Against Happiness

Against Happiness

Infobox Book
name = Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy


image_caption =
author = Eric G. Wilson
country = USA
language = English
subject = Pro-melancholy
publisher = Farrar, Straus and Giroux
pub_date = January 22, 2008
media_type = Hardback
pages = 176
isbn = ISBN 9780374240660
oclc =

"Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy" is a nonfiction book by Eric G. Wilson that examines the benefits of being sad. The author denotes in the book that diagnosable conditions should be treated accordingly, and is in no way saying it is "normal" or "good" to be depressed. Rather, he seeks to point out that melancholy, or as he dubs it "generative melancholy" can be a powerfully creative force that has motivated the likes of Virginia Woolf, John Keats, Vincent van Gogh, and Ludwig van Beethoven to produce some of the greatest artistic masterpieces of their respective genres. Further, he expresses concern that America's aggressive diagnosis of any negative mood, however slight, as bad, abnormal, or dangerous will lead to an eradication of one of the most powerfully inspirational and motivational forces and its potential products.

External links

* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18885211 NPR story on the book]


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