Browsing: Happiness

When Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote, in The House of the Dead, that “Man is a creature that can get accustomed to anything,” he was talking about the cruelties and deprivations of life in Siberian prison camp. But the human tendency to adapt or “get accustomed” to situations is more profound than even Dostoyevsky may have realized. […]

One hundred sixty years ago, Henry David Thoreau published his magnum opus, Walden. In it he detailed his time spent living alongside nature in a cabin adjacent to Walden Pond. In one of the book’s emblematic lines, Thoreau wrote, “We can never have enough of nature.” He believed that it was a “tonic” for us. […]

While on vacation in distant locales, people often find that time moves quite differently than in the places they’re used to. In the tropics, we settle into the grooves of “island time” and relax thanks to a more leisurely rhythm. A trip to a big city can leave us exhilarated but also drained by the […]

The science of why 600 Facebook “friends” are an illusion, or why brand loyalty is a product of our own ego.

From Bhutan to Britain, or what medieval depictions of heaven have to do with the neuroscience of well-being.

From designer Stefan G. Bucher and a roster of famous creators comes a delightful pocket-sized compendium of flowcharts and lists to help you find our creative mojo.

Remarkable, deeply inspirational graduation addresses by Steve Jobs, J. K. Rowling, Jeff Bezos, Meryl Streep and Robert Krulwich.

Yoko Ono, Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Debbie Harry and other cultural icons write retrospective letters of wisdom to their 16-year-old selves.

Since the dawn of humanity, one question has occupied the minds of scientists and poets alike: What is love? Here are 5 intelligent attempts to illuminate the age-old inquiry.

From cognitive science to sociology to behavioral economics, 7 must-reads that illuminate the most fundamental aspiration of all human existence: How to avoid suffering and foster lasting well-being.