Monday, November 25, 2013

Generosity: Richard Powers

I have only gotten through part one of this book (a 10-15 page theory paper has got my pulling my hair out) but I thought I would still post so others could give their feedback on the novel. Russel Stone is just starting to become obsessed over his Algerian student and her unwavering happiness.
I love reading parts of the story with her in it. She makes ME happy. She makes me want to be a better human, to not ignore others around me, compliment people more, stop and talk to those who may not get to have good conversations throughout the day (like security officers or doormen).
Hope everyone is having a good Monday!

2 comments:

PhilNovember 26, 2013 at 6:26 AM
I agree, Megan, the mere possibility of someone like Thassa is a happy one. If there's something abnormal or wrong with being the way she is, then so much the worse (I'd say) for mental health. I'll have what she's having... but wait, can we get that from a pill? Is there a difference between spontaneous and engineered happiness? I'm hoping others will have things to say about that, this is no longer just an idle question (or soon will no longer be one)...
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Leigh KogerNovember 26, 2013 at 11:26 AM
i too have had a ton of reading and writing this semester and am only in part two of the book. i have been introduced to candace weld's character and assumed that stone and she would get involved later in the book. i read the "cheat sheet" about the book and the only thing i wish is that is was written in a little faster pace. The entire first part was just background of stone and the student. it got quite boring in some parts. after reading the cheat sheet though it sounds like it gets better real soon. i am one of the few people on the planet that never reads book jackets or blurbs about what the book is about because i want to be surprised. this one however, i had to read up on a little so i would get some kind of idea as to where the story was going. no after reading the cheat sheet is sounds like it gets real interesting soon. i will definitely be squeezing in finishing this book between my final papers and exam!
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Enlightenment: The Pursuit of Happiness, 1680-1790
The Art of Happiness, by Epicurus
How to Be an Epicurean: The Ancient Art of Living Well
Stoicism: A Very Short Introduction
The Conquest of Happiness, by Bertrand Russell
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Natural happiness

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“No one could work harder to be happy," Tocqueville observes of Americans, marveling at the ceaseless, restless energy they expand in search of a better life. Rushing from one thing tho the next, an American will travel hundreds of miles in a day. He will build a house in which to pass his old age and then sell it before the roof is on. He will continually change paths "for fear of missing the shortest cut leading to happiness.”

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Midway between the two there stands what may be called the doctrine of meliorism, tho it has hitherto figured less as a doctrine than as an attitude in human affairs. Optimism has always been the regnant DOCTRINE in european philosophy. Pessimism was only recently introduced by Schopenhauer and counts few systematic defenders as yet. Meliorism treats salvation as neither inevitable nor impossible. It treats it as a possibility, which becomes more and more of a probability the more numerous the actual conditions of salvation become.It is clear that pragmatism must incline towards meliorism...(continues)

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Remember when old December's darkness is everywhere about

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Monday, November 25, 2013

Generosity: Richard Powers

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The eternal question: how to be happier? Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, passed us some tips buff.ly/2txxMnv