The most beautiful story of Happiness offers a thematic view of the issue through three stories: that of André Comte-Sponville - philosophy; that of Jean Delumeau - religion; and that of Arlette Farge - history. Comte-Sponville is considering the question of happiness born with Socrates and developed by Aristotle, Epicurus and the Stoics. It follows a review of the systems and reflection on Kant, Hobbes and Freud. The remarks are interesting, but in fact simply decals Happiness desperately. So, the responses of Comte-Sponville duplicate this text and they prove less consistent lack of space to expose and develop. Delumeau is interested in turn to the question of religious fact he is a historian. He studied design of Paradise, showing that it was not from the beginning of Christianity Heaven that we know and that his "function" and its representations have evolved over the centuries. This part echoes the presentation of happiness according to Pascal, that is to say, the life insurance after death. As against end point include Farge and presentation of the eighteenth century and its pursuit of pleasure. It shows that the question of happiness is reserved for elites and the common people probably can not even lock intellectualize. It states, in terms of Michel Foucault, the role of prisons and hospitals to hide agitators types beggars and madmen to ensure public order. This book is quite friendly, but let's face it, hardly conclusive: the three speakers do not join and themes do overlap with great difficulty. These are three snapshots on the question of happiness that enlightens us this theme, but do not circumcised. In short, an interesting book for a first approach to the issue, but could do better.
