Tal Ben-Shahar - Happiness Studies: An Introduction

This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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I would like to begin by thanking Megan McDonough and Maria Sirois. Together, we embarked on the journey of Wholebeing, and together we uncovered the magic of SPIRE. Their words, and even more so their spirits, are present throughout the book.

The Happiness Studies Academy is my dream come true. It would not be a reality without my dear partner and friend Yuval Kutz, who masterfully integrates between vision and execution, the abstract and the concrete. Andrea Ding, Naomi Eckhardt, Shelly Kelman, Rachel Lavie, Greg Li, Sahar Maimony, Tami Muller, Or Porat, Liad Ramot and Arlen Solodkin are fellow pioneers who, with remarkable humbleness and competence, dedicate themselves to our students and to a happier world.

Udi Moses has been by my side from the very first and precarious steps of this journeyhelping, challenging, encouraging and carrying. I stand on his shoulders. Rouben Madikians, more than anyone I know, embodies the essence of servant leadership, providing me and numerous others with the strength and courage to forge our path. I am grateful every single day for CJ Lonoffs professionalism and generosityfor her hawkish editorial eyes and her heart that is as big as the ocean.

I am grateful to Craig Collins, whose mind-prints and fingerprints are pervasive throughout the book. He elevates my writing, with his incisive intelligence and genuine gentleness. Jennifer Kurdyla lavishly sprinkled her passion and brilliance throughout the book, helping me say more with less. To Sandra Happi-Tasha, my deepest gratitude for your wisdom and insightsI am because we are.

Phil Getz from Palgrave Macmillan is everything a writer could ask for in a publisher and editorbrilliant, razor-sharp and caring. I so appreciate the number of hours he spent dissecting the ideas and then patiently helping me stitch them back together again. Amy Invernizzis meticulous attention to details made the whole so much better. Stuart Halpern is the ultimate giver; without his fervent generosity this book would not have found its publishing home. To the two reviewers, who remain anonymous, a big thank-you for your insightful and helpful comments.

Being represented by the Sagalyn Literary Agency has been a great gift, from the time I started writing. Rafe Sagalyn, much more than my agent, is a dear and trusted friend. Brandon Coward and Tia Ikemoto are quiet leaders who seamlessly bring together caring and professionalism.

The number one predictor of happiness is the quality of our intimate relationships. My beloved family, on Friday nights and throughout my life, provides me with an abundance of lifes ultimate currency.

Im dedicating this book to the memory of Marva Collins, my role model and inspiration. It was when I first heard of her work as an educator that I resolved to become a teacher; and it was when I first met her that I realized that if we want to be in the light, we have to help those around us shine.