The Meaning of Happiness: The Quest for Freedom of the Spirit in Modern Psychology and the Wisdom of the East

Written by Alan Watts

Narrated by Kern Schmidt

Deep down, most people think that happiness comes from having or doing something. Here, in Alan Watts’s groundbreaking third book (originally published in 1940), he offers a more challenging thesis: authentic happiness comes from embracing life as a whole in all its contradictions and paradoxes, an attitude that Watts calls the “way of acceptance.” Drawing on Eastern philosophy, Western mysticism, and analytic psychology, Watts demonstrates that happiness comes from accepting both the outer world around us and the inner world inside us — the unconscious mind, with its irrational desires, lurking beyond the awareness of the ego. Although written early in his career, The Meaning of Happiness displays the hallmarks of his mature style: the crystal-clear writing, the homespun analogies, the dry wit, and the breadth of knowledge that made Alan Watts one of the most influential philosophers of his generation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: New World Library
• Release date: Oct 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781608686100

Reviews for The Meaning of Happiness

[Moni Abraham Kuriakose · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A throughly engaging book that explains the eastern wisdom in the context of Judaea Christian point of view.

[Martha Campbell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very important book, I loved it.. freedom, gratitude and mystery

[Marcus R · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Is this Bio on scribd about the same Alan Watts the philosopher?

[Arnis · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is so very heavy of a listening material. Also any great revelations for life are scarce. I would only recommend this as a means to getting acquainted to the works of A.Watts.

[Will Carson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Decent book written by Watts at the ripe old age of 24.

[Nabil Kania · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really good. Really worth studying yes yes yes yes tea

[EckaMH · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found its title striking, and from there, the journey opened up to a review of some other references in psychology and Eastern wisdom. Upon further review, I found other titles by Alan Watts that reflect this.

I share a phrase that summarizes this 200-page reading quite well: "The essence of happiness consists of three elements: freedom, gratitude, and a sense of wonder. These three elements can be present in the most ordinary lives," and suddenly in yours and mine around the corners of life.

And another phrase I found in this book, a reference from Eckhart Tolle: "There is no inner freedom that does not manifest in acts of love," and much of the encounter with that sense of happiness could multiply in proportion to how it is given, here and now... more reasons to find in these times the clues that lead us to savor that sense: happiness. (Translated from Spanish)