Human happiness has been a perennial concern of philosophy. The ancients believed that happiness represents the proper final end for mankind. Classical utilitarians held that it constitutes the only thing good in itself. Even the moral philosophy of the eighteenth century, while emphasizing duty, offered the promise of happiness. This work combines an analysis of the Western philosophical tradition with the insights of Eastern mysticism and modern physics to offer a series of recommendations aimed at achieving the goal of human happiness.

"This chapter introduces the main features of the transformative self-what it is and is not. For instance, the transformative self is not a person but rather a self-identity that a person uses to facilitate personal growth. The person creates a transformative self primarily in their evolving life story. This growth-oriented narrative identity helps the person to cultivate growth toward a good life for the self and others. The chapter provides an overview of the book's theoretical approach and topics. The book's first section examines the components of personal growth, narrative identity, and a good life that culturally characterize the transformative self. The second section explores he personality and social ecology of the person who has a transformative self. The third section shows how the transformative self itself develops over time. The final section explores the hazards and heights of having a transformative self"--

Most of us believe that we are unique and coherent individuals, but are we? The idea of a "self" has existed ever since humans began to live in groups and become sociable. Those who embrace the self as an individual in the West, or a member of the group in the East, feel fulfilled and purposeful. This experience seems incredibly real but a wealth of recent scientific evidence reveals that this notion of the independent, coherent self is an illusion - it is not what it seems. Reality as we perceive it is not something that objectively exists, but something that our brains construct from moment to moment, interpreting, summarizing, and substituting information along the way. Like a science fiction movie, we are living in a matrix that is our mind. In The Self Illusion, Dr. Bruce Hood reveals how the self emerges during childhood and how the architecture of the developing brain enables us to become social animals dependent on each other. He explains that self is the product of our relationships and interactions with others, and it exists only in our brains. The author argues, however, that though the self is an illusion, it is one that humans cannot live without. But things are changing as our technology develops and shapes society. The social bonds and relationships that used to take time and effort to form are now undergoing a revolution as we start to put our self online. Social networking activities such as blogging, Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter threaten to change the way we behave. Social networking is fast becoming socialization on steroids. The speed and ease at which we can form alliances and relationships is outstripping the same selection processes that shaped our self prior to the internet era. This book ventures into unchartered territory to explain how the idea of the self will never be the same again in the online social world.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction: Analytical Anthropology -- Part I: Self-Identity -- 1 The Problem of Personal Identity -- 2 Parfit's and Perry's Impersonal Solution -- 3 Atomistic Self-Identity and Analytical Personalism -- Part II: Personal Autonomy -- 4 Hierarchical Autonomy, Self-Identification and Self-Evaluation -- 5 Frankfurt on the Nature of the Will -- 6 Community and Authenticity of the Self -- Appendix: The Memory Theory of Personal Identity -- Bibliography -- Index of Names

Features a foreword by John Maxwell and afterword from Steven R. Covey. Have you ever thought about the connection between knowing who you are and success? Identity can serve as your greatest asset. Enduringly successful people know who they are, are clear about what matters to them, have established powerful identities, and create value in the world. In this book, the process for discovering and understanding your identity is brought to life through Stedman Graham's personal experiences and the stories of individuals who've resolved their questions of identity, building a life that matters to themselves and those around them. Take control of who you are. Take control of your life. Achieve lasting success. Now a Wall Street Journal bestseller!

In the past, neo-tribalism in a Western context has been feared as leading to blindness or irrationality. In today's business world, tribalism represents a conscious separation of the individual ego for the good of the community. This is the key to understanding the success of the most innovative businesses in the 21st century.