About the Book
Many of our endeavors -- be it personal or communal, technological or artistic -- aim at eradicating all traces of dissatisfaction from our daily lives. They seek to cure us of our discontent in order to deliver us a fuller and flourishing existence. But what if ubiquitous pleasure and instant fulfilment make our lives worse, not better? What if discontent isn't an obstacle to the good life but one of its essential ingredients? In Propelled, Andreas
Elpidorou makes a lively case for the value of discontent and illustrates how boredom, frustration, and anticipation are good for us. Weaving together stories from sources as wide-ranging as
classical literature, social and cognitive psychology, philosophy, art, and video games, Elpidorou shows that these psychological states aren't unpleasant accidents of our lives. Rather, they illuminate our desires and expectations, inform us when we find ourselves stuck in unpleasant and unfulfilling situations, and motivate us to furnish our lives with meaning, interest, and value. Boredom, frustration, and anticipation aren't obstacles to our goals--they are our guides, propelling us into
lives that are truly our own.
Table of Contents:
Preface
1. The secret to happiness may be unhappiness
2. I hear you clearly, yet your voice sounds far away-distant and unreal
3. What do you think it's like being dead?
4. Confined in an invisible bubble that prevents contact with the world
5. Like water after days in the desert
6. An energizer, but not a guide; an engine, but not a steering gear
7. Impossible to stop just now. Why, if I could only prove one simple little lemma
8. Our possible existence is always greater than our destiny
9. And you, what do you think of optimism?
10. Immobile paradises promise us nothing
Acknowledgments
Notes
References
Index
About the Author :
Andreas Elpidorou is a writer and philosopher at the University of Louisville. He specializes in the philosophical study of the mind and has published extensively on the character of consciousness, cognition, and emotions. In his written work, he strives to offer clear, precise, and critical explications of aspects of our mental lives that often remain hidden from us.
Review :
"Elpidorou presents a thoughtful, thorough review of the cognitive concepts of frustration, anticipation, and boredom. The author argues that these cognitive concepts help humans persist, solve problems, and experience a sense of accomplishment and that these experiences lead to happiness. Each chapter begins with a specific example from psychology or classical literatureDLe.g., a woman unable to experience fear, a man unable to form or retain memories, the
appeal of highly frustrating video games-that is then carefully explained by studies of the phenomenon. Elpidorou illustrates how these purportedly negative experiences push humans to create, solve
problems, and achieve. One of the appeals of the book is the author's skill at weaving together a broad range of references. This book makes a compelling case for why unhappiness is necessary to achieving contentment and happiness." -- D. L. Loers, Akoan Consulting, CHOICE
"In every section of every chapter, Elpidorou is rigorously thoughtful and quotably readable as he discusses unpalatable emotions that most people want to avoid...The cumulative effect is a strong and ultimately persuasive case that when life gives you lemons, you should simply value the lemons DL a counterintuitive argument, to be sure, but one that the author convincingly backs up over the course of his book." -- Kirkus
"In an age in which people are hungry for happiness, Elpidorou offers a provocative thesis: that some unpleasant emotional experiences such as frustration and boredom are central to the good life. He illustrates his points with examples from pop culture icons such as Christopher Nolan and Ariana Grande. The foundation of his book, however, is an expert reporting of research from psychology, economics, and philosophy." -- Robert Biswas-Diener, author of The
Upside of Your Dark Side
"An astute and lively investigation, as Elpidorou delicately locks together the puzzle pieces of boredom, frustration and anticipation to reveal their vital roles in the pursuit of happiness." -- Mary Mann, author of Yawn: Adventures in Boredom
"Engaging, erudite, instructive, and abounding with insight, Propelled takes a fresh look at unloved emotions and demonstrates their key roles in a life worth living. Essential reading for anyone interested in emotions, and for all of us who suspect that there is more to the good life than good cheer" -- Jesse Prinz, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, The City University of New York, Graduate Center and author of Gut Reactions
