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May 3, 2025

On the cover this week: The Happiness Issue, which includes Susan Dominus on what we’ve learned from nearly a century of research into happiness; Molly Young’s depressing week in “the happiest country on Earth”; Kwame Anthony Appiah on how the idea of happiness got small; Jancee Dunn with tips from experts on finding bliss, and more.

Photo illustration by Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari

FEATURES

Illustration by Joanne Joo Our Idea of Happiness Has Gotten Shallow. Here’s How to Deepen It. We used to have a very different understanding of what it means to live well. By Kwame Anthony Appiah

Photo illustration by Ben Denzer How Nearly a Century of Happiness Research Led to One Big Finding Decades of wellness studies have identified a formula for happiness, but you won’t figure it out alone. By Susan Dominus

Catherine Hyland for The New York Times My Miserable Week in the ‘Happiest Country on Earth’ For eight years running, Finland has topped the World Happiness Report — but what exactly does it measure? By Molly Young

Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari The Best Advice I’ve Ever Heard for How to Be Happy Tips from experts, astronauts and Cher on finding bliss. By Jancee Dunn

Illustration by Andy Rementer What (Actually) Brings Teens Joy? We asked dozens of them about where they find tiny doses of happiness. By Charley Locke

Illustration by Gabriel Alcala What Makes You Happy? Take Our Quiz. There are two kinds. Which kind of daily pleasure are you seeking? By Laura Bennett

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Photo Illustration by Bráulio Amado Screenland Forget Grotesque Sights. David Cronenberg Does Grotesque Desires. “The Shrouds,” the director’s latest, underlines the central difference between his films and all the “body horror” that has come in their wake. By Alexandra Kleeman

Illustration by Derek Abella Letter of Recommendation How Interviewing Your Own Family Can Change Your Life My dad thought his father died in a Vietnamese prison. A recorded family history revealed the truth. By Kevin Nguyen

Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero. Prop stylist: Sophia Eleni Pappas How to Make a Salad for the Road, the French Way The legume stars in a reliable anytime salad that takes well to travel and whatever’s in the fridge. By Lisa Donovan

Illustration by Louise Zergaeng Pomeroy Judge John Hodgman Can You Skip Chores to Post Online? What level of artistic creation would warrant leaving a mess behind? By John Hodgman

Get your tickets to the Well Festival: Join editors, reporters and other New York Times journalists live in Brooklyn on May 7 for a day focused on health and happiness. Peter Attia, Padma Lakshmi, Robin Arzon, Sara Bareilles, Orna Guralnik, Dan Harris and others will discuss the science and art of living well. Learn more and buy your tickets here.

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