Jumia Books Stumbling on Happiness: Think You Know What Makes You Happy?  by Daniel Gilbert

"Stumbling on Happiness" by Daniel Gilbert explores why people often misjudge what will make them happy and how our imagination frequently leads us astray in predicting future emotions. Gilbert explains that human beings are unique in their ability to imagine future scenarios, but this mental simulation has three main shortcomings:

Lack of accuracy: Our imagination relies on memory and perception, both of which can omit or distort details.

Presentism: We project our current circumstances and preferences onto the future, which is often quite different.

Rationalization: Our psychological immune system helps us rationalize and cope but can bias our expectations about future happiness.

The book emphasizes that happiness is subjective and often misunderstood, with people overcomplicating the pursuit. Gilbert's insights highlight that our brains shape our experiences through these illusions, and true happiness is more about positive emotions and life satisfaction in the present than accurate future predictions. He suggests learning from others' experiences as a way to better anticipate what will bring happiness.