I finally finished “The Happiness Myth - Why what we think is right is wrong” by Jennifer Michael Hecht. Hecht is a wonderful writer. I read most of the book from a beach chair in Aruba while sipping more than my fair share of cocktails, a combination that created more than a few ironic moments. I found it to be a helpful and enriching addition to my vacation. The only bad thing I can say about this book is that it’s a bit crowded with information. Had a less engaging writer written it, it might have risked boredom, but Hecht creates lovely prose to keep the reader engaged throughout.

The book takes us on a journey through history as we examine the shifts in cultural ideas about what makes people happy; such as, our ideas about drugs, money, religion, shopping, eating, exercise, celebrations, and sex. I’ve often pondered the notion that our measures of happiness may not always line up with what actually makes us happy. Hecht suggests the reason is that there are three main types of happiness - a good day, euphoria, and a good life. Often those things are in opposition and anyone looking for happiness will need to keep all three in balance or their quest may be doomed to fail. Understanding those categories of happiness might help us make better decisions. We might be willing to sacrifice a few good days in order to achieve a moment or two of brief euphoria; at other times, we may make the mistake of chasing euphoric moments at the expense of a happy life.

The mark of a good book is that it has the power to change the reader in some way. In order to create change, it has to first make us skeptical about the way things are. Hecht is a notorious skeptic, and this book is a wonderful adventure in the healthiest and happiest form of doubt.