It is a hot summer day. I slowly dive into the water. A pleasant coolness permeates my body and I perceive only the smell of algae and a forest pond. Just a few paces and I lose track of time. I suddenly feel so light. I turn on cue and let myself be carried. I watch the azure sky and treetops sway in the light breeze that carries the sounds of summer along the shore. Cheerful antics of children, rhythmic music of teenagers having fun, splashing water. I squint lazily towards the shore, which is strewn with umbrellas and towels. People have left their cares at the gates of nature and are now enjoying a delightful idleness.”

The more I thought about joy, the more I wanted to explore it. To map it as an unknown landscape. What happens in the brain when we rejoice? How does our body react to these processes? How does joy change over the course of life? What is this feeling, what causes it and how do people celebrate it in different cultures?

This book is an expedition to an irresistible land. Land of joy.

A great gift for everyone who longs for the beautiful aspects of life.