The Art of the Interesting: What We Miss in Our Pursuit of the Good Life and How to Cultivate It - Hardcover

by Lorraine Besser (Author)

Philosopher and professor Dr. Lorraine Besser reveals the missing third piece in our search for the Good Life--what she calls The Interesting--and teaches us how to cultivate it in our lives.

Traditionally, philosophers and psychologists have thought of the Good Life in terms of happiness or meaning, or some combination of both. But, if it's really that simple, why aren't more of us achieving that truly "good" life? You've hit all the markers, jumped on the happiness train, committed to a gratitude practice, sought purpose in your work, and yet The Good Life you're seeking is still out of reach.

Emerging research is revealing that there is more to the good life than the current --and even ancient--conversation suggests. This has been identified as psychological richness. Dr. Lorraine Besser shows how psychological richness helps to make our Good Lives more interesting. Interesting experiences captivate our minds, engage our thoughts and emotions, and often change our perspective. In this illuminating book, you'll take a deeper dive into the ways that you can cultivate the interesting in your everyday life, including:

-How to develop an interesting mindset
-How to harness the power of novelty
-How to turn obstacles into adventures

Whether you feel like something is missing from your life, or you're yearning for more, Besser's groundbreaking manifesto will guide you toward a fuller, more satisfying life.

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Author Biography

Lorraine Besser, PhD, is a professor of philosophy at Middlebury College, who specializes in the philosophy and psychology of the good life and teaches popular courses for undergraduates on happiness, well-being, and ethics. An internationally recognized scholar, she was a founding investigator on the research team studying psychological richness. She is the author of two academic books (The Philosophy of Happiness: An Interdisciplinary Introduction and Eudaimonic Ethics: The Philosophy and Psychology of Living Well) and dozens of professional journal articles on moral psychology.