What Are You Afraid Would Happen If You Weren't Unhappy?: The General Theory of Happiness

The book you are about to read is like no other you may have read in the field of self-help psychology. It is not about realizing your potential, raising your consciousness, personal growth, or how to cope. All that is required to be happy is that which you already have - brains and the desire not to be unhappy.

Simply stated, my theory of unhappiness is this: Unhappiness is literally a contradiction. It is not a fact, i.e., its cause cannot be found in viscera, genetics, biochemistry, brain or the environment. Nor is it the result of evil, foolishness, injustice or human perversity. It is instead a primitive construct whose whole reason for being has never been fully described and understood.

The message of this book is simple. Do nothing. Relax. Let go. There will never be a time when you won't be able to do that because there will never be a time that you can't be trusted. You don't need drugs or discipline. You are good. People who believe they are good are happy. And happy people never do bad things. Striving for excellence and realizing your potential are traps. Excellence is achieved by loving what you do.

(Excerpted from the Introduction and the Afterword)