March 08 Book Club Meeting

" The Happiness Myth "

By Jennifer Micheal Hecht

 

Wednesday the 19th at 1:30 PM

Photos
 

 

Jennifer Michael Hecht is surely no stranger to us - she visited the Society a year or two ago, to discuss Doubt , her monumental history of " The Great Doubters and Their Legacy of Innovation from Socrates and Jesus to Thomas Jefferson and Emily Dickinson ."
Now she's come forth with another spirited volume -The Happiness Myth, "The Historical Antidote to What Isn't Working Today."  At our next meeting, on Wednesday, March 19, at 1:30 p.m., our Humanist Society Book Club will be discussing Jennifer Hecht's The Happiness Myth, " a smart, clever, and happy-making book."  Here are a couple of book reviews from Amazon.
 
From Booklst  (#1)

...This book shows you how past myths functioned, and likewise how our myths of today function, and thus lets you out of the trap of thinking you have to pay heed to any of them.The Happiness Myth is a fascinating cultural history that both reveals our often silly assumptions about how we pursue happiness today and offers up real historical lessons that have stood the test of time. Hecht delivers memorable insights into the five practical means we choose to achieve happiness: wisdom, drugs, money, bodies, and celebration.  

Hecht liberates us from today's scolding, quasi-scientific messages that insist there is only one way to care for our minds and bodies. Hecht looks at contemporary happiness advice and explains why much of it doesn't work. "Modern culture," she writes, "is misrepresenting me and spending a lot of money to do it."      Rich with hilarious anecdotes about both failed and successful paths to happiness, Hecht's book traces a common thread of advice—she calls it "sour charm wisdom"—that we can still apply today to create authentic, lasting happiness.                                                                                                                                       (Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.)

 
Review #2 "Reading this book made me happy!", September 23, 2007

By  bookman99 "bookman99" (USA) - See all my reviews
Jennifer Michael-Hecht's book is a pleasure to read and is a great stimulus for discussion. Her research is far-ranging and expertly synthesized giving the reader insights into different eras and varied cultures without the usual wordiness and ponderousness of so much modern scholarship.
She reaches some surprising conclusions that are nothing short of fascinating. For example, money can (to some degree) buy happiness. Intuitively we all know this to be true. If put to its proper use, money can make our lives easier, and money can allow us to spend more time doing the things we treasure. Of course, money isn't a requirement for happiness, but it can be a tool for contentment. Also, letting one's hair down on occasion is liberating and exciting. Hecht mysteriously avoids drawing too many conclusions with this insight. I suspect she sees some forms of deviancy as good fun and harmless as long as the significant other is comfortable with the situation. I would have loved more of her analysis on this topic.
Hecht's treatment of drugs and alcohol is intriguing. She seems to advocate narcotics as a means to an end, and she doesn't make any value judgments on those who wish to partake. Is this a blanket approval of engaging in such illicit activities? Ah...once again the clever professor decided not to reveal her own personal conclusions. Rather, she lays out the case and leaves it for the reader to decide.
Hecht's writing is witty and engaging. I'd love to see her on C-Span's Book TV talking about her writings.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
The Happiness Myth is now available in a paperback edition, list price $15.

 

 

  
Where:
Here's the usual monthly Book Club meeting reminder, but with a twist - a change of locale. Usually we've been meeting at Art and Elaine Brody's, but Art has recently suffered some injuries, so we'll be meeting at Chez Shapiro (my home) instead. Here's the info:
 
Directions to our house:
Coming on the 101 freeway, get off at Glen Annie-Storke Rd exit. Turn toward the mountains. Go a 1/2 mile on Glen Annie. At the traffic light, turn left on Cathedral Oaks.  Go through the next light (Alameda) and turn left on Placer, which is just before the 40 mph sign. Go down Placer and make the first possible right turn at the yellow school crossing sign (Mirano) and then immediately right on our street, Savona.  We're half way up the block at 249  Savona, on the left side.  White house with green trim. The address is clearly visible on the mailbox and curb. You'll see one grey and one sand colored Honda/Prius in our driveway.  968-0478  Call if you get lost.

 

 

 

Marty Shapiro
249 Savona Ave
Goleta CA 93117
(805) 968-0478
martinshapiro@cox.net