Book SummaryThe Art of the Interesting, by Lorraine Besser

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Art of the Interesting

Many people structure their lives around pursuing two goals: being happy and finding meaning. They do this because they’ve been led to believe they only need those two types of experiences to feel fulfilled. However, even after achieving these goals, they often feel dissatisfied.

In The Art of the Interesting (2024), philosophy professor Lorraine Besser explains why: Focusing solely on these pursuits causes you to miss out on another type of experience, one that doesn’t always promise happiness or meaning, but offers something valuable that neither goal can provide alone: psychological richness.

Psychologically rich experiences are interesting ones—they engage your mind, challenge you, surprise you, or shift your perspective. Besser argues that interesting experiences are just as necessary for living a good life as happy and meaningful ones. This is because your mind needs regular stimulation to...

The Art of the Interesting Summary Part 1: Why Happiness and Meaning Aren’t Enough

Happiness and meaning have been held up as the twin pillars of a good life for so long that it feels counterproductive not to prioritize pursuing them. While Besser acknowledges that these pursuits can add value to your life, she argues that they come with costs that undermine the fulfillment they promise. Ahead, we’ll explore these costs in detail, and then we’ll explain how pursuing interesting experiences benefits you.

(Shortform note: While Besser describes happiness and meaning as separate, equally important pursuits, many happiness experts frame the pursuit of meaning as a method for feeling happiness. In other words, happiness is the main goal, and it’s a byproduct of finding meaning. For example, in The How of Happiness, Sonja Lyubomirsky argues that meaningful goals enhance long-term happiness by giving your life direction and helping you experience genuine satisfaction. Meanwhile, Neil Pasricha (The Happiness Equation) suggests that [meaningful work...

The Art of the Interesting Summary Part 2: How to Make Life More Interesting

Now that you know why interesting experiences are valuable, you might be tempted to add “experience interest” to your list of goals to achieve. Besser warns against this approach, explaining that interest is a feeling that you can’t schedule: There’s no way to decide in advance when you’ll experience interest or what will trigger it. This is because interesting experiences are rarely the ones you look for or intend to find. They’re the unexpected things you notice, the tangents you follow, the moments that catch you off guard. If you try to force the feeling, you’ll end up putting pressure on yourself to find things stimulating, which will only make you more aware of when they’re not, intensifying your feelings of boredom.

Your Temperament May Reveal Your Interests

It’s true that there’s no manual for ensuring you experience interest when you’d like to. This is partly because interest is personal and subjective: We all have unique values and temperaments that influence how we respond to experiences—so something that inspires interest in one person won’t necessarily elicit the same response in another. However, knowing your temperament—[your inherent way of...

Shortform Exercise: Open Your Mind to Interesting Experiences

Besser recommends five methods that will help you experience more interest. Let’s explore how you might implement each one.

Think about your typical week—when could you carve out time to be alone, free of tasks or distractions, so that you can just explore your thoughts? Write down at least one option.