Stumbling on Happiness

By: Daniel Gilbert

Narrated by: Daniel Gilbert

Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

A smart and funny book by a prominent Harvard psychologist, which uses groundbreaking research and (often hilarious) anecdotes to show us why we’re so lousy at predicting what will make us happy–and what we can do about it.

Most of us spend our lives steering ourselves toward the best of all possible futures, only to find that tomorrow rarely turns out as we had expected. Why? As Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert explains, when people try to imagine what the future will hold, they make some basic and consistent mistakes. Just as memory plays tricks on us when we try to look backward in time, so does imagination play tricks when we try to look forward. Using cutting-edge research, much of it original, Gilbert shakes, cajoles, persuades, tricks and jokes us into accepting the fact that happiness is not really what or where we thought it was.

Among the unexpected questions he poses: Why are conjoined twins no less happy than the general population? When you go out to eat, is it better to order your favourite dish every time, or to try something new? If Ingrid Bergman hadn’t gotten on the plane at the end of Casablanca, would she and Bogey have been better off?

Smart, witty, accessible and laugh-out-loud funny, Stumbling on Happiness brilliantly describes all that science has to tell us about the uniquely human ability to envision the future, and how likely we are to enjoy it when we get there.

©2006 Daniel Gilbert (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Stumbling on Happiness is an absolutely fantastic book that will shatter your most deeply held convictions about how your own mind works. Ceaselessly entertaining, Gilbert is the perfect guide to some of the most interesting psychological research ever performed. Think you know what makes you happy? You won’t know for sure until you have read this book.”–Steven D. Levitt, author of Freakonomics

“Everyone will enjoy reading this book, and some of us will wish we could have written it. You will rarely have a chance to learn so much about so important a topic while having so much fun.”–Professor Daniel Kahneman, Princeton University, Winner of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Economics

“This is a brilliant book, a useful book, and a book that could quite possibly change the way you look at just about everything. And as a bonus, Gilbert writes like a cross between Malcolm Gladwell and David Sedaris.” –Seth Godin, author All Marketers Are Liars

It didn't make me feel happier ;)

Gilbert let's you know up front this book may not make you feel any happier but at least you will understand why. Truth in advertising!
This isn't meant to be a 'how to be happy' guide although it may serve a purpose in explaining what won't make you happy or even where to aim our expectations.
Personally, I wasn't thrilled with those parts where evolutionary 'just-so stories' have to be worked through to set us up at the 'present situation' because we could just start already agreeing we do have frontal lobes and do have x-chemicals and x-programs. Slightly annoying (but almost cute) are the ongoing references or comparisons only a Harvard Intellectual might make - mazda miatas, vacations in france, cocktail parties.
Those are mostly minor complaints of mine in an otherwise well done explanation about this unique angle of 'happiness' as something often relative and changing depending on 'when' we recall it or when we expect to get it or how we (rightly or wrongly) imagine it ought to be.
Many times he calls out those peculiar 'logic mistakes' we humans constantly make but never seem to actually call ourselves on and I appreciated these angles and a few really made me realize where I had some improvements I can make in my own life.

Not all authors are great narrators but Gilbert's experience as a lecturer seems to serve him very well here. Easy to listen to, enunciates well and while he may not be a professional stand-up comedian he really does get across some funny stories, puns and keeps a light-hearted tone.

Some good stuff here. It's not a Gladwell 'clone' and much of this (most readers) is unique angles on happiness you probably haven't heard before or in this kind of scholarly but enjoyable detail.
4 stars.

Not what I was expecting

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Not really, the information is interesting but it doesn't lead to many conclusions.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The problem is that 90% of the information is about what does not work, what make our mind a misleading tool, what won't work....but nothing about what does work.

How could the performance have been better?

He read too fast, you don't really have time to absorb the information.

Was Stumbling on Happiness worth the listening time?

Not for me

Awesome!

He won't tell you how to become happy, but he will help you see how to better perceive your self and others.

Happily Stumbled on Stumbling on Happiness

Would you listen to Stumbling on Happiness again? Why?

Yes, because it is entertaining and informative, can be listened to in a day or two, and brings life back into perspective. Daniel Gilbert narrates wonderfully, and had my attention the whole way through.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Stumbling on Happiness?

I found it interesting that people fill in the blind spot of their imagination by collecting information that works in their favour, such as looking at advertisements for the expensive car they've bought and telling themselves that they are learning the facts when really they're looking at one-sided information showing advantages only. Or how people ask questions in such a way as to get a positive reply.

Which character – as performed by Daniel Gilbert – was your favorite?

Daniel Gilbert

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Egos exposed: the nitty gritty of what makes us happy.

Any additional comments?

This is a book I'll recommend to my friends.

Everything I wanted and more

What did you love best about Stumbling on Happiness?

Well written and narrated. I loved that this book delivers the how any why behind what makes us happy. I also enjoyed that Daniel Gilbert is an expert in his field, you can even view him on Netflix's This Emotional Life which goes along great with the book.

What about Daniel Gilbert’s performance did you like?

I was impressed that he wrote and narrated the book. He does a good job and have a very relaxing voice.

Any additional comments?

If you are interested in understanding or increasing your happiness I highly recommend this book!

interesting and well written!

He spoke a bit fast, but I slowed it down with the audible app 👍

Great narrator!

Daniel Gilbert did a great job narrating his own book- he is very engaging. I found the material hard to comprehend and remember in the auditory format. My auditory comprehension may be lacking! But I think I would have better understood the book if I had read it.

Interesting - changed the way I think

Provided great case studies and research in a very interesting format. Definitely changed the way that I think about happiness.

Thought provoking

Would you consider the audio edition of Stumbling on Happiness to be better than the print version?

Yes

What does Daniel Gilbert bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Conversational tone for scientific material. There is a lot of research data and findings that his delivery style kept engaging rather than dull and boring.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

My "happy" is mine alone.

Any additional comments?

You may need to listen to some segments more than once to truly grasp the concepts.

Enlightening

Would you listen to Stumbling on Happiness again? Why?

I would listen to the book again because the information has been instrumental in helping me to understand my own flawed thinking and decisions.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Stumbling on Happiness?

It has helped me to give more credence to the experiences of my friends. I am much more open about accepting the advice/experiences of similar minded people who are going through many of the same scenarios.