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A new perspective on life satisfaction and well-being over the life course

What makes people happy? The Origins of Happiness seeks to revolutionize how we think about human priorities and to promote public policy changes that are based on what really matters to people. Drawing on a range of evidence using large-scale data from various countries, the authors consider the key factors that affect human well-being, including income, education, employment, family conflict, health, childcare, and crime. The Origins of Happiness offers a groundbreaking new vision for how we might become more healthy, happy, and whole. "The Origins of Happiness is a wonderful book. It presents a new look at what causes human well-being, and carefully analyzes the policies and programs that can enhance it."-Ed Diener, coauthor of Happiness "Rooted in the best-available evidence for each stage in life, The Origins of Happiness provides an ambitious and comprehensive analysis of what leads to a satisfying life, from childhood to old age."-Alan Krueger, Princeton University "If policymakers want to improve lives, it is important to understand how people feel-and why. This book charts new territory, providing the first map of the long-term drivers of people's happiness."-Martine Durand, chief statistician, OECD "This work is a must-read for the academic, policymaker, and informed citizen alike."-Carol Graham, author of Happiness for All?

The Origins of Happiness: The Science of Well-Being over the Life Course