The Art of the Interesting
What We Miss in Our Pursuit of the Good Life and How to Cultivate It

Quotes

“Lorraine Besser shines a light on this new and emerging science of psychological richness, what she calls the interesting. To now have this new piece of the puzzle illuminated and unlocked is invigorating and points the way to a lot fresh and energizing insight about how we can create out most successful and fulfilled lives.”—Emma Seppälä, Author of Sovereign and The Happiness Track

“Lorraine Besser has done a remarkable job of integrating philosophy and psychology to suggest, for the first time, a crucial new element of the good life beyond the traditional philosophical ends of happiness and meaning— psychological richness."—Alison Gopnik, author of The Scientist in the Crib, columnist WSJ and Prof. of Psychology and Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley

“In The Art of the Interesting, Lorraine Besser demonstrates that a critical component to a good life is what scientists refer to as the psychologically rich life. This integration of philosophy and psychologic science gives us a new perspective of the importance of 'interestingness' as a critical aspect of human fulfillment.”
 —James R. Doty, M.D., author of the New York Times bestseller, Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart and Founder & Director of the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE)

“The Art of the Interesting is a readable, thoroughly enjoyable book about a long-overlooked aspect of human happiness.”—President Laurie L. Patton, Middlebury College

"A profoundly delightful read full of compelling real-life examples. The Art of the Interesting is a fantastic contribution to the literature on well-being and happiness.”—Valerie Tiberius, Prof. Philosophy at The University of Minnesota and author of What Do You Want Out of Life?: A philosophical guide to figuring out what matters

“The Art of the Interesting will capture your attention and invariably change your approach to your day-to-day life.”—Jim Ralph, Dean of Faculty, Rehnquist Professor of American History and Culture at Middlebury College and author of Northern Protest

“Lorraine Besser has developed a novel and refreshing category for defining and finding our best lives. Seamlessly weaving together scientific research, philosophical theories, and illuminating stories, Besser contends that in addition to happiness and fulfillment, we need to consider the very 'richness' of a life. This interesting book lives up to its title, but more than that, it dispenses wisdom on cultivating the richness of life Besser so eloquently advocates.” —Gordon Marino, author of The Existentialist’s Survival Guide and Prof. of Philosophy at St. Olaf College

“It's difficult to imagine a more interesting topic than interestingness itself. Anyone who has a curious mind will be interested in this.”—Gwen Bradford, Prof. of Philosophy at The University of Toronto and author of Achievement