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The Politics of Happiness: What Government Can Learn from the New Research on Well-Being
New insights into what makes people happy and how policymakers can foster greater satisfaction for all
During the past forty years, thousands of studies have been carried out on the subject of happiness. Some have explored the levels of happiness or dissatisfaction associated with typical daily activities, such as working, seeing friends, or doing household chores. Others have tried to determine the extent to which income, family, religion, and other factors are associated with the satisfaction people feel about their lives. The Gallup organization has begun conducting global surveys of happiness, and several countries are considering publishing periodic reports on the growth or decline of happiness among their people. One nation, tiny Bhutan, has actually made "Gross National Happiness" the central aim of its domestic policy. How might happiness research affect government policy in the United States--and beyond? In The Politics of Happiness, former Harvard president Derek Bok examines how governments could use the rapidly growing research data on what makes people happy--in a variety of policy areas to increase well-being and improve the quality of life for all their citizens.
Bok first describes the principal findings of happiness researchers. He considers how reliable the results appear to be and whether they deserve to be taken into account in devising government policies. Recognizing both the strengths and weaknesses of happiness research, Bok looks at the policy implications for economic growth, equality, retirement, unemployment, health care, mental health, family programs, education, and government quality, among other subjects. Timely and incisive, The Politics of Happiness sheds new light on what makes people happy and how government policy could foster greater satisfaction for all.
During the past forty years, thousands of studies have been carried out on the subject of happiness. Some have explored the levels of happiness or dissatisfaction associated with typical daily activities, such as working, seeing friends, or doing household chores. Others have tried to determine the extent to which income, family, religion, and other factors are associated with the satisfaction people feel about their lives. The Gallup organization has begun conducting global surveys of happiness, and several countries are considering publishing periodic reports on the growth or decline of happiness among their people. One nation, tiny Bhutan, has actually made "Gross National Happiness" the central aim of its domestic policy. How might happiness research affect government policy in the United States--and beyond? In The Politics of Happiness, former Harvard president Derek Bok examines how governments could use the rapidly growing research data on what makes people happy--in a variety of policy areas to increase well-being and improve the quality of life for all their citizens.
Bok first describes the principal findings of happiness researchers. He considers how reliable the results appear to be and whether they deserve to be taken into account in devising government policies. Recognizing both the strengths and weaknesses of happiness research, Bok looks at the policy implications for economic growth, equality, retirement, unemployment, health care, mental health, family programs, education, and government quality, among other subjects. Timely and incisive, The Politics of Happiness sheds new light on what makes people happy and how government policy could foster greater satisfaction for all.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Derek Bok
31 books19 followersDerek Curtis Bok (born March 22, 1930) is an American lawyer and educator, and the former president of Harvard University.
Bok was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Stanford University (B.A., 1951), Harvard Law School (J.D., 1954), and George Washington University (A.M., 1958). He taught law at Harvard from 1958, where he served as dean of the law school (1968–1971) and then as university president (1971–1991). Bok currently serves as the Faculty Chair at the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard and continues to teach at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Harvard Kennedy School.
After 15 years away from the Harvard presidency, Bok returned to lead the university on an interim basis after Lawrence Summers's resignation took effect on July 1, 2006. He was succeeded by Drew Gilpin Faust on July 1, 2007.
Bok's wife, the sociologist and philosopher Sissela Bok, née Myrdal (daughter of the Swedish economist Gunnar Myrdal and the politician and diplomat Alva Myrdal, both Nobel laureates), is also affiliated with Harvard, where she received her doctorate in 1970. His daughter, Hilary Bok, is a philosophy professor at Johns Hopkins University.
Bok was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Stanford University (B.A., 1951), Harvard Law School (J.D., 1954), and George Washington University (A.M., 1958). He taught law at Harvard from 1958, where he served as dean of the law school (1968–1971) and then as university president (1971–1991). Bok currently serves as the Faculty Chair at the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard and continues to teach at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Harvard Kennedy School.
After 15 years away from the Harvard presidency, Bok returned to lead the university on an interim basis after Lawrence Summers's resignation took effect on July 1, 2006. He was succeeded by Drew Gilpin Faust on July 1, 2007.
Bok's wife, the sociologist and philosopher Sissela Bok, née Myrdal (daughter of the Swedish economist Gunnar Myrdal and the politician and diplomat Alva Myrdal, both Nobel laureates), is also affiliated with Harvard, where she received her doctorate in 1970. His daughter, Hilary Bok, is a philosophy professor at Johns Hopkins University.
