“The good life” by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz

The author 🖋

Robert Waldinger is a bestselling author, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, a practicing Zen priest and a TED speaker with one of the most viewed talks of all time.

Marc Schulz is a bestselling author, a professor of psychology at Bryn Mawr College and holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Key takeaways 🎓

1. Relationships over everything

Our relationships is the most significant predictor of in long-term happiness, health and overall well-being.

However, it's not merely the presence or quantity of relationships but quality that matters most.

Close relationships - whether with family, friends or a partner - provide emotional support, meaning and joy, which acts as a buffer against stress and life’s hardships.

2. Work-life balance is crucial

While work provides a sense of purpose and financial security, prioritizing it over relationships usually leads to issues over time.

We should strive for finding a healthy balance where work supports life's broader goals rather than dominating it.

This balance gives us time and energy to nurture personal relationships, which in turn enhance overall well-being.

3. Relationships take effort

Just as physical fitness requires regular exercise, we need to work on our friendships to keep them strong.

It’s not just about being friends, but about spending time with our loved ones and being actively involved in their life.

Based on the authors, we should also be open to meeting new people and building new relationships.

Closing thoughts 🧠

The book is based on the Harvard Study of Adult Development - the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted - which has tracked the lives of over 700 men since 1938.

Almost a century of research reveals that the most important key to a fulfilling and healthy life is not wealth or fame, but the quality of our relationships.