[dcchuck]

There's a Bertrand Russell book on this very topic, The Conquest of Happiness - https://www.amazon.com/Conquest-Happiness-Bertrand-Russell/d... (not an affiliate link)

I enjoyed the read. Felt like Russell just thought about this question for a while, and shared his thoughts. It was very practical and enjoyable.

Disclaimer: I recall some "wow, we don't talk like that anymore" moments. And I didn't enjoy the hyperbole of the cover quotes. But the content of the book debunks those.

[zh3]

Bertrand Russell: "The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt."

That's actually from "The triumph of stupdity" [0] rather than Conquest of Happiness but perhaps more appropriate to this particular discussion.

* [0] https://russell-j.com/0583TS.HTM