This book review tries to highlight some points from the book Advances in Well-Being: Towards a Better World, published by Richard Estes & M. Joe Sirgy. It is organized in five parts. The fourth part comprising two substantive appendices and the fifth part present the details about the Index and about the authors.
Category : Reviews
Review in SINET
The most recent issue of SINET leads off with a review essay by M. Joseph Sirgy and Richard J. Estes. The essay highlights some key foci of a recent book, Advances in Well-Being: Towards a Better World, recently published by Rowman & Littlefield International (Estes & Sirgy, 2018). These include a historical review of the concept of well-being and then separate sections changes over the past few decades in the global states of health, economic, and educational well-being. This is followed by a message from ISQOLS President Mariano Rojas, an announcement of the ISQOLS 2019 Conference in Granada, Spain, a note on the passing of innovator in social indicators/quality-of-life research and long-standing ISQOLS member Wolfgang Glatzer, and regular announcements.
Book Reviews
This remarkable book by two of the most productive scholars in the field of quality of life studies is a delightfully readable overview of the last 100 years of research. The central focus is precisely where it should be, on economic, social, psychological and physical well-being aided and directed by cooperatively crafted evidence-based individual initiatives and public policies.
Alex Michalos, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Northern British Columbia
Advances in Well-Being dispels 21st century pessimism when meticulously detailing how quality of life has improved for citizens living in both developed and developing countries over the century. Extraordinary gains in health, education and economic well-being have been achieved in spite of many social, political and economic set-backs. Drawing on evidence from around the globe, the book identifies the key drivers of this remarkable story of social progress. Readers of this richly illustrated and timely book will want to rethink their strategies for sustaining the momentum ‘to bring about the world we all want’ for future generations living on the planet.
Valerie Møller, Professor Emeritus, Quality of Life Studies, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Rhodes University
Written by two gurus in the field, this is an excellent book illustrating how the science and application of well-being can create a better world. From the book, the readers will appreciate the historical and philosophical foundations of human well-being and gain insights on advances in this field. It is a book that cannot be missed by every human being.
Daniel Shek, Chair Professor of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
This book shows us that there are good reasons to be optimistic about the future of humanity. It is not only that there are positive trends in the main indicators of quality of life in all regions of the world but, fundamentally, that the desire to make good things happen seems to be intrinsic to human nature.
Mariano Rojas, President, International Society for Quality of Life Studies