Nicholas is talking about happiness and compares the lives of a financially successful white, male commodities trader living in Florida and an older black grandmother living in Boston with some health issues and also a devoted husband and grandchildren. In this case, the grandmother has a very busy social life, in active in the lives of her grandchildren, is respected by others and  has a “happy” life.

Nick quotes Brian Mullaney who says “The most selfish thing you can do is help other people.   Hmmm.  Maybe there really is more to life than our possessions and social status.

Take a minute to read Nickolas’ column Our Basic Human Pleasures: food, Sex and Giving.