Author inspired by the Founding Fathers’ pursuit of happiness

President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, Jeffrey Rosen, joined us to share what inspired him to write his book “The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America.”

What started as a COVID reading project quickly spiraled to understanding the nation’s Founding Fathers’ beliefs on happiness and how it shaped our democracy. 

Rosen was first inspired by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson and how they used books from Cicero for their core understanding of happiness. 

This led Rosen to re-evaluate his own beliefs on happiness. He shared how the Founding Fathers believed to be good leaders for their citizens, they had to balance their minds. He also shared how these fundamental beliefs on happiness shaped their daily lives and their philosophy on government. 

With the rise of social media, Rosen believes it might change the way we approach these ideals; however, they still apply to people today. 

Rosen hopes his book will inspire people to read more and apply it to their lives.