To The Best of Our Knowledge

from Wisconsin Public Radio

Your mother always told you money won't buy happiness. Well, she was wrong. And economists have calculated the price. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, the high cost of happiness. Also, why we cry: from crocodile tears to the three-hankie movie. Writer Andrew Solomon's struggles with the noonday demon, depression. And scientists unravel the blues by peeking into the brain.

Andrew Solomon is the author of what's being hailed as the definitive book on depression: "The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression." He talks with Steve Paulson about his own experience with the disease, and why depressive illness is becoming more common.

Psychiatrist Ned Kalin and psychologist Richard Davidson are brain researchers who've found that cheerful people tend to have more left-brain activity while people with active right brains tend to be sad and pessimistic. They tells Anne Strainchamps about their work and the potential treatments it suggests. Davidson and Kalin direct the Health Emotions Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin. Also, Economists at the University of Warwick in England have calculated the price of happiness. Andrew Oswald tells Steve Paulson that money can buy happiness, but it takes a lot.

Jonathan Haidt teaches psychology at the University of Virginia and is a champion of elevation - what we feel when we're moved by something inspiring. He talks with Jim Fleming about this often-overlooked emotion. Also, Tom Lutz tells Jim Fleming that human beings are great crybabies. Lutz is the author of "Crying: The Natural & Cultural History of Tears."

Books:

• Andrew Solomon, The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression (Scribner)
• Tom Lutz, Crying: The Natural & Cultural History of Tears (Norton)

Music:

• T-Bone Walker: Call It Stormy Monday, But Tuesday is Just as Bad from The Complete Capitol Blues Collection
• T-Bone Walker: Too Much Trouble Blues from same album
• Cheryl Wheeler: Is it Peace or is it Prozac? from Mrs. Pinocci's Guitar
• Red Norvo: Get Happy from Giants of Jazz Time-Life
• Tommy Emmanuel: Reggie's Groove from Midnight Drive
• Julie London: Cry Me a River from The Best of Julie London
• J.J. Johnson: Cry Me a River from The Trombone Master

Distribution dates:

• week of 07/28/2002 - hour 2
• week of 07/01/2001 - hour 2