Human beings are in some ways like bees.  We evolved to live in intensely social groups, and we don’t do as well when freed from hives.–Jonathan Haidt, Psychologist at the University of VirginiaIn an illuminating article on Haidt’s blockbuster, The Happiness Hypothesis, Nicholas Kristof explains why a 67 year old black woman in Boston,on dialysis, but with a lot of social life, her husband, kids, grandkids and church, is a lot happier than a wealthy, white, 36 year-old stock trader who’s gone through a lot of women and has millions in the bank.  Altruism is good for you and is the most selfish thing you can do.What an intriguing notion for the self-absorbed, and how liberating.
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