A Theory of Happiness: Lessons from a 100 year old Korean Philosopher THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

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Hyung-Seok Kim

A Theory of Happiness

Lessons from a 100 year old Korean Philosopher THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

Hyung-Seok Kim

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Paperback

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English

Bloomsbury
01 February 2026

Popular philosophy; Psychology; Self-help & personal development

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What does real happiness look like? How can we find true purpose, meaning and connection in our finite time on Earth?

105-year-old Professor Kim reveals key aspects of ancient Korean philosophy and shares stories from over a century of living to help us live better.

Showing us how to lean into the world with more softness, gratitude, openness and sincerity – especially when confronted with life’s challenges – he invites us to discover the everyday lessons we can take from Korean values, giving invaluable insight into:

how to find the happiness that already exists in our daily lives

how we can cultivate happiness through hard work and personal growth

how to nurture happiness in our closet relationships

how we can enjoy happiness that grows with us as we age and mature.

The answers to finding genuine, long-lasting happiness in life are more straightforward than we think.

By: Hyung-Seok Kim
Imprint: Bloomsbury
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 135mm,
ISBN: 9781037200434
ISBN 10: 1037200438
Pages: 208
Publication Date: 01 February 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Professor Hyung-Seok Kim is a 105-year-old first-generation Korean philosopher. A former Harvard research professor, he has found true happiness in life, having overcome adversity from a young age, and is committed to spreading joy and helping others through his work. He was born in and grew up in the North Korean province of South Pyongan before leaving to study philosophy at Choson University in Japan. From 1954, he served as a professor of philosophy at Yonsei University, South Korea, for 31 years, laying the foundations of contemporary Korean philosophy as we know it today. He was a research professor at Harvard University and the University of Chicago and, to this day, remains engaged with lecturing, broadcast and writing.