Assignment A: 1. Give an outline of the views on the relation between wealth and happiness presented in texts 1 and 2.
In text one, David Brooks presents that marital happiness is the utter most important when we pin down personal welfare. He also tells us wealth is nothing compared to personal relations, such as marriages, with studies to stand behind his statement. However, he also states that the relation between wealth and happiness is questionable. He believes assumes this because of the fact that, once you have the essentials required for a well-being, the association between higher income and happiness is poor. Brooks windups text one by saying that personal relations are more important than material goods but also adding that we people weigh wealth too highly, as the way of accomplishing happiness.
In text two, Stephanie Rosenbloom presents that here is a definite association between wealth and happiness. Nevertheless, according to Rosenbloom there are things, which makes you happier than others. For example, spending gravy on adventures will bring more happiness than squandering money on material goods - which we buy to outshine the neighbours. We become happier spending money on experiences because we are most likely not going to identify our experiences with others compared to material goods. 2. How does David Brooks engage the reader in text 1? Give examples from the text.

“Two things happened to Sandra Bullock this month. Frist, she won an Academy Award for best actress. Then came the news reports claiming that her husband is an adulterous jerk. So the philosophic question of the day is… Would you exchange a tremendous professional triumph for a severe personal blow?” (s. 1 l. 1-4). In text one, David Brooks engages the reader straightaway, by asking the reader questions. It forces the reader into thinking whether or not they would exchange an extraordinary achievement for a harsh personal blow and if there is a connection between happiness and wealth. He also involves Sandra Bullock’s personal life, which does make the text more particular for the reader. With the first few lines he appeals to a crowd that normally would not read the text, because of the fact that he is talking about a famous person, which might fool people into thinking that it is a gossip text. With the questions: “Does wealth inflame unrealistic expectations? Does it destabilize settled relationships? Or does it flow from a virtuous cycle in which an interesting job produces hard work that in turn leads to more interesting opportunities?” (s. 2 l. 31-33) He yet again involves the reader by asking questions, as a substitute for the usual reeling off information. As a result, the questions tend to keep the reader engaged and interested throughout the text, in that the reader has to keep wondering about these questions. “According to one study, joining a group that meets even just once a month produces the same happiness gain as doubling your income. According to another, being married produces a psychic gain equivalent to more than 100,000$ a year.” (s. 3 l. 37-40). The writer’s use of studies, in this instance engages the reader. It engages the reader because the study could be regarding him- or herself. 3. Based on the opinions voiced in texts 2 and 3, discuss whether spending makes people happy.
In text three and two it states: “But, in that case, he surely would not have experienced the satisfaction that he can now rightly feel at the thought that his hard work and remarkable investment skills will, through the Gates foundation… Buffet reminds us that here is more to happiness than being in a good mood.” (s. 2. L. 47-51) and “But they have found that our types of purchases, their size and frequency, and even the timing of the spending all affect long-term happiness.” (s. 1 l. 15-16). So, these two quotes clearly verbalize that spending does make people happy. According to the texts, you can gain happiness in various ways, by donating hard-earned dollar, as in text three or spending the money on experiences or material goods. But does money spending really make people glad? In my opinion, it depends on what kind of a person you are. Some might appreciate to devote time with their family or friends. Yet can you spend time with family or friends without spending money? I do not believe, due to nothing in on the earth is free. So if spending time with your family or friends is the only thing that makes you happy, you can’t be “happy” with spending money. Therefore, spending money must make people happy although it can occur in different ways.