What is happiness? Can one learn to be happy? What is the relationship between happiness and unhappiness? Do some people have a greater capacity to be happy than others? How can happiness be measured?

In this book, Christophe André tells the reader how to go about constructing a happier life. He argues that although everyone seeks happiness, happiness can take many forms.

“Christophe André teaches us how to resist the temptation of unhappiness and how to keep melancholy feelings at bay. In short, he shows us how to cultivate a cheerful optimism.” Psychologies

“Three years of painstaking work, combining historical and philosophical facts with patients' testimonies and personal observations, give a solid foundation to this recent, best-selling book.” Le Figaro Magazine

Christophe André is a psychiatrist at Hôpital Sainte-Anne, in Paris. He is the author of L'Estime de soi (1999) and La Force des émotions (2001); and the co-author, with François Lelord, of Comment gérer les personnalités difficiles (1996) and, with Patrick Légeron, of La Peur des autres (2000), all published by Editions Odile Jacob.