I gave this book 5 stars but I'd like to place an asterisk next to it with the admonition that books about public policy are not for everybody. However, I do think everyone could benefit from reading this book.Arthur Brooks idea of maximizing happiness rather than consumption (GDP) is so simple and profound that it's bound to be revolutionary. Gross National Happiness is filled with insights into what really makes us happy and how we can get more of it. Traditional economics is based on the flawed assumption that utility (happiness) is derived from some optimal combination of consumption. An important simplification that allows us to model decisions, but this same assumption can be very dangerous, especially as we try to create policy that maximizes utility (happiness).For those involved in policy decisions or for those that consider themselves an informed voter this book is a must read.***I'd also like to give special thanks to Rachel Ayerst and the author Arthur Brooks for sending me, a poor college student interested in public policy, a signed copy after I mentioned that I hoped to read the book. I hope that kind act brings them both lots of happiness.***Tim
[email protected] I enjoyed this book until 2/3 of the way through. Brooks' opinion that political conservatism will increase national happiness is based on a flawed characterization of a liberal worldview. He describes liberalism as pro-welfare state, and suggests an approach in which the government support programs that allow for economic mobility and increase the opportunity for individuals for succeed. But it is the Democrats who are about creating and funding these programs, and Republicans who want abandon programs, and remove restrictions on massive businesses, making economic mobility more difficult by removing opportunity for smaller businesses to compete. The last part of the book reveals considerable bias, and it taints his more research-driven and successful work.
Interesting premise, though like most of these type books, could have been a magazine article
—KryssiBear
This was a snoozer. The gist of the entire book could have been communicated in a 2-page pdf.
—nlanker
I read this book in 3 days. It is in the top 3 books that I have read. Excellent.
—Mercury0303
Good common sense suggestions.
—cscyrus
tired and unoriginal
—dfgfiugj
