A brief history of happiness /

White (philosophy, Univ. of California, Irvine) writes with a philosopher's eye. Eschewing the "vulgar historicism" inherent in previous attempts to understand theories simply by the context of history, White explores "the concept of happiness": one finds oneself with (often) conflicting aims and motives, and seeks a process of deciding which aims are good, and which are not. White mentions several methodologies that historically have been proffered as candidates for the concept of happiness, but ends where he began--multiple goals without unification. The discussion of Kant is particularly interesting; the struggle is not between happiness and obligation, but obligation and a specific inclination. Finally, the concept must be abandoned: "the history of the concept of happiness has been a search for something that's unobtainable."McMahon (history, Florida State Univ.) takes readers on an impressive journey through the history of the concept that has "only ever been conceived as a single journey to a single end." Only in the last few hundred years has happiness shifted from a goal thought to be available to a precious few who practiced the "virtue" of happiness, to the Enlightenment view of happiness as the ultimate end of every person. "Virtually every institution, practice and belief" is instrumental to the teleology of happiness. People are all presently responsible for their own happiness and feel postmodern guilt when it is not realized. McMahon concludes by reading the cultural tea leaves: people's predilection for pharmaceuticals indicates where they are headed; the future promises to "manipulat(e) our genes to enhance our happiness." If this were possible, people would leave their essential humanity behind--the quest for happiness (and the resultant failure) is endemic to humanity.Both authors approach the same topic, with many of the same players, and reach similar conclusions. The attempt to evaluate personal wants and aims, in a manner consistent with how one understands oneself compared to others, is what one ought to do, and already does. Neither history nor philosophy can provide a definitive answer to the mystery of happiness. Both books are excellent introductions to happiness. McMahon's readable style might appeal to a wider audience; while White sometimes chooses brevity over clarity, the text does not suffer. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Both: lower-level undergraduates through faculty. S. J. Shaw Prairie View A&M University