Get a decent upbringing, higher education, a good job, marry someone who is in no way worse than you, have a big salary, a car, your own apartment or house, communicate with the right people, give your children the best, become respected human? Why do many people dream about it and struggle to make their dreams come true? Because in our society there are a number of well-established ideas about the ideal life, to which everyone is obliged to strive. But is it true happiness? Professor Paul Dolan argues that we do not achieve success and peace of mind because we follow outdated social patterns imposed on us throughout our lives by loved ones, colleagues and the media. For the most part, we strive for the same goals as our parents, although the world has changed a lot since their youth. The author of the book offers to answer simple questions that show how attached you are to other people's attitudes and how ready you are to be happy. You are waiting for the right, sometimes discouraging conclusions that destroy the myths about the ideal life. In his reasoning, Paul Dolan relies on the results of current research and vivid examples from life and his own practice.