Meeting on Happiness, Role of Gov’t and Big Business

TEHRAN.(Iranart) – Book City Institute has organized a meeting in Tehran to discuss ‘How the Government and Big Business Sold Us Well-Being.’

To be held on Tuesday, the meeting will be a debate on a research book written by UK writer and theorist in sociology and politics, William Davies, ISNA reported.

Originally published in 2015 by Verso Books based in London and New York, the book to be discussed is ‘The Happiness Industry: How the Government and Big Business Sold Us Well-Being.’

In the book, Davies questions the contemporary notions of happiness and well being and argues that they are being wrapped by the forces of numerous government and business institutions to turn the concept of happiness into something that promotes consumption.

The title is rendered in Persian by translator A’zam Varshochifard. In  448 pages, the Persian translation was released in early winter by the publishing house Parseh Book in Tehran.

To debate the book and the fundamental notion of happiness, several scholars will attend the meeting, including author and sociologist Mohammad Amin Qaneirad, 62, who works for the National Research Institute for Science Policy affiliated to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.

Economist, author, researcher and university instructor who is an authority on poverty alleviation and economic justice, Hossein Raghfar, 64, is another participant at the meeting. Management scientist, author and lecturer Gholam-Reza Khaki as well as philosopher, anthropologist and psychologist Arastou Mirani will also be present to share ideas. 

The meeting will be hosted by the cultural center of Book City Institute located on Ahmad Qasir Street, north of Beheshti Avenue.