Scott Gollaway is an entrepreneur and professor of marketing at NYU Stern Business School. The Algebra of Happiness contains his ramblings and life advice on success, love and happiness.

• On success:
  • The trait most common among CEOs is that they exercise regularly.
  • The definition of “rich” is having passive income greater than your burn.
  • Big cities are Wimbledon, even if you aren’t Rafael Nadal, your game will improve by being on the court with him.
• On happiness:
  • Being “in the zone” is happiness.
  • On a balanced scorecard, the happiest people are those in monogamous relationships who have children.
• On love:
  • The most important decision you’ll make is not where you work or who you party with, but who you choose to partner with for the rest of your life.
  • Like someone who likes you.
  • Male monkeys have higher ranks and more mating success if they have more social bonds, rather than being bigger or stronger.
  • Love and relationships are the ends, everything else is just the means. In the end, relationships are all that matters.

What resonated with me was the overwhelming importance of relationships in our happiness. This 10 minute video is a good summary of the main points in the book and will get you 80% there.