Human Happiness and the Pursuit of Maximization / Happiness Studies Book Series (PDF)

Hilke Brockmann is a Professor of Sociology at Jacobs University, Bremen and an experienced expert in population aging and well-being research. Her work deals with the individual and health related consequences of large-scale demographic, political and social changes. She has published in major international journals, is a member of the Editorial Board of Health Sociology Review, of several professional associations and an alumni of the Max Planck Society. She also counsels public health insurances, marketing boards, firms, and political parties.

Jan Delhey, Professor of Sociology at Jacobs University, Bremen, is an internationally renowned expert in comparative quality of life research. He has published on living conditions, subjective well-being, trust, and social cohesion in leading European and international journals (his next piece of work on trust will appear in the American Sociological Review). He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Happiness Studies and member of the board of directors of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies. For the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions he has worked as an expert advisor for European-wide social reporting. Contributor to the World Book of Happiness; numerous radio and newspaper interviews.

From the reviews:“This is an important book presenting clear evidence within the fields of philosophy, social, and natural science about the myth of maximization as the source of happiness. … Human Happiness and the Pursuit of Maximization is an important contribution to the literature that encourages readers to look at maximization in its relation to happiness at the individual and social levels.” (Louis Hoffman and Monica Mansilla, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 59 (17), 2014)