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Happiness demystified
Award-winning comedian, actor, and writer Larry David explains why religious people are happier and reveals two essential elements of happiness.
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Life's a rigged game
Cartoonist Roz Chast claims that life is a "rigged game" and wonders if happiness is even possible.
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Fleeting moment or state of being?
America Ferrera ponders whether happiness is an experience that comes and goes or perhaps is something more lasting.
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The $20M key to happiness
For Chevy Chase, happiness is found in his family and pets...well, maybe not all the pets.
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That juicy state of happiness
For Alanis Morissette, happiness is a temporary but "juicy" state.
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Moments of absolute absorption
Writer Adam Gopnik finds happiness in being "vigilantly absorbed in some activity."
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Quit wasting your time
Comedian Joan Rivers claims we've got too much time on our hands to think about whether or not we are happy.
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Happiness? What happiness?
For actor John Leguizamo, happiness is finding enjoyment in life's struggles.
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A cookie with Russy
Rev Run finds happiness in sharing a cookie with his son.
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Porcupine Love
Elizabeth Gilbert on relationships
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Chapter 1: Larry David
1. Video
Happiness demystified -
Chapter 2: Roz Chast
2. Video
Life's a rigged game -
Chapter 3: America Ferrera
3. Video
Fleeting moment or state of being? -
Chapter 4: Chevy Chase
4. Video
The $20M key to happiness -
Chapter 5: Alanis Morissette
5. Video
That juicy state of happiness -
Chapter 6: Adam Gopnik
6. Video
Moments of absolute absorption -
Chapter 7: Joan Rivers
7. Video
Quit wasting your time -
Chapter 8: John Leguizamo
8. Video
Happiness? What happiness? -
Chapter 9: Rev Run
9. Video
A cookie with Russy -
Chapter 10: Elizabeth Gilbert
10. Video
Porcupine Love
The Meaning of Happiness Some well-known creative people who participated in This Emotional Life offer their perspectives on happiness.
To actor John Leguizamo, happiness is dealing with life’s difficulties; to recording artist Rev Run, it’s sharing a cookie with his son; and to writer Elizabeth Gilbert, it’s creating her own sense of humanity. Some well-known creative people who participated in This Emotional Life offer their perspectives on happiness.
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Chapter 1: Larry David
Happiness demystified
According to Larry David, religious people are happier, at least as long as they are having sex and enjoying their jobs. -
Chapter 2: Roz Chast
Life's a rigged game
Cartoonist Roz Chast claims that life is a "rigged game" and wonders if happiness is even possible. -
Chapter 3: America Ferrera
Fleeting moment or state of being?
America Ferrera ponders whether happiness is an experience that comes and goes or perhaps is something more lasting. -
Chapter 4: Chevy Chase
The $20M key to happiness
For Chevy Chase, happiness is found in his family and pets...well, maybe not all the pets. -
Chapter 5: Alanis Morissette
That juicy state of happiness
For Alanis Morissette, happiness is a temporary but "juicy" state. -
Chapter 6: Adam Gopnik
Moments of absolute absorption
Writer Adam Gopnik finds happiness in being "vigilantly absorbed in some activity." -
Chapter 7: Joan Rivers
Quit wasting your time
Comedian Joan Rivers claims we've got too much time on our hands. -
Chapter 8: John Leguizamo
Happiness? What happiness?
For actor John Leguizamo, happiness is all about learning to love life's struggles. -
Chapter 9: Rev Run
A cookie with Russy
Rev Run finds happiness in sharing a cookie with his son.
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Chapter 10: Elizabeth Gilbert
Porcupine love
Elizabeth Gilbert finds the secret of happiness in Schopenhauer's story of the relationships of porcupines.
This Emotional Life is a co-production of the NOVA/WGBH Science Unit and Vulcan Productions, Inc. A Film by Kunhardt McGee Productions. ©/™ 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation and Vulcan Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This Web site was produced for PBS Online by elephants & ants.
Funding for This Emotional Life is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Public Television Viewers. Additional funding provided by the University of Phoenix and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
