What makes happiness expert Adam Potkay, author of "The Story of Joy: From the Bible to Late Romanticism," happy? Potkay, who chairs the English department at the College of William & Mary in Virginia (shown here), is happy to share several of his favorite things.
What makes happiness expert Adam Potkay, author of "The Story of Joy: From the Bible to Late Romanticism," happy? Potkay, who chairs the English department at the College of William & Mary in Virginia (shown here), is happy to share several of his favorite things.
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<strong>Great literature, like Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace."</strong> One of Potkay's favorites, it's all about Pierre Bezukhov's ongoing search for happiness. "While the search is partly concluded in the novel, Tolstoy recognizes that there's no final stopping place for us while we're still living and striving," says Potkay.
Great literature, like Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace." One of Potkay's favorites, it's all about Pierre Bezukhov's ongoing search for happiness. "While the search is partly concluded in the novel, Tolstoy recognizes that there's no final stopping place for us while we're still living and striving," says Potkay.
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<strong>Films like "Casablanca."</strong> "Like most folks, I find 'Casablanca' very uplifting!" says Potkay. "It's got both the devotion of erotic attachment and its transcendence for a more pressing cause -- it's like Virgil's 'Aeneid,' but much more fun!" (It helps that Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman starred in the movie.)
Films like "Casablanca." "Like most folks, I find 'Casablanca' very uplifting!" says Potkay. "It's got both the devotion of erotic attachment and its transcendence for a more pressing cause -- it's like Virgil's 'Aeneid,' but much more fun!" (It helps that Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman starred in the movie.)
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<strong>Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn, anyone?</strong> "'The Philadelphia Story' -- the comedy of remarriage to the same person -- contains in it a greater affirmation of the good than the comedy of first-time-around does," says Potkay. "It involves not just union but reunion: the conscious affirmation of a union."
Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn, anyone? "'The Philadelphia Story' -- the comedy of remarriage to the same person -- contains in it a greater affirmation of the good than the comedy of first-time-around does," says Potkay. "It involves not just union but reunion: the conscious affirmation of a union."
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<strong>Who doesn't love "The Wizard of Oz"?</strong> Potkay says we adore the 1939 film starring Judy Garland because it uses the standard, medieval romance form: "You look for something in the outer world, and realize it was inside you all along. And what's outside doesn't matter so much."
Who doesn't love "The Wizard of Oz"? Potkay says we adore the 1939 film starring Judy Garland because it uses the standard, medieval romance form: "You look for something in the outer world, and realize it was inside you all along. And what's outside doesn't matter so much."
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<strong>All kinds of music. </strong>Mozart's "Don Giovanni" and Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Frank Sinatra (shown here in 1956) or Ella Fitzgerald doing the great American songbook inspire him. "I also love the first New York Dolls album to be played at near-maximum volume!" says Potkay.
All kinds of music. Mozart's "Don Giovanni" and Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Frank Sinatra (shown here in 1956) or Ella Fitzgerald doing the great American songbook inspire him. "I also love the first New York Dolls album to be played at near-maximum volume!" says Potkay.
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<strong>Conversation. </strong>Socializing and connecting with family and friends always make Potkay happy, and "nothing facilitates it like coffee -- before 5 p.m. -- and wine -- after 5 p.m."
Conversation. Socializing and connecting with family and friends always make Potkay happy, and "nothing facilitates it like coffee -- before 5 p.m. -- and wine -- after 5 p.m."
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<strong>Reminding himself of how little he needs.</strong> "At the mall, say to yourself what Socrates said when walking through the Athenian marketplace: 'How many things are here that I do not need?'"
Reminding himself of how little he needs. "At the mall, say to yourself what Socrates said when walking through the Athenian marketplace: 'How many things are here that I do not need?'"
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<strong>Keep in mind it's an inside job.</strong> "Feel joy and gratitude for the good things that come to you; be philosophical about the bad things," says Potkay, whose campus must inspire him. "Focus on the things that lie within your control -- your attitudes and opinions toward things -- and don't get caught up in things you can do nothing about."
Keep in mind it's an inside job. "Feel joy and gratitude for the good things that come to you; be philosophical about the bad things," says Potkay, whose campus must inspire him. "Focus on the things that lie within your control -- your attitudes and opinions toward things -- and don't get caught up in things you can do nothing about."
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