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December 24, 2023
هنگام خواندن این کتاب به صورت اتفاقی متوجه شدم جلسه نقدی برای این کتاب با حضور آقای مصطفی ملکیان برگزار شده است و فایل صوتی آن را به دست آوردم و گوش دادم. به شما هم توصیه میکنم آن را گوش دهید (قبل یا بعد از خواندن کتاب).
گرچه بخش عمدهی کتاب درباره جامعه آمریکا است و با جامعه ما بسیار متفاوت است ولی آشنایی با همین جامعه و آگاهی از دغدغههای متفکرین و مردم آن میتواند جذاب باشد.
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«کتاب سیاست و شادکامی خیلی کتاب آموزندهای است که من شخصاً از آن خیلی چیز یاد گرفتم و توصیه میکنم دوستان این کتاب را بخوانند علی الخصوص همانطور که دکتر حیدری هم اشاره کردند هم برای تصمیمگیریهای فردی ما خوب است و هم برای اینکه بفهمیم در چه جامعهای داریم زندگی میکنیم. و بفهمیم که سیاستمداران ما و رجال سیاسی ما در چه فضایی دارند سیر میکنند و با فضایی که درک دارد پیشنهاد میکند چقدر فاصله دارند.» مصطفی ملکیان. جلسه نقد کتاب. فایل صوتی
تقریباً همهی کشورهای جهان که در رضایت کلی از زندگی بالاترین مقام را دارند دموکراسیهای موفقی بودهاند که قدمتی بیش از ۸۰ سال دارند. صفحه ۴۹ کتاب
بهنظر میرسد که راه نیل به شادمانی ماندگار شامل التزام مدنی، مهربانی، و سایر رفتارها است که برای جامعه بسیار بیشتر از طلب بیپایان لذات گذرا و مشغولیتهای سطحی و بیاهمیت نافع است. در عوض، افرادی که از سطح بالای بهروزی برخوردارند بیشتر احتمال میرود که سلامت باشند، ازدواج سعادتمندانه کرده باشند، در شغلشان کارآمد و اثربخش باشند، و شهروندانی جامعه اندیش، بخشنده، و اهل مدارا باشند. صفحه ۷۹ کتاب
قانونگذاران دچار اشتباه فاحشی که خواهند شد اگر یک فضیلت خاص، یا ایمان دینی، یا سایر ارزشهای منتخب خودشان را غایت اصلی حکومت بنامند. در یک حکومت دموکراتیک، رهبران سیاسی نمایندگان شهروندانند؛ آنها انتخاب شدهاند تا رفاه مردم را افزایش دهند، نه این که تصور خودشان از زندگی مثالزدنی را تحمیل کنند. صفحهی ۸۰ کتاب
همانطور که تجربه بلوک شوروی آشکار کرد، تلاشهای طولانی حکومت مرکزی برای هدایت آمرانهی یک اقتصاد پیچیده تقریباً تردیدی نیست که غیرعملی و بالمآل به لحاظ اقتصادی، سیاسی، و اجرایی ویرانگر است. تحمیل چنین راه حلی تنها عنوان شادکامی بداقبالیای است که کاملاً مضحک است. صفحه ۱۱۹ کتاب
گرچه بخش عمدهی کتاب درباره جامعه آمریکا است و با جامعه ما بسیار متفاوت است ولی آشنایی با همین جامعه و آگاهی از دغدغههای متفکرین و مردم آن میتواند جذاب باشد.
