Plot Summary

Stumbling on Happiness

Daniel Todd Gilbert
Guide cover placeholder

Stumbling on Happiness

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2006

Book Brief

Daniel Todd Gilbert

Stumbling on Happiness

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2006
Book Details
Pages

336

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

2000s

Publication Year

2006

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Stumbling on Happiness, Daniel Gilbert explains that humans struggle to predict what will make them happy in the future due to subjective experience, imperfect imagination, and the tendency to focus on immediate rather than distant outcomes. He explores how memories and present emotions distort future predictions, emphasizing imagination's role in envisioning possibilities rather than making accurate forecasts.

Informative

Contemplative

Humorous

Inspirational

Reviews & Readership

4.0

65,537 ratings

66%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Daniel Todd Gilbert's Stumbling on Happiness is widely praised for its engaging and humorous examination of the psychological factors that influence happiness. Critics commend Gilbert’s accessible writing and insightful exploration of human cognition. However, some argue the book relies too heavily on anecdotes and lacks scientific depth. Overall, it is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Stumbling on Happiness?

A curious and introspective reader who enjoys cognitive psychology and popular science will find Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Todd Gilbert enlightening. Comparable to fans of Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink and Dan Ariely’s Predictably Irrational, this book appeals to those intrigued by the science of happiness and human behavior.

4.0

65,537 ratings

66%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

336

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

2000s

Publication Year

2006

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!