In his newest book, Happiness Is Overrated, Raymond A. Belliotti of SUNY Fredonia argues that happiness is not the greatest personal good or always a great good. "Instead of directly pursuing happiness, we should strive for robustly meaningful, valuable lives," he said.
 
Rowman & Littlefield published Happiness Is Overrated, and released the book Nov. 17.
 
A SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and chairperson of the philosophy department at SUNY Fredonia, Dr. Belliotti shows how the concept of happiness developed historically, from Plato to contemporary writers. His 192-page book highlights the best scholarship on happiness that has emerged from philosophy, psychology, and sociology. Addressing issues centered on the meaning of life, Dr. Belliotti also offers practical advice on how to attain happiness.
 
"If we are reasonably successful in striving for meaningful lives, we may find happiness along the way," he said. "If so, we are fortunate. If we do not find happiness after pursuing such lives, we have still lived well and can take pride in crafting interesting, worthwhile biographies. Leading a robustly meaningful, valuable life is a greater personal good than being happy," he said.
 
Dr. Belliotti has been teaching at Fredonia since 1984. He is the author of five other books: Justifying Law (1992), Good Sex (1993), Seeking Identity (1995), Stalking Nietzsche (1998), and What Is the Meaning of Human Life? (2001). Good Sex has also been translated into Korean and published in Asia. He holds a law degree from Harvard University and a doctorate from the University of Miami.
 
He has published 65 articles and 30 reviews in the areas of ethics, jurisprudence, sexual morality, medicine, politics, education, feminism, sports, Marxism, and legal ethics. These essays have appeared in scholarly journals based in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Sweden, and the United States. Belliotti has made numerous presentations at philosophical conferences, including the 18th World Congress of Philosophy in England, and has been honored as a featured lecturer on the Queen Elizabeth-2 ocean liner.
 
Belliotti is a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, the William T. Hagan Young Scholar/Artist Award, The Kasling Lecture award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship, and the SUNY Foundation Research & Scholarship Recognition Award.