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«کتاب سیاست و شادکامی خیلی کتاب آموزندهای است که من شخصاً از آن خیلی چیز یاد گرفتم و توصیه میکنم دوستان این کتاب را بخوانند علی الخصوص همانطور که دکتر حیدری هم اشاره کردند هم برای تصمیمگیریهای فردی ما خوب است و هم برای اینکه بفهمیم در چه جامعهای داریم زندگی میکنیم. و بفهمیم که سیاستمداران ما و رجال سیاسی ما در چه فضایی دارند سیر میکنند و با فضایی که درک دارد پیشنهاد میکند چقدر فاصله دارند.» مصطفی ملکیان. جلسه نقد کتاب. فایل صوتی
تقریباً همهی کشورهای جهان که در رضایت کلی از زندگی بالاترین مقام را دارند دموکراسیهای موفقی بودهاند که قدمتی بیش از ۸۰ سال دارند. صفحه ۴۹ کتاب
بهنظر میرسد که راه نیل به شادمانی ماندگار شامل التزام مدنی، مهربانی، و سایر رفتارها است که برای جامعه بسیار بیشتر از طلب بیپایان لذات گذرا و مشغولیتهای سطحی و بیاهمیت نافع است. در عوض، افرادی که از سطح بالای بهروزی برخوردارند بیشتر احتمال میرود که سلامت باشند، ازدواج سعادتمندانه کرده باشند، در شغلشان کارآمد و اثربخش باشند، و شهروندانی جامعه اندیش، بخشنده، و اهل مدارا باشند. صفحه ۷۹ کتاب
قانونگذاران دچار اشتباه فاحشی که خواهند شد اگر یک فضیلت خاص، یا ایمان دینی، یا سایر ارزشهای منتخب خودشان را غایت اصلی حکومت بنامند. در یک حکومت دموکراتیک، رهبران سیاسی نمایندگان شهروندانند؛ آنها انتخاب شدهاند تا رفاه مردم را افزایش دهند، نه این که تصور خودشان از زندگی مثالزدنی را تحمیل کنند. صفحهی ۸۰ کتاب
همانطور که تجربه بلوک شوروی آشکار کرد، تلاشهای طولانی حکومت مرکزی برای هدایت آمرانهی یک اقتصاد پیچیده تقریباً تردیدی نیست که غیرعملی و بالمآل به لحاظ اقتصادی، سیاسی، و اجرایی ویرانگر است. تحمیل چنین راه حلی تنها عنوان شادکامی بداقبالیای است که کاملاً مضحک است. صفحه ۱۱۹ کتاب
July 27, 2022
In addition to being grateful to the author for a book dedicated entirely to the subject that interests me most these days, I found it particularly enjoyable that it was written in such a clear, well-structured, and well-reasoned way.
I admired the ease with which the author navigated the multitude of research findings while taking the reader along his line of reasoning. The facts that could have been confusing and contradictory took a meaningful shape for me.
I would have liked to see more examples and noteworthy practices from countries other than the U.S., but the general message resonates with me deeply — that our policy should be human-centric with human well-being and flourishing being the principal goal of the governments.
I admired the ease with which the author navigated the multitude of research findings while taking the reader along his line of reasoning. The facts that could have been confusing and contradictory took a meaningful shape for me.
I would have liked to see more examples and noteworthy practices from countries other than the U.S., but the general message resonates with me deeply — that our policy should be human-centric with human well-being and flourishing being the principal goal of the governments.
February 20, 2019
Bien el libro. Dejé de leerlo para buscar otra literatura, pues estos libros en general ponen muchas páginas a los hechos estilizados que en general son muy similares en todos ellos
December 7, 2024
It is really practical and focused on possible US policy positions. I thought it might not be, I thought it might all be about the Kingdom of Bhutan, Buddhist thought and 'Small is Beautiful'-type ideas. But no. It says, here us the data, these are the possible policy changes. As such, informative and interesting.
New thoughts for me:
o Pain is a big one - long-term pain causes long-term unhappiness. Non-addictive pain relief would make a big difference.
o Marriage - the data shows clearly that married people are happier. Instruction and support pre-marriage and early-marriage to curtail the awful statistics in this area.
o Community engagement. a la Robert Putnam and 'Bowling Alone.'
o Belief in the government. Hate to say it, but if you think your leaders are stupid, corrupt, bought-off, self-serving, then you are not going to be as engaged, energised and happy.
The book is very clear that GDP growth does not make people happy.
One thing that surprised me - US income distribution is 40 times more unequal than it was in the 70s but people are about the same happiness as then. Loads of comparisons between different countries and such. All prove conclusively that income equality and population happiness are independent of one another.
Read the book, it gives quite a different perspective.
New thoughts for me:
o Pain is a big one - long-term pain causes long-term unhappiness. Non-addictive pain relief would make a big difference.
o Marriage - the data shows clearly that married people are happier. Instruction and support pre-marriage and early-marriage to curtail the awful statistics in this area.
o Community engagement. a la Robert Putnam and 'Bowling Alone.'
o Belief in the government. Hate to say it, but if you think your leaders are stupid, corrupt, bought-off, self-serving, then you are not going to be as engaged, energised and happy.
The book is very clear that GDP growth does not make people happy.
One thing that surprised me - US income distribution is 40 times more unequal than it was in the 70s but people are about the same happiness as then. Loads of comparisons between different countries and such. All prove conclusively that income equality and population happiness are independent of one another.
Read the book, it gives quite a different perspective.
