The Futile pursuit of Happiness
If Daniel Gilbert is right, then you are wrong. That is to say, if Daniel Gilbert is right,
then you are wrong to believe that a new car will make you as happy as you imagine. You
You are wrong to think that you will be more unhappy with a big singe setback (a broken
wrist, a broken heart) than with a lesser chronic one (a trick knee, a tense marriage ). You
are wrong to assume that job failure will be crushing. You are wrong to expect that a
death in the family will leave you bereft for year upon year, forever and ever. You are
even wrong to reckon that a cheeseburger you order in a restaurant--this week, next
week, a year from now, it doesn'treally matter when--will definitely hit the spot. That's because when it comes to predicting exactly how you will feel in the future,you are most
likely wrong.