"The Conquest of Happiness" is a book about happiness written by the British philosopher Bertrand Russell. The book is not thick, with just over 200 pages, and can be read quickly. The content is simply divided into two parts: one part discusses the reasons for unhappiness, while the other part focuses on how to attain happiness.
There are many unhappy people, and the reasons are varied. The most fundamental reason is poor health or unmet basic living needs such as food, clothing, housing, and transportation; this reason is quite obvious and is not within the scope of this book's discussion. This book primarily discusses why those who have basic security in life are unhappy, which can be categorized into external and internal reasons. External reasons mainly involve situations that do not meet one's expectations, such as bad weather or friends leaving; these reasons can sometimes be unavoidable, requiring one to adjust their mindset and shift their focus to reduce adverse effects on oneself. Internal reasons are mainly caused by internal desires, such as strong jealousy, high competition pressure, excessive fatigue, and being overly concerned about others' opinions. These reasons require personal adjustment, controlling one's desires, and understanding one's capabilities without overestimating oneself. However, while it is easy to say, it is relatively difficult to practice. Human society is a competitive environment, and the pressure of competition is omnipresent; the key is to maintain moderation and not let desires exceed one's abilities.
Achieving happiness is not that complicated; it mainly involves finding one's interests. Many people have numerous interests from a young age and can easily feel happy. However, as they grow up and face life's pressures, many interests are set aside, leading to a decrease in happiness. Therefore, the key is to maintain some of one's interests. If work is related to one's interests, then work will not be too stressful; for example, scientists often conduct research out of interest, making it easier to maintain that interest. Ordinary people are best off finding relatively simple interests that they can sustain over the long term. It is important to note that interests should not involve addictive behaviors such as smoking, drinking, gambling, or excessive smartphone use, but rather long-term engagement in areas such as sports, art, reading, music, and film. These activities require time and a certain economic foundation, but most people can manage them. Some interests may have higher demands, such as extreme sports or art collection, which may not be suitable for the average person.
There are many books about happiness, and there is no scientific standard; it mainly depends on personal feelings. What makes some people feel happy may be unacceptable to others, so pursuing happiness in one's own way is sufficient, without blindly believing in experts' advice.