A remarkable guide to the quests that give our lives meaning--and how
to find your own--from the New York Times bestselling author of The
$100 Startup and 100 Side Hustles
"If you like complacency and mediocrity, do not read this book. It's
dangerously inspiring."--A. J. Jacobs, author of The Know-It-All
When he set out to visit all of the planet's countries by age
thirty-five, compulsive goal-seeker Chris Guillebeau never imagined that
his journey's biggest revelation would be how many people like himself
exist--each pursuing a challenging quest. These quests are as diverse as
humanity itself, involving exploration, the pursuit of athletic or
artistic excellence, or battling against injustice and poverty.
Everywhere that Chris visited he found ordinary people working toward
extraordinary goals, making daily down payments on their dreams. These
"questers" included a suburban mom pursuing a wildly ambitious culinary
project, a DJ producing the world's largest symphony, a young widower
completing the tasks his wife would never accomplish--and scores of
others writing themselves into the record books.
The more Chris spoke with these strivers, the more he began to
appreciate the direct link between questing and long-term happiness, and
he was compelled to complete a comprehensive study of the phenomenon. In
The Happiness of Pursuit, he draws on interviews with hundreds of
questers, revealing their secret motivations, their selection criteria,
the role played by friends and family, their tricks for solving
logistics, and the importance of documentation. Equally fascinating is
Chris's examination of questing's other side. What happens after the
summit is climbed, the painting hung, the endurance record broken, the
at-risk community saved?
A book that challenges each of us to take control--to make our lives be
about something while at the same time remaining clear-eyed about the
commitment--The Happiness of Pursuit will inspire readers of every age
and aspiration. It's a playbook for making your life count.
"The Happiness of Pursuit is smart, honest, and dangerous. Why
dangerous? Because it is as practical as it is inspiring. You won't just
be daydreaming about your quest--you'll be packing for it!"--Brené
Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, author of Daring Greatly
