Stumbling Upon Dan Gilbert
May 18th, 2007 by Eats Wombats
Dan Gilbert’s book, which I started on the day I started eating wombat guts, has won an award: the Royal Society Prize for Science Books. It was shortlisted as
Stumbling on Happiness, by Daniel Gilbert (Harper Press) Psychologist Daniel Gilbert reveals how and why the majority of us have no idea how to make ourselves happy. The drive for happiness is one of the most instinctive and fundamental human impulses. In this revealing and witty investigation, psychologist Daniel Gilbert uses scientific research, philosophy and real-life case studies to illustrate how our basic drive to satisfy our desires can not only be misguided, but also intrinsically linked to some long-standing and contentious questions about human nature.
It was certainly an entertaining read. One of the witticisms that stuck with me was the following dialogue from the introduction. A colleague of Gilbert’s says enthusiastically that the book is “just like having a conversation with Dan except that you can’t talk back.” To which his interlocutor replies “And how is that different from having a conversation with Dan?” It’s hard not to like an author who can make fun of himself.
I should have mentioned, apropos of the Chicken, Chicken, Chicken study, this fine animation: Badger Badger Badger. The best bit is at the very end, be patient. You’ll notice that this features the Eurasian badger (see About), not our North American cousin who is not well endowed in the stripes department and who is a ferocious killer all the time, not just when attacked with dogs.
