Stumbling on Happiness — Review & Summary (Daniel Gilbert)
Overview
- Author: Daniel Gilbert
- Published: 2006
- Genre: Psychology, Happiness
- Length: ~336 pages
- Language: English
Short Summary
Gilbert explains the cognitive quirks that cause us to mispredict what will make us happy. By understanding memory, imagination, and bias, we can choose better and suffer less regret.
Key Takeaways
- Our imagination is biased and fills gaps inaccurately.
- We adapt to events faster than we expect.
- Consulting other people’s experiences improves forecasts.
- Choice overload and comparison distort satisfaction.
Notable Quotes
“The human brain is the only object in the universe that can contemplate the future.”
“We are prone to think that what we imagine is a reasonable prediction.”
Who Should Read This Book?
Anyone interested in decision making, happiness research, and reducing regret in life and work.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Engaging, witty science writing.
- Research-backed insights into happiness.
- Practical implications for choices.
Cons:
- Focuses more on theory than step-by-step tools.
- Some studies feel dated.
Final Verdict
A clever, research-based look at why we mispredict happiness—and how to choose better.
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