New Books in Psychology Lorraine Besser, "The Art of the Interesting: What We Miss in Our Pursuit of the Good Life and How to Cultivate It" (Balance, 2024)
Oct 11, 2025
Lorraine Besser, a Professor of Philosophy at Middlebury College and author of The Art of the Interesting, explores the concept of psychological richness in our pursuit of a good life. She draws distinctions between happiness and psychologically rich experiences, emphasizing the value of engaging with 'the interesting.' Besser discusses how technology can distract us from meaningful moments and highlights mindfulness as a tool to cultivate richness. She also ties her insights to broader policy implications, advocating for environments that foster curiosity and creativity.
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Psychological Richness As A Third Pillar
- Psychological richness is a third pillar of the good life alongside happiness and meaning.
- It captures complex, engaging experiences that broaden the mind even when they are not pleasant.
Value In Unpleasant Engagements
- Psychologically rich experiences can be unpleasant yet deeply valuable.
- Valuing non-pleasant but challenging experiences expands how we judge a life well lived.
Beyond Aristotle: Curiosity Matters
- Eudaimonia emphasizes using rational capacities to flourish, but minds also crave exploratory cognitive engagement.
- Psychological richness highlights curiosity and creative exploration beyond goal-driven reason.
