The Joy of Giving

Why altruism and generosity make us healthier and happier-and how we can all give more.

Stephen G. Post, Ph.D., is Director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics. He is the co-author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People. See full bio

April 21, 2009

A Statement on Happiness

In the summer of 2008, we moved to Setauket, New York, up along the North Shore of Long Island. In the village of Setauket sits a lovely park dedicated to the memory of Frank Melville, Jr. (1850-1935). Inscribed in the park's stone bridge over a pond is a poem:

FRANK MELVILLE JR. Read More

December 21, 2008

It's Good to Be Good

Over the centuries spiritual and moral thinkers have prescribed ways of living that lead to greater happiness over the course of a lifetime, and the best of them from Socrates to Buddha, from Jesus to Maimonides, have powerfully lived out what they taught. The goal of a good life, they agreed, is a deep happiness consistent with simplicity, integrity, and a profound generosity. Read More

September 3, 2008

Updating the Helper Therapy Principle

The therapeutic benefits of helping others have long been recognized by everyday people. This concept was first formalized in a highly cited and often reprinted article by Frank Riessman that appeared in 1965 in Social Work. Read More

July 3, 2008

The Joy of Giving: Caring for Volunteers

Not every volunteer experiences a helper's high, but many could if they were better managed. A new professional group, volunteer managers, has emerged over the last decade as more and more institutions rely heavily on large numbers of volunteer helpers. Many managers have training in counseling, and they are asking the right questions. Read More

Books by Stephen G. Post, Ph.D.

Why Good Things Happen to Good People: How to Live a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life by the Simple Act of Giving

Happiness Basics

Research on how to increase positive moods and capitalize on your strengths has proliferated lately thanks to the positive psychology movement, and has shed light on ongoing insights into personality, mood, and cognition.

Go to the Happiness Basics page for more on Happiness including:

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Everyday Creativity

How to start living creatively and reap the benefits.