The conquest of happiness
by Bertrand Russell · first published 1930
65% recommend35% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Practical, clearly written reflections on happiness from a philosopher who thinks the question through, covering boredom, excitement, and comparison. Suits readers wanting a thoughtful alternative to self-help.
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Ever since reading Bertrand Russell's "The Conquest of Happiness", I've thought a lot about the importance of being able to sit inside my own head. One quote that I wrote down: > A life too full of excitement is an exhausting life, in which continually stronger stimuli…
on “Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)” ↗…old-fashioned, but why would I read boring self-help books when there are thousands of books available, from all ages, that document the human experience? For instance: - Scriptures of the major religions - The Conquest of Happiness (Bertrand Russell) - On Aggression (Konrad Lorenz) - Crowds and Power (Elias Canetti) - LSD, My Problem Child (Albert Hofmann) - Huis Clos (J.P. Sartre) - Essays by Michel de Montaigne - The Incoherence…
on “Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read” ↗When I find myself thinking along similar lines, I go back and read a quote from The Conquest of Happiness[0]. Perhaps it may resonate with you. "The habit of thinking in terms of comparisons is a fatal one. When anything pleasant occurs it should be enjoyed to the fun, without stopping to think that it is…
on “Ask HN: What did you do after quitting the IT industry and how have things been?” ↗I love Bertrand Russell man. His essays are so beautifully written. In praise of idleness is a banger. The conquest of happiness is a joy to read. His writings are so clear. The way he elucidates his thought process is sublime. What a cool guy.
on “Bertrand Russell Is the Pope (2010)” ↗…"Socrates(/Plato) - The Allegory of the Cave" http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/allegory.html "Plato(/Socrates/others) - Symposium" http://www.amazon.com/Symposium-Plato/dp/0872200760 "Bertrand Russell - The Conquest of Happiness" http://www.amazon.com/Conquest-Happiness-Bertrand-Russell/dp...
on “Ask HN: Best Philosophical Books?” ↗I recommend giving The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell (yes, he wrote what amounts to a self-help book) a read. Despite being outdated by a long while, it's still pretty relevant and useful imo. https://archive.org/details/TheConquestOfHappiness
on “How to Be Happy” ↗…scientists to ever live and I can't believe I'd ever heard of him before. The book itself does a great job of tying together the ideas of many great thinkers: Humboldt, Darwin, Thoreau, Muir, Goethe. The Conquest of Happiness (Bertrand Russel) Great little 'self-help' book from Russel. Perhaps a bit quaint in its datedness and Englishness, but a lot of the ideas still hold true. His thoughts on boredom were the high point…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗Eye-opening/shocking books: "Science et Méthode" (Henri Poincaré, 1908) "The Conquest of Happiness" (Bertrand Russell, 1930) "The Revolt of the Masses" (José Ortega y Gasset, 1930) "Brave New World" (Aldous Huxley, 1932) "Reason" (Isaac Asimov, 1941, short story) "Animal Farm" (George Orwell, 1945)…
on “Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?” ↗The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell. What an enlightenment!
on “Ask HN: What are your greatest books?” ↗You might like Bertrand Russell's 1930 _The Conquest of Happiness_. At least if you're the target audience: "I shall confine my attention to those who are not subject to any extreme cause of outward misery. I shall assume a sufficient income to secure food and shelter,…
on “What Makes Us Happy” ↗…Killing Pablo The Victorian Internet Lone Survivor I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman Papillon Into Thin Air Born on a Blue Day Touching the Void Got Fight The Conquest of Happiness --- FICTION --- Switch Bitch Lost Horizon The Cuckoo's Egg The Simlarillion The Time Traveler's Wife The Alchemist The Count of Monte Cristo A Canticle for Leibowitz Neverwhere My Uncle Oswald…
on “Ask HN: Good books?” ↗Two thoughts: 1) Read "The Conquest of Happiness" by Bertrand Russell. It really helped me. 2) If you have the gift of building stuff, a good purpose of life is to build bridges. I don't mean to connect people together. Think of a tribe on an island.…
on “Ask HN: Do you Consider Life to be Futile” ↗After Sun Tzu's "Art of War", I recommend you Bertrand Russell's "The Conquest of Happiness" (1930) :-)
on “Ask HN: Which book are you reading these days?” ↗1) All of Robin Sharma's books - especially The Monk who sold his Ferrari 2) The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell 3) Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson 4) The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius 5) Barking up the wrong tree by Eric Barker 6) This might be strange - but Harry Potter series also…
on “Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?” ↗He has a book called The Conquest of Happiness ( http://russell-j.com/beginner/COH-TEXT.HTM) that I would really recommend. : ) He is definitely one of my favorite thinkers to have ever existed. There are even some interviews of him you can still…
on “How to Grow Old: Bertrand Russell on What Makes a Fulfilling Life” ↗