The Secrets of Happiness by Richard Schoch
Once in a while I like to indulge myself into philosophical theme books and I am glad that I came across this book which talks about the secret happiness across cultures, beliefs and religion. Looking from the contents, you can see that the book was divided accordingly to parts which are - living for pleasure, conquering desire, transcending reason and enduring suffering. Each parts are also discuss through the different views of beliefs and religion which I find it very interesting and inspiring. In a journey across cultures and centuries - from the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius to Buddha's Four Noble Truths - Richard Schoch answers questions that are rarely asked. Do you have a right to be happy? What kind of effort does it take? Can you be happy if others are unhappy? One secret of happiness that is discussed in this book and which I strongly agree - is to moderate our pleasures, so that we find ourselves in the hugely more satisfying state of tranquillity, where simple things yield as much enjoyment as luxuries. Once we grow accustomed to simple things we have a better time in life, because we appreciate luxuries all the more, if they come along. In conclusion, I would like to quote from the book - Happiness is what happens as we search for meaning in circumstances of such bewilderment and perplexity that they appear to render meaning absurd. If there is meaning in the totality of life, there must also be meaning in suffering, for it is as much a part of life's charted course as birth and death. Neither invited nor welcome, suffering, is, nonetheless, part of what makes a life full and complete. To live as if suffering were an affront to our humanity and a barrier to our happiness is to miss the point of what it means to be human and happy.
