The Algebra of Happiness

By Scott Galloway

This book flection is written and narrated by Leigh Martinuzzi 

Happiness, the primary pursuit of all of us and yet in this pursuit we get so tangled up in the unnecessary, the purposeless, the cobwebs of things that do nothing for our overall happiness… and yes, we persist with the hope that we will discover greater happiness.

In this book, The Algebra of Happiness: Notes on the Pursuit of Success, Love, and Meaning, Scott Galloway, professor of New York University’s Stern School of Business, entertains us with antidotes and wisdom on how we may all be able to live with a little more happiness. 

Having started several companies Scott is considered a serial entrepreneur and currently teaches second-year MBA students brand strategy and digital marketing. You’d think a book on happiness might be a tad left field. However, in life experience, Scott has gained some healthy insight on how to live a more meaningful life, one in which success, love, meaning and happiness all blend into something more beautiful.  

Straight of the bat Scott humbly confesses that what he shares in this book are his thoughts, observations, and experiences on the pursuit of happiness, coming from holding positions as a dad, son, husband, academic, entrepreneur and student. It’s not an academic, peer-reviewed piece of research.  

In the first few pages, Scott grabs my attention with some hard-hitting truths that hit home. Work-life balance can be achieved and while we may desire to live day-to-day with endless pleasures work is also a very important piece of the meaning/happiness equation. Here is a paragraph that I had to contemplate on for a while. 

 The ratio of time you spend sweating to watching others sweat is a forward-looking indicator of your success. Show me a guy who watches ESPN every night, spends all day Sunday watching football, and doesn’t work out, and I’ll show you a future of anger and failed relationships. Show me someone who sweats every day and spends as much time playing sports as watching them on TV, and I’ll show you someone who is good at life.  

Balance is the key and evidently, it is within reach to us all and at the same time difficult to find. Too much work is counterintuitive. We are led to believe that if we work hard, we can have all that we desire. Generally, this means luxury items and conspicuous things that nurture ego and make us look successful to our peers. 

Research has highlighted that such things do very little for our overall happiness. Meaningful work creates a sense of purpose and self-worth, but work itself must be the reward, not the reward or end goal. Furthermore, it is usually those things others cannot see that provide a greater sense of internal happiness, like time off with family, going on holidays and experiences in general. There is a need for balance between work and play. 

The next few pages continued to open my eyes to what is truly important in life. I think that is what we are all at times missing as we chase success and other life pleasures. We forget what’s important. And at the same time, we become accustomed to living a life that forces us to do more of what we don’t really want to be doing. 

To discover what is truly important can only be found after deep reflection within. No one wishes to live a life of regret yet if we cannot grasp as early as possible what is truly important how can we not live with some level of regret. I strongly believe that straight out of school teens need to be taught how to do this inner work rather than being set free guided by many external expectations and values that have very little effect on their personal journey of happiness. 

Happiness and family. Another hard-hitting truth Scott touches on is the importance of family and being a dad or a mum. He states that he never planned to have children and doesn’t believe children are the answer to happiness however having become a dad what he has realised is that, “raising kids with someone I love and who’s competent has for the first time, begun to address the question we all struggle with: Why am it here?” Parenthood taps into some deep biological purpose of life and are something hard to explain to those who don’t have children. Having kids, myself I can certainly relate. 

Even if one was not to have kids the happiness equation relies on relationships. As social creatures, we are nourished and nurtured by our relationships. I’d almost go so far to say that relationships are the strongest pillar to our overall happiness. Scott also talks on health, both mental and physical and shares several strategies on how we can do this. Although not as thorough as earlier advice in the book there are still some good bits of wisdom to be gained in his final chapter on health. From why crying is good, getting lost in the moment, being strong and being kind. 

The Algebra of Happiness is a book of wisdom. Uplifting and eye-opening. A book that will make you pause and reflect on your life while questioning how on track you are with living integral to what is truly important. Happiness is not about letting go of everything including ambition, dreams and goals. Success is happiness and success are about work, love, relationships and health. Those things can be brought into balance and only if we first do the work internally to understand what is truly important to us. 

If this book sounds of interest you can purchase The Algebra of Happiness: Notes on the Pursuit of Success, Love, and Meaning here.

Please leave your thoughts, comments & questions below.

Peace, passion and purpose…

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Rich Roll: Plantpowered Wellness Advocate

The Art of Charm: Build confidence, feel comfortable and networking differently.

American Psychological Association: The largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United State

The Art of Manliness: Encouraging men to be better husbands, fathers, brothers, citizens.

Tiny Buddha: Simple wisdom for complex lives.

Brain Pickings: An inventory of cross-disciplinary interestingness, spanning art, science, design, history, philosophy, and more.

Mind Body Green: Lifestyle media brand dedicated to inspiring you to live your best life.

Zen Habits: Find simplicity and mindfulness in life.

Creative NonFiction: “true stories well told.” 

Addicted 2 Success: Motivation & Inspiration Website full of quotes and inspiring articles for entrepreneurs.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree: science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome at life.

The Positivity Blog: Practical articles on happiness, self-esteem, productivity and social skills.