Special Guest! Derek Bok, author of "The Politics of Happiness"

Did you know? The nation of Bhutan has made "Gross National Happiness" the central aim of its domestic policy!

Happiness has become a hot topic, and researchers world-wide are investigating the relationship between happiness and career, family life, religion, and a multitude of other lifestyle factors. As these findings rise to the surface of our collective consciousness, so does this question: How might happiness research affect government policy in the United States--and beyond?

In the book The Politics of Happiness, author Derek Bok examines how governments could use happiness research in a variety of policy areas to increase well-being and improve the quality of life for citizens. Recognizing both the strengths and weaknesses of happiness research, Bok looks at the policy implications for economic growth, equality, retirement, unemployment, health care, mental illness, family programs, education, and government quality, among other subjects.

On April 26th at 7 pm in PC East, you can hear what Derek Bok has to say in person!

Derek Bok is the 300th Anniversary Research Professor at Harvard University. From 1971 to 1991, he served as Harvard's twenty-fifth president, and served again as interim president from 2006 to 2007. He is also the author of The State of the Nation and The Trouble with Government, and coauthor of The Shape of the River (Princeton).