I Never Knew I Had a Choice: Explorations in Personal Growth (MindTap Course List)

Description

What if the purpose of life isn’t to seek happiness, but to suffer less?
We measure progress in lifespan, wealth, and technology-yet suffering persists everywhere. Sufferless reframes progress itself: the true measure is not how long we live or how much we own, but how well we reduce the burden of suffering, from the self to society.
Blending science, philosophy, and practical insight, Sufferless reveals how suffering emerges whenever stress exceeds capacity across the physical, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual domains-and how that simple equation can guide everything from our health and relationships to our institutions and future.
Across six parts, the book travels from the
to the
, through
, the
, and the
-culminating in the
, including the ethical implications for artificial intelligence. Along the way, it translates even the most politically divisive issues into the shared language of suffering-helping bridge divides through our universal human experience.
Part science, part philosophy, part compass, Sufferless invites readers to imagine a world where less suffering is not just possible, but the very definition of progress.
Big Idea Nonfiction, Science, Philosophy
126,000 words, 1,200+ citations