May 17, 2022
Not particularly joyful to read because it is like a long essay printed into a book. Good overview about discussions on welfare and happiness research as well as the policy areas that significantly influence a society's wellbeing - albeit a bit dated.
December 2, 2023
Something I feel so strongly about given the world’s current affairs, written so well in this book. Clear, optimistic and easy to absorb. Grateful that I came across this studying International relations, a great book to shift your perspective into more necessary calls for change in today’s world.
to-keep-reference
October 30, 2026Citado por Frawley (2015).
September 9, 2011
I liked this book, it started with the Country of Bhutan, a small country located between tibet and china which measures the gross national happiness, rather than gross domestic product. It is the first country on earth to be more publically concerned with happiness than with production. This is great. So then it goes into how we define happiness how we can measure such an ephemeral thing. 1. Relationships were the thing that gave people most happiness. 2. Wealthier people generally happier.
3. It went into a lot of details then concerning politics like welfare, education and health resources for people and how this plays a role in the happiness of a country. 4. Most of it it acknowledged was pretty obvious, married people were happier, healthier people were happier, wealthier people happier. 5. Non-obvious things, people underestimate or overestimate long term impact of good or bad events, for instance people win the lottery think they'll be happy for life, but they usually go back to the same level of happiness in a few years, similar marriage, same with problems or crisis, but people usually adjust to these more readily than they might think at the time when these occur. I guess the main point, number one thing for happiness for most people: significant other.
3. It went into a lot of details then concerning politics like welfare, education and health resources for people and how this plays a role in the happiness of a country. 4. Most of it it acknowledged was pretty obvious, married people were happier, healthier people were happier, wealthier people happier. 5. Non-obvious things, people underestimate or overestimate long term impact of good or bad events, for instance people win the lottery think they'll be happy for life, but they usually go back to the same level of happiness in a few years, similar marriage, same with problems or crisis, but people usually adjust to these more readily than they might think at the time when these occur. I guess the main point, number one thing for happiness for most people: significant other.
March 20, 2010
Seven factors of happiness: inherited temperament, marriage, social relationships, employment, perceived health, religion and quality of government.
Sleep is also important. Sleep deprived people perform badly on all aspects of creativve thinking including originality, flexibility, generating unusual ideas being able to change strategy, word fluency. All in all they are worse at communicating their thoughts feelings decisions and actions.
Education should not just train people for jobs but try to cultivate a wide range of interests and prepare students for a variety of pursuits that tend to increase satisfaction with life.
Sleep is also important. Sleep deprived people perform badly on all aspects of creativve thinking including originality, flexibility, generating unusual ideas being able to change strategy, word fluency. All in all they are worse at communicating their thoughts feelings decisions and actions.
Education should not just train people for jobs but try to cultivate a wide range of interests and prepare students for a variety of pursuits that tend to increase satisfaction with life.
July 20, 2010
This book had some interesting thoughts, especially in the first two chapters and in a couple of the middle chapters, but it also had a lot of detail that didn't hold my attention. I kept putting the book aside and (later) picking it back up. Still, I feel like I learned a lot from reading it. If nothing else, I have a better understanding of how our representational democracy actually works, how the media (in my lifetime) gives us a little bit of a distorted picture of the government, and how people don't always know what will make them happy.
May 1, 2011
Interesting research data on what really makes people happy (family situation, education, financial wealth, health conditions, etc). Also offers some ideas on what governments could do to increase happiness in its citizens, but apparently it's not a priority for the US. The academic report writing style doesn't make this a fascinating read, but it's still a good one-source summary of many reports and studies available out there.
January 7, 2011
This was not what I expected it to be, but that's probably my own fault for not looking closely at what it was trying to do. I was looking for more about the research on happiness and less on the public policy aspects. Oh well.
September 10, 2011
I picked this one up again and finished it.... not my usual fiction. Through studies and educated assumptions, it suggests how government might use public policy to make its citizens lead "happier" lives.
February 17, 2010
For work.
Read
October 16, 2010Scientific studies of what promotes happiness tell us that we should pretty much pursue the liberal agenda. Also teach more civics. A lot more.
May 2, 2011
Bok takes a hard look at the newest research on happiness and how it might be used by policy makers, for better or worse. I thought he did a great job of examining issues from multiple viewpoints.
Read
May 5, 2011Click here to find it in the catalogue.
July 27, 2011
Fascinating topic but dreadfully boring book.
February 10, 2013
Text included in my Happiness book
April 23, 2013
discusses interesting topics in a boring way
October 16, 2014
A bit utopian but quite well argued.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews