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Life

How to be happy: Act now if you want a revolution

By Richard Layard

13 April 2011

Read more:How to be happy: Putting well-being on the agenda

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Taking action

(Image: Linda Davidson/The Washington Post/Getty)

If we want a happier society, we must take explicit action based on science, says the architect of the Action for Happiness project

The Action for Happiness project is based on two simple ideas: if we want a happier society, we must make it an explicit objective of how we live; and the science of happiness now gives us the tools for the job.

The sad fact revealed by surveys is that despite big increases in income, UK and US citizens are…

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