Bertrand Russell's The Conquest of Happiness: A modern-day interpretation of a self-help classic

First published in 1930, The Conquest of Happiness is a guide to living a happy life; a self-help classic written for an era when people were more practical and less self-obsessed than today. It addresses a fundamental question – how can we be happy? – not by asking readers to overthink the problem, make endless lists or dig deep into their subconscious, but by suggesting useful and manageable things that can be done to improve their daily lives. Both of and ahead of his time, Russell showed that true happiness could only be achieved through thought and effort. Bertrand Russell’s The Conquest of Happiness illustrates the timeless nature of Russell’s insights by bringing them to life with modern examples and case studies. Tim Phillips’ superb interpretation of The Conquest of Happiness is an entertaining accompaniment to one of the most important works of popular philosophy ever written. Twenty-first century readers will discover: • How to achieve happiness even if you’re not the richest, cleverest or prettiest; • Why being true to yourself is the first step to happiness; • That viewing life as a competition is a good way to make yourself unhappy; • How to use your unconscious mind to solve your problems; • Why alcohol is not the answer (but guilt-free sex could be). Anyone who feels that true joy is beyond their grasp can free their mind and let this book show just how easy finding happiness can be. Bertrand Russell’s The Conquest of Happiness is not a substitute for the original. Its purpose is simply to illustrate the timeless nature of Russell’s insights into human nature by bringing them to life in a contemporary context. Tim Phillips’ brilliant interpretation of The Conquest of Happiness is an entertaining and highly practical reworking of one of the most influential popular philosophy books ever written.