Life of Pi

This is one of the books I am reading this month, its on the schedule of my reading group.  I am only 1/4 of the way through because I am only reading it whilst the kids are in swimming lessons but its good read and thought provoking too.  Its observations about animals in Zoos are quite intriguing and have got me thinking about the similarities with human happiness. 

Basically it says that animals in Zoo’s are happy provided they get some key essentials, stability, food, safety and their own territory and routine.  Well perhaps that’s true of humans too, when you look at simple human cultures that have the above, they seem fairly happy.  When you look at complex cultures dominated by advertising, excessive choice, instability, competition etc then people tend not to be too happy.  There’s more to it than that of course, but it gets you thinking.

I don’t want to give too much more away about the story line of the book because it would spoil the fun.  However I will say it proviked one of the more lively debates at the reading group!