Delving into the burgeoning field of happiness research, former president of Harvard University Bok (The State of the Nation
) sifts through scientific studies on how societal well-being indications can and should be used to shape social and political policy. Beginning with “happiness indexes,” including philosopher Jeremy Bentham and his “felicific calculus,” which would allow governments to quantify their citizenry’s satisfaction, the book addresses the utility of economic growth (if income isn’t tied to happiness, why do nations obsessively focus on increasing the GDP?), societal and economic inequality, family planning and divorce, and political reform, including curbs on campaign finance and lobbying. Bok’s arguments on how good government, access to education, and adequate child care make for a pleasanter society are incontrovertible, and he initiates an important, jargon-free discussion of American public policy, especially when its aims contradict or diminish the public weal. (Mar.)
