The Happiness Cage

"The Happiness Cage – Why getting what you want won't make you happier" explores the psychological concept of the "Hedonic Treadmill" (or Hedonic Adaptation). The theory states that humans have a baseline level of happiness to which they eventually return, regardless of what happens to them.



Author Sarah Joy dissects the famous 1978 study comparing lottery winners and accident victims. Surprisingly, after a year, both groups reported similar levels of happiness. The book explains that our brains are wired to normalize success to keep us striving for more. This is good for evolution, but bad for contentment.



"The Happiness Cage" teaches readers how to step off the treadmill. It argues that lasting well-being doesn't come from "peaks" (new car, promotion), but from raising the baseline through relationships, gratitude, and meaningful work. It is a guide to finding joy in the "new normal."