If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Happy?: How to turn career success into life success - Softcover

Raj Raghunathan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1785040413 ISBN 13: 9781785040412

Publisher: Ebury Press, 2016

Synopsis

What are the true determinants of a happy and fulfilling life?

Widely admired psychological researcher Rag Raghunathan sets out to find the answer, undertaking extensive research into the happiness of students, business people, stay-at-home-parents, lawyers, and artists, among others. From his research he reveals a crucial discovery: many of the psychological traits that lead to success ironically get in the way of happiness.

Forging a new way forward, Raghunathan shows how we can transform these key traits of success, namely the need to be loved, the need for importance and the need for control, and replace them with other behaviours, goals and values to improve our life-long levels of happiness.

About this title

About the Author

Raj Raghunathan, Ph.D., is Professor at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business, where he relies on themes from psychology, behavioral sciences, decision theory and marketing to explain consumption behavior. He serves on the editorial board of Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing, and Journal of Consumer Psychology. He is also one of the fourteen faculty members of Whole Foods founder John Mackey's Academy of Conscious Leadership.

Review

“This book highlights how some of the very things that make us smart and successful can also undermine our happiness. It’s a practical, engaging read on how to lead a fulfilling life.”
-Adam Grant, author of Give and Take and Originals
 
“Raj’s book presents a clear perspective on what it takes to lead a life of happiness and fulfillment. What I like most about the book is that it proves, using rigourous science, something that I have long held: the recipe for a happy life is also one for a life of service and success. This is a book that everyone, and particularly the smart-and-successful, should read and assimilate.”
-John Mackey, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market
 
This book is a landmark contribution to the burgeoning literature on leading fuller, happier, more fulfilling lives. With a scholar’s sensibility, Raj brilliantly marshalls extensive research evidence that supports his simple yet profound prescriptions for better living. I have no doubt that this book will come to be regarded as a classic in the field; it will help change countless lives for the better, as Raj’s online course is already doing.
-Raj Sisodia, co-author of Everybody Matters and Conscious Capitalism
 
“Tell a man a joke and he’ll be happy for a moment. Give a man Raj's book, and he’ll be happy forever! While you are at it, get yourself a copy of this excellent, well-researched book. It will make you smarter and happier.
-Peter McGraw, Director of the Humor Research Lab and co-author of The Humor Code
 
"A compelling and highly profitable read. Get this book, mark it up with highlighters and practice, practice, practice. Your life WILL improve."
-Srikumar Rao, author of Happiness at Work, TED speaker and consultant.
 
"This is an empirically-grounded, practical, and fun-to-read book that will help you get the most out of your life and find the happiness you really want.  A must-read for anyone searching for the true meaning of success."
-Kristin Neff, Ph.D., author of Self Compassion
 
Raghunathan gives you the tools you need to lead a more satisfying life.  He roots his recommendations in good science, and then provides a wonderful set of tools to put you on the path to long-term path to happiness.  Better still, even reading this book is a joy.
-Art Markman, Ph.D., author of Smart Thinking and Smart Change

“This book will help you keep the upbeat approach to life that will open the door to undreamed of possibilities.  Definitely a keeper!”
-Barbara Oakley, Professor of Engineering, Oakland University, and co-instructor of the most popular MOOC ever—Learning How to Learn

"How important do I think it is for you to read this book? Let me just say that if you are smart and successful and yet feel that you aren’t as happy as you could—or want to—be, I wouldn’t just recommend that you read this book. I would say that you owe it to yourself to drop everything else you are doing and start reading the book now!"
-Marshall Goldsmith, CEO-coach and author of Triggers

Edition details

• Publisher: Ebury Press
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1785040413
• ISBN 13: 9781785040412
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352