From Hype to Hope: Evaluating Happiness Advice With Scripture and Science
When 104-year-old Elizabeth Sullivan of Texas was asked by CNN in 2015 what the secret to her long life was, she attributed it to drinking three Dr Peppers a day for the past fifty to sixty years. Meanwhile, in Scotland, “ My secret to a long life has been staying away from men,” Jessie Gallan told the Daily Mail on her 109 th birthday. “They’re just more trouble than they’re worth. While we might find these centenarian’s comments humorous and admire their vivaciousness at such an advanced age, not many people would seriously consider drinking three Dr Pepper soft drinks a day or staying away from men a universal, valid action plan for living a happy and healthy life. These statements illustrate that there is a wide range of advice on how to improve your mental health. Not all of it is accurate, even if it is sincerely believed by people like Elizabeth Sullivan and Jessie Gallan. A search of Amazon.com for books on happiness returned over sixty thousand results. Searching for book...
