This
chapter is about the ultimate goal of human beings, happiness or in the author’s
word “subjective well-being (SWB)” (p.278). By analyzing people’s levels of
satisfactory of their lives and feeling of happiness, the writer categorizes
countries into indulgence societies and restraint societies. The former one
tend to allow comparatively free gratification of basic as well as human
desires, thus people are more likely to enjoy life in this society. On the
contrary, people living in restraint societies are regulated by various of
strict social norms, making them not so satisfied.
It is obvious that most western societies
are more indulgent than eastern especially Asian societies, however neither
America nor Canada ranks the first at SWB index, countries with the highest
very happy respondents are in fact not so wealthy. The “happiest” countries are
located in western Africa and northern Latin America.
It occurs to me that whether money is the
key to happiness. Many say it’s not but in my opinion that really depends on what
kind of society and situation you are in. If everyone around you is poor you
may feel it’s not necessary to get plenty of wealth, but if one day someone
around you suddenly becomes rich, your idea about money will totally change.
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