A book by a behavioural scientist whose main theme is to bring out the extent to which our life choices and desires - career, wealth, family, health, charitable giving etc - are frequently conditioned by “social narratives” - that is, cultural assumptions and expectations that may actually not correspond to what makes for happiness. The book adopts a “utilitarian” standpoint - what makes for greater happiness - and argues that evidence shows that people are happier if they do not let themselves be conditioned by social narratives. As a simple example, studies suggest that people are happier if they have just enough wealth not to have to worry too much about money than if they are very rich.

Paul Dolan cites lots of academic studies, and I found myself wondering how far some of them were were statistically reliable. But his overall thesis is surely right.