High on Low: Harnessing the Power of Unhappiness (Paperback)

Nonfiction. Self-Help. Mental Health. Philosophy. Ethics. Winner of the 2015 Living Now Book Award for Personal Growth. Is not being happy really so bad? In HIGH ON LOW: HARNESSING THE POWER OF UNHAPPINESS, Wilhelm Schmid persuasively argues that far from preventing us from living a full and successful life, being unhappy--be it in terms of discontent, melancholy, sadness, or depressive mood--is an inherent part of a well-rounded, active, and creative life. Rather than attempting to treat unhappiness as an unwelcome interloper on our perpetual quest for happiness, we should, Schmid suggests, draw on and harness the very power of not being happy.

This little book covers the gray area between melancholy and depression, finding meaning in a sense of place where one is unhappy, and pinpointing the real values in life. --Midwest Book Review

High on Low surprises on nearly every page .. Unlike the often simplistic recommendations found in many self- help books, these philosophical musings written for a general audience feel more like a rare chance to sit and listen to the advice of a wise elder. High on Low is a little book that can be read and reread, something to pull out and ponder on rainy, melancholy days. --Patty Somlo, The Mindful World

Psychology, philosophy and self-help shelves in the majority of our bookstores are lined with manuals on how to achieve as much happiness as possible, but this philosopher is able to offer up something different that may be able to help an individual who just can't connect with a hedonistic culture. --Erica Roberts, The Mindful World