| Edition |
First Scribner edition. |
| Description |
viii, 243 pages ; 19 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 223-231) and index. |
| Summary |
Richard Schoch shows readers how they can enrich their lives by recovering the ancient philosophical and religious traditions of happiness--and then putting them to work in their own lives today. In a journey across cultures and centuries--from the trials of Job to the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, and from Buddha's Four Noble Truths to the ecstasy of medieval Sufi mystics--Schoch answers questions that, although fundamental to our well-being, are rarely asked: What kind of effort does it take to be happy? Do you have a right to be happy? Can you be happy if others are unhappy? |
| Contents |
Living for pleasure. The greatest happiness (the Utilitarians) ; Pleasure is good (the Epicureans) -- Conquering desire. Get busy with your works (Hinduism) ; The Enlightened One (Buddhism) -- Transcending reason. Only in heaven (Christianity) ; The alchemy of happiness (Islam) -- Enduring suffering. It's all in your mind (The Stoics) ; The hidden face of God (Judaism). |
| Subject |
Happiness -- History.
|
|
Happiness -- Religious aspects -- History.
|
| ISBN |
0743292928 |
|
9780743292924 |
|
