The Algebra of Happiness

Notes on the Pursuit of Success, Love, and Meaning

By: Scott Galloway

Narrated by: Scott Galloway

Length: 3 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

An unconventional audiobook of wisdom and life advice from renowned business school professor and New York Times best-selling author of The Four Scott Galloway.

Scott Galloway teaches brand strategy at NYU's Stern School of Business, but his most popular lectures deal with life strategy, not business. In the classroom, on his blog, and in YouTube videos garnering millions of views, he regularly offers hard-hitting answers to the big questions: What's the formula for a life well lived? How can you have a meaningful career, not just a lucrative one? Is work/life balance possible? What are the elements of a successful relationship? 

The Algebra of Happiness: Notes on the Pursuit of Success, Love, and Meaning draws on Professor Galloway's mix of anecdotes and no-BS insight to share hard-won wisdom about life's challenges, along with poignant personal stories.

Whether it's advice on if you should drop out of school to be an entrepreneur (it might have worked for Steve Jobs, but you're probably not Steve Jobs), ideas on how to position yourself in a crowded job market (do something "boring" and move to a city; passion is for people who are already rich), discovering what the most important decision in your life is (it's not your job, your car, or your zip code), or arguing that our relationships to others are ultimately all that matter, Galloway entertains, inspires, and provokes.

Brash, funny, and surprisingly moving, The Algebra of Happiness represents a refreshing perspective on our need for both professional success and personal fulfillment and makes the perfect gift for any new graduate or for anyone who feels adrift.

©2019 Scott Galloway (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

“The Algebra of Happiness offers raw and vulnerable wisdom, delivered with heart. We all can learn from Galloway's mistakes and insights." (Derek Sivers, author of Anything You Want)

"This book is required reading for everyone with a heartbeat. Scott delivers powerful, hard-earned life lessons that will resonate with anyone who hasn’t had their common sense surgically removed." (Eric Barker, Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Barking Up the Wrong Tree) 

"[A] lovely short book, which is likely to be a graduation and holiday gift for years to come." (Barry Ritholtz, Bloomberg)

Too bland and unmotivational for my taste.

I really tried to listen to the whole thing, but I just couldn't. I was hoping to get real tips and information in what could be useful to finding the components that could make up "happiness", but this left me a little less than uninspired. The audio book is pretty much Scott telling you some stories of his life, but it seems a lengthy process to get to the point, In addition, the author's somewhat monotone voice was a little difficult to listen to for 3 hours. So I ended up skipping around trying to find something useful I could apply to my own life. In the end, I skipped around so much from disinterest that I gave up maybe halfway through. Maybe some people liked it, but it wasn't for me. I couldn't find any takeaways from it.

Scott rocks!

I already read The Four and Scott writes and captivates the reader until the very end. Follow him on Recode Decode with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway.... cuz it's a great podcast!

Scott Galloway Is An American Treasure

Scott Galloway sets an example for 21st century Americans. His principled approach to living is needed now more than ever in our modern world.

Although I am still heart broken that he canceled his YouTube show Winners and Losers, Scott Galloway is one of the top people I admire and aspire to in my life.

So glad to have this knowledge at 25.

Unexpectedly good

I listened to this book in a single sitting. I hadn’t planned on it, I just wanted to get a quick feel for what sort of book it was, but once I started, I ended up sitting up in bed with my iPad for four hours listening. Screw going to work.

This book has a very unique style. I’m sure that some people will not enjoy it, but I loved it. It is direct and to the point. Dense in substance. Zero fluff.

I had never heard of the author before, but I found his view on life to be genuinely thought provoking. I highly recommend giving this quick book a listen to.

Tired tropes of masculinity & men's role in societ

I wish the description would have included that the primary audience was for man-children and sit-com caricature portrayals of men. In the summary uses coded language like "brash" and "no-BS insight" to pretend the author is giving candid, straight-talking, frank advice with a hard-love kind of delivery, but what's really in the book is a highly privileged guy who lead a highly privileged life doling out condescention, misogyny, tired old tropes about what makes up masculinity, men's roles in society and how women fit in the picture. Even the research he uses is male-based.

To be sure this is meant for men to read, he constantly uses "wife" instead of spouse or partner. He tosses out his younger exploits and sexual encounters to beef up his gear boy cred as if chest thumping and talks about how all the women, by the end of college, were looking for successful men, rich men and men who had it together. I don't want any man in my life reading this antiquated garbage.

I admit I only got through half this book on Audio. Unfortunately, I was in thick traffic on the Mass Pike at the time and couldn't shut it off earlier. I was going 85mph and kept letting this book go on thinking it might pivot to be more inclusive of women, but as I realized I was getting a bit road rage-y I had to drive in silence for awhile and meditate on calm happy thoughts until I got to a safe area to switch to radio.

I have no idea how I can to buy this book. Was it mentioned in another book? Did it show up on NPR? I cannot figure out how this landed in my library. I languished for awhile because I don't usually go for self-help genre, but for a long drive, I thought, "Why not?" I regret paying for this crap, but I am glad I will never be mislead about taking a class or seminar with this guy.

Entertaining, but light on substance

I appreciated the personal stories and the humor of the author. That said, when it came down to life insights, I found most to be re-hashed platitudes. I wish I had rented rather than bought. I might have gotten the same value listening to his podcasts.

I feel the person narrating or reading is bored

I feel the person narrating or reading is bored. Didn't strike any interest after listening for 5 minutes.

Ego driven approach towards happiness

This book was an ego driven attempt to placate his self aggrandizing approach to life. After blabbering for hours on his personal achievements he douses small amounts of wisdom with half truths. This guy could learn a lesson in humility and actually Tap into what happiness is about: compassion understanding and selflessness.

On a positive note great accomplishment for writing a book!

Finding God

I appreciate your story and the focus on family and the need to prioritize and elevate those that matter most in our lives. But I struggle with you confidence or more omnipotent position that that there is no God. To see the beautiful design of our kids and unfortunately the tragic loss of a loved one, who no longer suffers, without inspiration to see them beyond this life we live is sad. And the hope of more often lifts peoples spirits and helps them push beyond a challenge they face. I pray you find, my God... He is only a prayer away.

Interesting

The life advice given is much appreciated, but the delivery is mediocre . I appreciate Galloway's frank, blunt and raw emotion. The author is definitely true to himself and to his audience. His honesty is breathtaking. I think the sheer, unfiltered narrative is what kept my attention. The lessons learned are helpful and his introspection is insightful. Yet the story lacked definition and continuity, but he prefaced the book off with this was an attempt to put in book form his YouTube videos, classes and podcasts into one cohesive book. Thus you know what you're getting into from the start.

The biggest lessons he teaches are the importance of being a caregiver, not becoming an addict, honing your craft, selfless, unconditional love, imparting your wisdom upon youth and virtually not wasting your life. I loved the lessons, but not the delivery. The epilogue is very powerful and brought me to tears.