What is a Good Life?
“The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.”
— Bertrand Russell
What is a good life? Is it found in the quiet contentment of a balanced existence, the thrill of achievement, or the pursuit of meaning in everyday moments? Or is it something quite different? Every year, new books and gurus claim to have found the answer—packaged as diets, exercise regimens, mindfulness techniques, or even miraculous plants used by Indigenous cultures for centuries. Yet, despite these promises, the good life remains as elusive as ever. At the same time as adults seek remedies, there is an under-the-radar epidemic of Special Educational Needs, metabolic diseases, anxiety, and depression among children. The irony is that the very environment adults are trying to protect themselves from is the one that has created so many of these challenges for the next generation. This book reflects this paradox. It explores how the environment we’ve shaped to suit modern living has profoundly impacted children’s physical and mental health—and how we can begin to address this growing crisis and create personal agency for a good life.
Increasingly, we see adults grasping for solutions to restore balance and meaning to their lives. These approaches promise fulfilment, well-being, and happiness, unlocking the secret to achieving a good life. But underlying these claims is an assumption: that there is a universally agreed-upon definition of what makes life “good.” The ingredients for happiness, health, and success are the same for everyone. This assumption is rarely questioned, and yet it deserves scrutiny. What if the “good life” isn’t something that can be prescribed? What if it is deeply personal, shaped by our values,…