The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Study on Happiness

About the Book

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Discover the science of happiness and how meaningful relationships hold the key to a longer, healthier and more fulfilling life, in the must-read bestseller.

‘This captivating, powerful book shows us scientifically and practically how to define, create and most importantly live the good life’ Jay Shetty, bestselling author of Think Like a Monk

What if the secret to lasting happiness has been hiding in plain sight?

Based on the world’s longest scientific study of happiness, the Harvard Study of Adult Development, this landmark book reveals the simple yet surprising truth:?the stronger our relationships, the more likely we are to live happy, satisfying and overall healthier lives.

Drawing on over 80 years of research and hundreds of life stories, programme directors Dr Robert Waldinger and Dr Marc Schulz bring together scientific precision, traditional wisdom, incredible real-life stories and actionable insights to show us how and why prioritising meaningful connection - not financial success or achievement - is the key to a good life.

Accessible, inspiring and deeply practical, The Good Life is the accessible and practical guide on how to nurture relationships, build emotional resilience and find lasting happiness.

Praise for The Good Life:

‘In a crowded field of life advice and even life advice based on scientific research, Schulz and Waldinger stand apart’ Angela Duckworth, bestselling author of Grit

'An outstanding book. It combines the longest and richest study of human lives anywhere with two remarkable authors of extraordinary breadth' Richard Layard, author of Can We Be Happier?

‘This is the book we’ve been waiting for… It couldn’t have come at a better time’ Guy Raz, journalist and podcaster

‘Offers unparalleled insight into our nature as people’ Peter Fonagy, Professor of Psychoanalysis and Developmental Science, UCL

‘Accessible, interesting and grounded in research - it is bound to make a difference in the lives of millions’ Tal Ben-Sahar, author of Happy and co-founder of Happiness Studies Academy

About the Author :
Dr Robert Waldinger is Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development at Massachusetts General Hospital and a Zen master. He also is a practicing psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. His book, The Good Life, co-written with Marc Schulz, was a New York Times and international bestseller and was published in over 40 countries. His TED talk, 'What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness,' is one of the ten most viewed talks in the history of TED and has been viewed over seventy-five million times. Marc Schulz is the associate director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development and the Sue Kardas PhD 1971 Chair in Psychology at Bryn Mawr College. He also directs the data science program and previously chaired the psychology department and Clinical Developmental Psychology PhD program at Bryn Mawr. Dr. Schulz received his BA from Amherst College and his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a practicing therapist with postdoctoral training in health and clinical psychology at Harvard Medical School.

Review :
An outstanding book. It combines the longest and richest study of human lives anywhere with two remarkable authors of extraordinary breadth This is the book we’ve been waiting for. With grace, humor, and scientific rigor, The Good Life challenges our most stubborn assumptions, and proves that the kind of thriving, happy life we all hope for may have been hiding in plain sight all along. It couldn’t have come at a better time In the time of 'social distancing' and a 'loneliness epidemic' understanding the importance of what makes a good life is paramount now more than ever. Both informative and practical, this book is a must read This is the most significant account of one of the most important studies in mental health, conducted and presented by the best clinician scientists in the field ... this book offers unparalleled insight into our nature as people Accessible, interesting and grounded in research - it is bound to make a difference in the lives of millions The Good Life is both incredibly insightful and practical. It helps us to rethink about life's priorities and provides tangible wisdom that we can apply to our everyday lives ... it will help to benefit all of mankind for generations to come This book will be important in both the developed and the developing world This book promises to be a true enrichment to many in our current societies This captivating, powerful book shows us scientifically and practically how to define, create and most importantly live the good life ... in a world seeking temporary and instant pleasures, this book gently encourages past the illusion towards the real joy that lies in the depths of our relationships Waldinger is a world expert on the counterintuitive things that make life meaningful. His book will provide welcome advice for a world facing unprecedented levels of unhappiness and loneliness