Should governments and institutions take into account the recent behavioral social science research on well-being? If so, how might that affect public policy? Speakers: Eldar Shafir, Derek Bok, Daniel Gilbert

How do “experience” and “memory” shape well-being? Author Jonathan Haidt talks about three of the ten great truths from his book The Happiness Hypothesis. To be a great truth, it has to arise on multiple continents and multiple eras, but what we tend to find is that these truths occur to everybody who thinks about the human condition. Does happiness come from the outside or the inside? And what happens when the two conflict? Daniel Gilbert and Jonathan Haidt discuss

Individual well-being can be systematically measured and systematically built.

The search for happiness is as old as history itself. What lessons can we learn from the past? Sissela Bok, Darrin McMahon and Daniel Gilbert discuss.

Martin Seligman on Flourishing, Public Policy, and the Army Book talk. While certainly a part of well-being, happiness alone doesn’t give life meaning. What is it that enables us to cultivate our talents, to build deep, lasting relationships with others, to feel pleasure, and to contribute meaningfully to the world? Featuring Martin E. P. Seligman 2011

Happiness as an ongoing state of mind — rather than a fleeting pleasurable sensation — could be recognized by the predominance of positive affects, by an ongoing freedom from inner conflicts that express themselves in obviously tormenting ways, by a sense of inner calmness, and by attitudes that reflect some kind of benevolence toward others. Matthieu Ricard talks with Hanna Rosin

Does money buy happiness? If you ask people does money buy happiness, they all get very high-minded and say, well, of course not and they begin to preach to you about love, meaning and other things.

Is happiness a skill? Modern neuroscientific research and the wisdom of ancient contemplative traditions converge in suggesting that happiness is the product of skills that can be enhanced through training and such training exemplifies how transforming the mind can change the brain. Speakers: Kent Berridge, Richie Davidson, Daniel Gilbert