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In Pursuit of Happiness: Better Living from Plato to Prozac
We all think that we know what happiness is, or at least that we would like more of it. But the pursuit of this rather abstract commodity may be at once the simplest and the most vexing of human endeavors. In Pursuit of Better Living from Plato to Prozac is an exploration of the idea of happiness, the ways in which that idea has changed over the course of history, and how it influences not only individual lives, but also economic and political thinking, psychological investigation, medical practice -- in fact all facets of human life.
Featuring Mark Kingwell's unique combination of cultural reportage, historical investigation, and philosophical reflection, In Pursuit of Happiness excavates layers of manipulation to seek out a happiness uncontaminated by technology, advertising, and popular culture. From a meditation on the relevance of Platonic ideas about happiness to a running commentary on the author's week at a "happy camp" in Massachusetts, this is an utterly absorbing and often hilarious exploration of just what it is that makes life worth living.
Featuring Mark Kingwell's unique combination of cultural reportage, historical investigation, and philosophical reflection, In Pursuit of Happiness excavates layers of manipulation to seek out a happiness uncontaminated by technology, advertising, and popular culture. From a meditation on the relevance of Platonic ideas about happiness to a running commentary on the author's week at a "happy camp" in Massachusetts, this is an utterly absorbing and often hilarious exploration of just what it is that makes life worth living.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
3 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
About the author
Mark Kingwell
64 books57 followersMark Gerald Kingwell B.A, M.Litt, M.Phil, PhD, D.F.A. (born March 1, 1963) is a Canadian philosopher who is currently professor of philosophy and associate chair at the University of Toronto's Department of Philosophy. Kingwell is a fellow of Trinity College and a Senior Fellow of Massey College. He specialises in theories of politics and culture.
Kingwell has published twelve different books, most notably, A Civil Tongue: Justice, Dialogue, and the Politics of Pluralism, which was awarded the Spitz Prize for political theory in 1997. In 2000 Kingwell received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, for contributions to theory and criticism. He has held visiting posts at various institutions including: Cambridge University, University of California at Berkeley, and City University of New York where he held the title of Weissman Distinguished Professor of Humanities.
He studied at the University of Toronto, editing The Varsity through 1983 to 1984 and the University of Toronto Review from 84-85. He received his BA degree from the University of St. Michael's College with High Distinction in 1985, his MLitt degree from Edinburgh University in 1987, and both his M.Phil and PhD degrees from Yale University in 1989 and 1991 respectively. He was married to Gail Donaldson in 1988. The marriage ended in divorce in 2004.
Kingwell is a contributing editor to Harper's Magazine, the literary quarterly Descant, the political monthly This Magazine and the Globe and Mail books section. He was also a drinks columnist for the men's magazine Toro. He was formerly a columnist for the National Post, and a contributing editor of Saturday Night. He frequently appears on television and radio, often on the CBC, and is well known for his appearance in the documentary film The Corporation. He has delivered, among others, the George Grant, Harold Innis, Marx Wartofsky and Larkin-Stuart memorial lectures.
Kingwell’s work has been translated into ten languages, and he lectures to academic and popular audiences around the world. From 2001 to 2004, he was chair of the Institute for Contemporary Culture at the Royal Ontario Museum. His work on philosophy, art, and architecture has appeared in many leading academic journals and magazines, including The Journal of Philosophy, Philosophical Forum, Ethics, Political Theory, and the Yale Journal of Law and the Humanities, the New York Times and The New York Times Magazine, Utne Reader, Adbusters, the Walrus, Harvard Design Magazine,Canadian Art, Azure, Toronto Life, the Globe and Mail, and the National Post.
Kingwell is one of two University of Toronto professors teaching a first year philosophy course entitled Introduction to Philosophy. Kingwell teaches his class in Victoria College's Isabel Bader Theatre, with a class size of around 700 students. He has also been part of the University of Trinity College's TrinityOne program, for which he taught a seminar class entitled Ethics and the Creative Imagination.
He describes himself as a social democrat and a "recovering Catholic". According to the Canadian Who's Who 2006, he also enjoys running, baseball, basketball, jazz, films and pop music. He has two brothers: a younger brother named Sean Kingwell and an older brother named Steven Kingwell.
Kingwell has published twelve different books, most notably, A Civil Tongue: Justice, Dialogue, and the Politics of Pluralism, which was awarded the Spitz Prize for political theory in 1997. In 2000 Kingwell received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, for contributions to theory and criticism. He has held visiting posts at various institutions including: Cambridge University, University of California at Berkeley, and City University of New York where he held the title of Weissman Distinguished Professor of Humanities.
He studied at the University of Toronto, editing The Varsity through 1983 to 1984 and the University of Toronto Review from 84-85. He received his BA degree from the University of St. Michael's College with High Distinction in 1985, his MLitt degree from Edinburgh University in 1987, and both his M.Phil and PhD degrees from Yale University in 1989 and 1991 respectively. He was married to Gail Donaldson in 1988. The marriage ended in divorce in 2004.
Kingwell is a contributing editor to Harper's Magazine, the literary quarterly Descant, the political monthly This Magazine and the Globe and Mail books section. He was also a drinks columnist for the men's magazine Toro. He was formerly a columnist for the National Post, and a contributing editor of Saturday Night. He frequently appears on television and radio, often on the CBC, and is well known for his appearance in the documentary film The Corporation. He has delivered, among others, the George Grant, Harold Innis, Marx Wartofsky and Larkin-Stuart memorial lectures.
