikson, etc to describe it. Then he develops Four Levels of Happiness based on these writings, going from the meaningless to the transcendent. The good thing about this book is that it is not all theological discussion, it applies its lessons and advice to everyday life. I read a lot of theological books in the four years of my Education for Ministry program, and this one is better than any of them.
October 19, 2017
Spritzer puts things I’ve been trying to explain to others for a while now into better words than I ever could and now I feel like I could describe them to people and have them actually understand me. This is fabulous book I feel like everyone should read, especially if you don’t believe in God. I’ve read a lot of articles and things on happiness but nothing makes as much sense as this one. Very informative and thoughtful, new perspectives and truth!
July 30, 2017
I just finished the fourth in this quartet. They are each fantastic! I dare only atheist or agnostic to read with an open minded no and not be changed. The first book I carry with me as I struggle to move from level 2 to 3-4.
August 2, 2017
Finding happiness can occur at level one or two, but it will not be complete until you move to level three and, finally, to level four. Father Spitzer gives a plan to move to complete happiness. You would be wise to join the journey.
February 14, 2018
This book has some very deep insights and high points. I was not a big fan of its procedural approach, nor does Ignatian Spirituality really appeal to me, so there were points in the book that did not resonate with me, but overall, Father Spitzer provides so much helpful guidance.
January 11, 2019
Ok. Not quite what I was looking for or expecting. Way too technical to be accessible to the average reader and way too accessible to be constructive in the ongoing conversation about God and desire.
November 7, 2023
Just excellent!
I read another of Fr Spitzer's books and this one was just as great! I plan to read the other three in this series. They appeal to the philosophy and theology parts of me, and are well-explained, with examples cited from the author's experience.
Just excellent!
I read another of Fr Spitzer's books and this one was just as great! I plan to read the other three in this series. They appeal to the philosophy and theology parts of me, and are well-explained, with examples cited from the author's experience.
Just excellent!
June 24, 2019
This book encouraged me to persevere with in my faith life. Thanks Father Spitzer.
October 27, 2019
This is the second book by this author, and I had a hard time with it. He tends to repeat a lot so it’s hard to move on with what he is trying to say. I don’t think I will read another if his books.
February 22, 2020
Highly recommend.
April 11, 2020
The subject matter was very good, and the content was good. However, this book requires a lot of mental energy to read. It is not one that can be breezed through.
May 5, 2021
Well structured book. It is interesting how Fr. Spitzer argues about happiness and the longings of the heart and how God is the ultimate goal of every happiness.
February 15, 2022
Fr. Spitzer needs to read Rene Girard.
June 11, 2024
interesting and insightful enough; just doesn’t resonate as much for the non-religious folk
December 28, 2016
Excellent, but could (perhaps) be shorter
This is an excellent book for someone who is struggling with the problem of believing in God, but even more for a person whose faith needs to be "consolidated" in one broad perspective that addresses not only our intellect, but our hearts and the way we live our lives. I would give it five stars, but it is a little repetitive. Nonetheless, some repetition is necessary in order both to make sure important points are reinforced, and to show the reader how the various aspects fit together and mutually reinforce one another.
Fr. Spitzer writes with great intelligence and clarity. Even more importantly, he writes as someone who lives his faith, and is profoundly moved to help others enter into the joy that faith gives him.
This is an excellent book for someone who is struggling with the problem of believing in God, but even more for a person whose faith needs to be "consolidated" in one broad perspective that addresses not only our intellect, but our hearts and the way we live our lives. I would give it five stars, but it is a little repetitive. Nonetheless, some repetition is necessary in order both to make sure important points are reinforced, and to show the reader how the various aspects fit together and mutually reinforce one another.
Fr. Spitzer writes with great intelligence and clarity. Even more importantly, he writes as someone who lives his faith, and is profoundly moved to help others enter into the joy that faith gives him.
November 19, 2023
This book is unique among apologetic works. Spitzer presents reasons for reasonable people to consider a move toward faith by urging us to consider the case for transcendence--the existence of the human soul and a realm that cannot be measured by our limited instruments. To those who believe that religion is only for the undeducated, he presents five physicists, including Albert Einstein, who were NOT atheists. He then presents the trancendental held by religion and many of our most enduring philosophers. Then...the psychological evidence for trancencence and meaning. Then...as our hearts begin to yearn for higher levels of happiness (beyond mere pleasure and entertainment and deeper than comparison and competion) he shows us how to move to contribution and finally to contemplation. I finished this book and am returning to many sections. It's not an easy read, but it's a captivating contemplation, most welcome for a heart who senses that we are made for more.
April 14, 2016
Spitzer has written an excellent book on the pursuit of true and lasting happiness. Although much of it is philosophical, Spitzer provides frequent and helpful practical application. The most helpful contributions are his discussion of four levels of happiness, as well as the influence of the subconscious on our happiness. Many of Spitzer's practical ideas relate to how we can move from lower levels to Level 4 happiness through prayer, contemplation, and reflection. These practical ideas are helpful, feasible, and understandable, making the book well worth reading, even for those who find certain aspects of the rest of the book difficult to understand.
January 27, 2016
This book is a succinct explanation of happiness and unhappiness, written in a very clear, precise style, and including some solid advice for spiritual growth. It really helped me to understand the reasons for the unhappiness that I've struggled with throughout much of my life, and the reasons why I tend to still be unhappy even when times are good. For that alone it's worth several stars in my estimation. The author used himself as an example a few too many times for my liking, and this book will probably not be of much use to non-Christians (and of somewhat limited use to Christians who aren't Catholics), but otherwise, a solid read.
June 14, 2016
Jen Fulwiler described this book as "meaty" , and that's a really good description of it. This is a book that took me a few days to read, simply because I think you have to stop and digest what Spitzer is talking about. I really enjoyed it, and am looking forward to the other three books in the series. It's well-worth your time to read.
April 30, 2016
Probably one of the most important books I've ever read.
December 8, 2016
Great Book
Father Spitzer is one of the intellectual giants of our time. This book is thought-provoking, well-written, and easy to read.
Father Spitzer is one of the intellectual giants of our time. This book is thought-provoking, well-written, and easy to read.
April 9, 2017
Part 1 of 4 books exploring what happiness is and how we were designed to encounter and live it, ultimately in the transcendent level of happiness.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews