When Likes Aren’t Enough

When Likes Aren’t Enough: A Crash Course in the Science of Happiness by Tim Bono, PhD.         Audio Book: 7 hours, 55 mins.      Hardback Book:  272 pages           

The writer, Tim Bono is a professor at Washington University in St. Louis.   Shout out to Wash U.   After reading his book it makes me want to take a class with him.    Some might say he torments his students with some of the psychological experiments he does in class and in labs, but, it is all to prove that while we all may be searching for happiness in life,  the testing shows we are doing extremely well if we can achieve happier in life.   He began his study of how humans can achieve satisfying ergo happy lives after research showed findings internationally show that what test subjects, students, professionals are looking for is not more money (though some might argue that), nor fame (again, the pursuit is good even if the final outcome might be less than hoped for), not success (though it keeps being pursued even with all the data showing it doesn’t deliver the punch we thought it would) not even searching for that one great perfect love is just not in the running when it comes to what the majority of the world’s population desires, the deep unfulfilled longing is simply to be happy.   To achieve that ultimate one with the universe great extraordinary fountain of bliss that lets you feel total contentment and one with all that is – happiness.    It was too good to pass up so Tim Bono decided to go after it like a microbe under a microscope.    He relays a lot of information he has come across in his study and the psychological testing he discusses sounds so incredibly interesting I would like to participate.   Guess I will have to sign up for that class to do so, but, he brings a lot of good information to the table in this book.   Things that will have you nodding in agreement and thinking, Yeah, that IS so true!    He sees the digital world leading people into inauthentic relationships, they may have a thousand friends on social mediea but no one to go have a conversation with face to face.    Internet relationships will never override the power of actual contact with other people in the flesh.   Skype tries, but, like the Yellow Pages, it’s the next best thing to being there, it isn’t being there.    He gives so much to the reader in this book, instruction,  advice, fun exercises you can do.    His aim is to show the reader how to be happier, how to live life in ways that grab all the gusto and contain it.    I thoroughly enjoyed this book and having a St. Louis connection made it even more enjoyable.   I can see why his class is so popular.    Good book, I do recommend it to anyone seeking that elusive joy and those who may have had it, lost it and forgot how to it again.    This guy is good.   Give him and the book a try.