Deepdown,mostpeoplethinkthathappinesscomesfromhavingordoingsomething.Here,inAlanWatts’sgroundbreakingthirdbook(originallypublishedin1940),heoffersamorechallengingthesis:authentichappinesscomesfromembracinglifeasawholeinallitscontradictionsandparadoxes,anattitudethatWattscallsthe“wayofacceptance.“DrawingonEasternphilosophy,Westernmysticism,andanalyticpsychology,Wattsdemonstratesthathappinesscomesfromacceptingboththeouterworldaroundusandtheinnerworldinsideus--theunconsciousmind,withitsirrationaldesires,lurkingbeyondtheawarenessoftheego.Althoughwrittenearlyinhiscareer,TheMeaningofHappinessdisplaysthehallmarksofhismaturestyle:thecrystal-clearwriting,thehomespunanalogies,thedrywit,andthebreadthofknowledgethatmadeAlanWattsoneofthemostinfluentialphilosophersofhisgeneration.