Kingwell’s work has been translated into ten languages, and he lectures to academic and popular audiences around the world. From 2001 to 2004, he was chair of the Institute for Contemporary Culture at the Royal Ontario Museum. His work on philosophy, art, and architecture has appeared in many leading academic journals and magazines, including The Journal of Philosophy, Philosophical Forum, Ethics, Political Theory, and the Yale Journal of Law and the Humanities, the New York Times and The New York Times Magazine, Utne Reader, Adbusters, the Walrus, Harvard Design Magazine,Canadian Art, Azure, Toronto Life, the Globe and Mail, and the National Post.
Kingwell is one of two University of Toronto professors teaching a first year philosophy course entitled Introduction to Philosophy. Kingwell teaches his class in Victoria College's Isabel Bader Theatre, with a class size of around 700 students. He has also been part of the University of Trinity College's TrinityOne program, for which he taught a seminar class entitled Ethics and the Creative Imagination.
He describes himself as a social democrat and a "recovering Catholic". According to the Canadian Who's Who 2006, he also enjoys running, baseball, basketball, jazz, films and pop music. He has two brothers: a younger brother named Sean Kingwell and an older brother named Steven Kingwell.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 11, 2025
Kingwell checks out current (1990s) fads for realizing happiness now, or overcoming the blocks to it. Finding most of the numerous available seminars or books unsatisfying, simplistic, or trite, he embarks upon a quest to think about it seriously. He conducts rigorous examinations, exposing the complex factors, contradictions, and trade-offs involved. Finally he reaches a plausible conclusion, affirming a classical Aristotelian approach to building a worthwhile, challenging life. Overall, I found the book very hard to get through.
August 20, 2011
Kingwell's book is a very interesting exploration of the nature of happiness. He explores a wide variety of theories from different philosophers, as well as some pyschologists. Ultimately, he concludes that Aristotle's definition is best. Aristotle has always confused me, and Kingwell is the first author who has ever explained him in a way that made sense to me.
The author's writing style is clear and concise. He has a good sense of humor, and I liked the way he tied popular culture, philosophy, and personal examples together. The book wasn't dry, dull and boring, the way philosphy can be at times.
There is only one reason that I can't give the book five stars. I found that Kingwell rambled a bit, and he lost track of his point. Overall, however, I think the book is really worthwhile, and I would encourage anyone who is interested in philosophy to pick up a copy of the book.
The author's writing style is clear and concise. He has a good sense of humor, and I liked the way he tied popular culture, philosophy, and personal examples together. The book wasn't dry, dull and boring, the way philosphy can be at times.
There is only one reason that I can't give the book five stars. I found that Kingwell rambled a bit, and he lost track of his point. Overall, however, I think the book is really worthwhile, and I would encourage anyone who is interested in philosophy to pick up a copy of the book.
August 5, 2008
I'm not well versed in philosophy, so some of this went over my head. However, Kingwell is an engaging writer, and, besides, anyone who cites "The Simpsons" gets extra points from me.
January 6, 2014
Very good read
January 6, 2019
The introduction is spectacular in its discernment through the ubiquitous beliefs and practices of happiness. Through the pessimism, there is a light and consolation to know what doesn't work and to know that someone (Mark Kingwell in this case) has seen through this nebula of happiness seeking.
The book goes on to cover various misconceptions, and near the end of the book, the author finally assert his finding, that happiness "lies in some large measure in how we comport outselves, in how we frame and mould our desires, in how well we can accept the many facts about us and the world that are painful or ugly."[358] He stresses on the importance of "the intellectual virtue of distinguishing between misfortune and injustice" and holds the hope that "human happiness, sustained in both virtuous action and rigorous contemplation, is possible on this benighted earth."[359]
Overall it had been a pleasurable and stimulating experience, however the writing can be redundant. As the book approaches the half mark, the quality dies down and the style becomes unilluminatingly personal. I appreciate the philosophical giants Kingwell covers and how he can flows between many aspects to weave the discussion of happiness.
The book goes on to cover various misconceptions, and near the end of the book, the author finally assert his finding, that happiness "lies in some large measure in how we comport outselves, in how we frame and mould our desires, in how well we can accept the many facts about us and the world that are painful or ugly."[358] He stresses on the importance of "the intellectual virtue of distinguishing between misfortune and injustice" and holds the hope that "human happiness, sustained in both virtuous action and rigorous contemplation, is possible on this benighted earth."[359]
Overall it had been a pleasurable and stimulating experience, however the writing can be redundant. As the book approaches the half mark, the quality dies down and the style becomes unilluminatingly personal. I appreciate the philosophical giants Kingwell covers and how he can flows between many aspects to weave the discussion of happiness.
Want to Read
August 19, 2021I'm currently reading an excerpt of this book; I can't get my hands on the full copy yet. But what I have read is excellent thus far. Kingwell writes eloquently, invoking authentic human morals and emotions to discuss the meaning of happiness rather than relying on inanimate, dehumanizing scientific propositions. I truly am enjoying Kingwell's voice and the philosophic tone of this book.
February 28, 2010
Uneven, but I did take away some useful things to think about.
January 18, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had me laughing and learning. Way to go, again, Mark.
May 30, 2015
Interesting read, has prompted me to read others as well. Overall made me happier :)
May 13, 2015
Amazing, this book had a huge impact on my life.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews