Boston Magazine |
Shiny, Happy People
Who’s the happiest person in town? Beats us. But we did learn some interesting things when we got a random sampling of boldface Bostonians to take Peterson’s quiz.
HAPPINESS IS: NONE OF THE ABOVE
Harvard’s Tal Ben-Shahar is a rising star in the booming field of positive psychology, which promises nothing less than a scientifically proven road map to happiness. Last spring regular Esquire contributor and former Cantabridgian Luke Dittrich audited Ben-Shahar’s hit course—the most popular on campus—and crammed for the final exam, learning in the process that positive psychology may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Read the story >
Harvard’s Tal Ben-Shahar is a rising star in the booming field of positive psychology, which promises nothing less than a scientifically proven road map to happiness. Last spring regular Esquire contributor and former Cantabridgian Luke Dittrich audited Ben-Shahar’s hit course—the most popular on campus—and crammed for the final exam, learning in the process that positive psychology may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Read the story >
Hank Phillippi Ryan, Channel 7 reporter
Happiness Score: 43
She uncovers corruption for a living but still feels upbeat? Sounds like a story for “Hank Investigates”!
Ming Tsai, celebrity chef
Happiness Score: 38
Fellow star chefs Michael Schlow and Chris Schlesinger also took the quiz and scored a 36 and 32, respectively.
Paul Levy, CEO, Beth Israel hospital
Happiness Score: 36
The “happiest guy in the world” (says the Boston magazine staffer who nominated him) turns out to be only above-average jolly.
Amanda Palmer, Dresden Dolls singer
Happiness Score: 35
Surprisingly chipper, considering the whole death-vaudeville wardrobe.
Ernie Boch Jr., auto sales magnate
Happiness Score: 33
Answered “I feel like a failure” to question one; mood apparently improved dramatically thereafter.
Terry Francona, Red Sox manager
Happiness Score: 31
Wrote on the bottom of his quiz: “I felt a lot better about myself before I took this test.”
WEB EXCLUSIVE
The following celeb test results appear only on bostonmagazine.com:
Tim Kirwan, general manager of the InterContinental Hotel Boston
Happiness Score: 39
Maria Stephanos, Fox25 News anchor
Happiness Score: 35
Billy Costa, TV and radio personality
Happiness Score: 34
Miss Mina, cofounder of the Boston Babydolls burlesque troupe
Happiness Score: 34
Riccardo Dallai, Newbury Street designer/shop owner
Happiness Score: 31
Happiness Score: 43
She uncovers corruption for a living but still feels upbeat? Sounds like a story for “Hank Investigates”!
Ming Tsai, celebrity chef
Happiness Score: 38
Fellow star chefs Michael Schlow and Chris Schlesinger also took the quiz and scored a 36 and 32, respectively.
Paul Levy, CEO, Beth Israel hospital
Happiness Score: 36
The “happiest guy in the world” (says the Boston magazine staffer who nominated him) turns out to be only above-average jolly.
Amanda Palmer, Dresden Dolls singer
Happiness Score: 35
Surprisingly chipper, considering the whole death-vaudeville wardrobe.
Ernie Boch Jr., auto sales magnate
Happiness Score: 33
Answered “I feel like a failure” to question one; mood apparently improved dramatically thereafter.
Terry Francona, Red Sox manager
Happiness Score: 31
Wrote on the bottom of his quiz: “I felt a lot better about myself before I took this test.”
WEB EXCLUSIVE
The following celeb test results appear only on bostonmagazine.com:
Tim Kirwan, general manager of the InterContinental Hotel Boston
Happiness Score: 39
Maria Stephanos, Fox25 News anchor
Happiness Score: 35
Billy Costa, TV and radio personality
Happiness Score: 34
Miss Mina, cofounder of the Boston Babydolls burlesque troupe
Happiness Score: 34
Riccardo Dallai, Newbury Street designer/shop owner
Happiness Score: 31
Originally published in Boston magazine, September 2006
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