Happiness: Lessons from a New Science By Richard Layard

First published last year, Richard Layard's sensible and passionate summary of the findings of this "new science" has triggered widespread debate and (arguably) the inclusion of happiness as a subject on at least one school curriculum. An economist and member of the House of Lords, Layard draws on psychology, neuroscience, sociology and philosophy in his attempt to persuade the Big Cheeses to put happiness at the centre of public policy. We can, however, do our bit: by getting married, finding nice work and making damn sure that we earn more than our neighbour.