Steven Luper analyzes the nature of happiness and compares two strategies of pursuit: the western approach known as 'optimizing', in which we try to bring about the satisfaction of our desires, and the eastern method known as 'adapting', in which we transform our desires so that nothing can hurt us.

"Luper's clearly written, yet heartfelt, book will serve to widen the narrow horizons of contemporary moral debate, and not just within academia". -- David E. Cooper University of Durham