Wealth and Happiness: An Analysis of Different Views

Give an outline of the views on the relation between wealth and happiness presented in texts 1 and 2

Happiness is the most important thing in life, which is why everyone tries to achieve it, and why there are countless self help books and products alike, that claim they have the answer to how you can achieve happiness. The way we achieve happiness is largely individual, however David Brooks and Stephanie Rosenbloom, discuss how they think people can achieve happiness in texts 1 and 2. In text 1 the main point is that happiness comes from social relations; e.g. a marriage will give you a lot more joy, and happiness in life, than buying a new flat screen TV. The texts point is well summarised in page 2 line 41-43, “The overall impression from this research is that economic and professional success exists on the surface of life, and that they emerge out of interpersonal relationships, which are much deeper and more important.” In text 2 the main point is that happiness comes from, experiences, knowledge and other things you can think back on pleasantly for the rest of your life. Rosenbloom argues that buying materialistic goods end up causing a race to have the newest and best thing, whereas buying fx a vacation would give you more joy.