March Recommended Reading: The Good Life
For March’s Recommended Reading, I chose The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger, MD, and Marc Schulz, Ph.D.
In 1938, social scientists began The Harvard Study of Adult Development, and it is still an active study today. It is the longest in-depth study of adult development ever done. They started with 724 men and studied those same men over their lifespans. The study gradually evolved to include their spouses and then their children.
Instead of looking at a cross-section of people who were the same age through time, this study was unique in that it studied the same people throughout their lifespans. The scientists did an in-depth study of their background, family of origin, etc., and then every decade or so, they would get in touch with study participants and interview them about their lives. Through this study of their individual lives and stories, they’ve been able to make some conclusions about what factors make a happy and fulfilling life.
This book takes some of the individuals in the studies and shares their stories, and it’s fascinating. So much so, that I was half tempted to go back to school to become a developmental psychologist so I could go work on this study. I am endlessly interested in people’s stories and how our stories shape our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren, and so this book was right up my alley. I also love what they are finding. The things that matter most are our relationships and connection with each other.
“For eighty-four years (and counting), the Harvard Study has tracked the same individuals, asking thousands of questions and taking hundreds of measurements to find out what really keeps people healthy and happy. Through all the years of studying these lives, one crucial factor stands out for the consistency and power of its ties to physical health, mental health, and longevity. Contrary to what many people might think, it’s not career achievement, or exercise, or a healthy diet. Don’t get us wrong; these things matter (a lot). But one thing continuously demonstrates its broad and enduring importance: Good relationships. In fact, good relationships are significant enough that if we had to take all eighty-four years of the Harvard Study and boil it down to a single principle for living, one life investment that is supported by similar findings across a wide variety of other studies, it would be this: Good relationships keep us healthier and happier. Period.”
I also loved one story shared in the book about a man named Andrew who had a very unhappy, lonely life. When he was in his late sixties, he realized how unhappy he was, saw a therapist, and began to make some changes, specifically in his relationships and building connections with more people. His circle grew, and his life improved tremendously. When Andrew was in his eighties he was leaving his home daily to socialize with people he cared about (and who cared about him!) and he rated his life as “close to ideal”. EI love this because it shows first that you have the power to make changes in your life. You do not have to be a victim to circumstance. And two, that it’s never too late to make changes that can make your life more fulfilling.
The Harvard Study of Adult Development is such a gift (read more about that HERE), and I love the way these authors put what they’ve learned in the study into such relatable, story-based, and actionable chapters. I highly recommend The Good Life if you want a good life of your own.
