Wellbeing /

Wellbeing /

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Bibliographic Details
Author / Creator:	Vernon, Mark, 1966-
Imprint:	Stocksfield : Acumen, 2008.
Description:	vii, 144 p. ; 22 cm.
Language:	English
Series:	The art of living series Art of living series (Acumen Publishing)
Subject:	Happiness. Well-being. Happiness. Well-being.
Format:	Print Book
URL for this record:	http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/7311036

Hidden Bibliographic Details
ISBN:	1844651533 9781844651535
Notes:	Includes bibliographical references (p. 135-138) and index.
Summary:	"In his new book, Mark Vernon discovers that happiness cannot be found by seeking it directly. Indeed, this is the key insight of nearly every philosopher who has ever considered it. Rather, as Vernon shows, the crunch issue is our ability, or inability, to find a sense of meaning or value that goes beyond everyday life. The search for transcendence, argues Vernon, is the greatest challenge of our day. The idea that we are part of "something bigger", something unfamiliar and unknown, was, until modern times, a fundamental step in cultivating wellbeing. Whereas today happiness is all too often associated with pleasure, a concern with the bits and pieces that might make up a good life, rather than a love of the good itself and a search for the good in life. Unless our understanding of wellbeing is both more expansive and profound, Vernon argues, people will only be let down, for all the warm-sounding words that are uttered." "Drawing on the insights of the ancient Greek philosophers, Wellbeing challenges us to think about our values and beliefs, to discover a sense of place in the universe, and to work out how to give ourselves to love and life. In doing so, wellbeing is found to be within the grasp of us all."--BOOK JACKET.

Description
Summary:	The politics of wellbeing and the new science of happiness have shot up the agenda since Martin Seligman coined the phrase "positive psychology". After all, who does not want to live the good life? So ten years on, why is it that much of this otherwise welcome debate sounds like as much apple-pie - "work less", "earn enough", "keep fit", "find meaning", "enjoy freedoms"? The reason is not, ultimately, cynicism. Rather, it is because a central, tricky question is being glossed over: just what is wellbeing? Mark Vernon argues that positive psychology has overlooked and sidelined the ancient wisdom on wellbeing, notably from the Greek philosophers. Now is the time to pay it proper attention.Vernon shows, surprisingly, that wellbeing is not found in a focus on pleasure, or even the pursuit of happiness itself. Rather, it is a question of meaning and responding to the great challenge of our day: the search for transcendence. For at root, the life that is going well cultivates a way of life based upon love: it is that which draws you out of yourself - in friends, hopes and ultimately the contemplation of mystery - and orientates a life towards that which is good.
Physical Description:	vii, 144 p. ; 22 cm.
Bibliography:	Includes bibliographical references (p. 135-138) and index.
ISBN:	1844651533 9781844651535