
A remarkable book that will both guide and inspire, The Happiness of Pursuit reveals how anyone can bring meaning into their life by undertaking a quest.
_x000D_
When he set out to visit all of the planet’s countries by age _x000D_
thirty-five, compulsive goal seeker Chris Guillebeau never imagined that_x000D_
his journey’s biggest revelation would be how many people like _x000D_
himself exist – each pursuing a challenging quest. And, interestingly, _x000D_
these quests aren’t just travel-oriented. On the contrary, they’re as _x000D_
diverse as humanity itself. Some involve exploration; others the _x000D_
pursuit of athletic or artistic excellence; still others a battle _x000D_
against injustice or poverty or threats to the environment.
_x000D_
Everywhere that Chris visited he found ordinary people working toward _x000D_
extraordinary goals, making daily down payments on their dream. These _x000D_
“questers” included a suburban mom pursuing a wildly ambitious culinary _x000D_
project, a DJ producing the world’s largest symphony, a young widower _x000D_
completing the tasks his wife would never accomplish, and a teenager _x000D_
crossing an entire ocean alone - as well as a do-it-yourselfer tackling _x000D_
M.I.T.’s computer-science course, a nerd turning himself into real-life _x000D_
James Bond, and scores of others writing themselves into the record _x000D_
books.
The more Chris spoke with these strivers, the more he _x000D_
began to appreciate the direct link between questing and long-term _x000D_
happiness -- how going after something in a methodical way enriches our _x000D_
lives -- and he was compelled to complete a comprehensive study of the _x000D_
phenomenon and extract the best advice. In The Happiness of Pursuit he_x000D_
draws on interviews with hundreds of questers, revealing their secret _x000D_
motivations, their selection criteria, the role played by friends and _x000D_
family, their tricks for solving logistics, and the importance of _x000D_
documentation.
Equally fascinating is Chris’ examination of _x000D_
questing’s other side, including questers’ acute awareness of mortality,_x000D_
their struggle against monotony, and their wistful feelings once a _x000D_
quest has succeeded. What happens after the summit is climbed, the painting hung, the endurance record broken, the “at risk” community saved?
A book that challenges each of us to take control – to make our lives be about something while at the same time remaining clear-eyed about the commitment -- The Happiness of Pursuit will inspire readers of every age and aspiration. It’s a playbook for making your life count.
Details | |
Author : | GUILLEBEAU, CHRIS |
Format : | Paperback |
Language : | English |
- : Delivered in 3-7 Days
- Weight: 0.27kg
- Dimensions: 7.80cm x 5.10cm x 0.90cm
- ISBN: 9780385348867