How to Become a Happy Person

How to Become a Happy Person Happiness Print How to Become a Happy Person By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Updated on April 23, 2019 Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images More in Self-Improvement Happiness Meditation Stress Management Spirituality Holistic Health Inspiration Brain Health Technology Relationships View All Happiness is an age-old and sometimes elusive goal. Virtually all people want to be happy people, which is good, because happy people are better off, for reasons both obvious and subtle. Obviously, it feels good to be happy. But, looking deeper, happy people tend to enjoy benefits that unhappy people don’t, and, thanks to research from the field of positive psychology, we know more about some of these subtle differences. For one thing, they tend to enjoy more successes in life. You may be thinking that happiness and success go hand-in-hand because success causes happiness, not the other way around. Researchers Julia Boehm and Sonja Lyubomirsky at the University of California in Riverside thought about this, too. Seeing that happy people tended to earn more money, display a superior performance, and help others more often,  they set out to test the hypotheses that happiness causes success, and found happiness is indeed associated with (and precedes) several successful outcomes including higher earnings and greater performance, as well as behaviors that go along with success, like helping others. Their research found that the relationship goes both ways: Success brings happiness, but happiness actually does bring success, too. Another benefit that happy people share is good health. Studies have found that happy people experience lower levels of cortisol in their saliva, lower blood pressure, lower ambulatory heart rate in men, and reduced neuroendocrine, inflammatory, and cardiovascular activity. All this leads to greater health, which is definitely something to be happy about. What Happy People Have in Common So, what makes happy people, well, happy people? It seems that happy people tend to have a few things in common. Very happy people are found to be very social  and have stronger romantic and social relationships with others than less-happy people. Research has also found happy people to be energetic, decisive, creative, social, trusting, loving, and responsive. Rather than being strongly linked to external characteristics like socioeconomic status, gender or age, happiness is more positively associated with having a philosophical view of life, using laughter and humor, being able to relate to others, having problem-solving skills, engaging in meaningful pursuits and leisure activities, living in a positive environment, and maintaining a well-balanced lifestyle. Positive psychology research also illuminates specific activities that can bring feelings of happiness. Performed regularly, these activities can lead people with a lower happiness setpoint to increase their regular levels of positive affect (good mood) and happiness in general.  These activities include pleasures, gratifications, and flows. Secrets to Being Happy There are several routes to happiness. Some are quick and bring immediate positive feelings, and others take more time and bring lasting and repeated feelings of happiness. The following resources bring several strategies from both categories, which can help you become and stay one of the world’s happy people. Happiness Shortcuts:  Here are some quick strategies that can help you feel an instant burst of happiness right now.How to Be Happy:  Here are some more long-term strategies for attaining happiness in your life.Does Your Lifestyle Make You Happy?  Just because youre doing everything right, doesnt mean its making you happy. Take this quiz to find out if how youre living is actually working against your efforts to be happy.

Endicott College GPA, SAT Scores and ACT Scores

Roughly  a quarter of applicants to Endicott College will not get in. Successful applicants to this ocean-side college tend to have grades and standardized test scores that are average or better. Endicott College GPA, SAT and ACT Graph Endicott College GPA, SAT Scores and ACT Scores for Admission. Data courtesy of Cappex. Discussion of Endicott Colleges Admissions Standards: In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent students who received acceptance letters. Most had combined SAT scores (RWM) of 1000 or higher, an ACT composite of 20 or higher, and a high school average of a B or better. Grades and standardized test scores above these lower ranges will improve your chances, and you can see that many accepted students had high school averages up in the A range. Note that Endicott College is test-optional for most applicants, so your grades are going to matter far more than your SAT or ACT scores. Youll notice a few red dots (rejected students) and yellow dots (waitlisted students) mixed in with the green and blue throughout the graph. This tells us that a few students with grades and test scores that were on target for Endicott College were not admitted. On the flip side, you can see some students with grades and test scores a bit below par were admitted. This seeming inconsistencies are the result of Endicotts holistic admissions policy. To quote from the schools admissions website: Endicott demonstrates a commitment to enrolling students from a wide geographic range as well as from all ethnic and racial heritages. When considering candidates for admission, the Admission Review Committee looks at the entire individual. In addition to reviewing the application and the student essay, the Committee concentrates on a students academic record, recommendations, extra-curricular activities, and test scores. So to be competitive, put time into crafting a  strong application essay, and make sure you have meaningful extracurricular activities. Endicott College invites applicants to submit a resume of extracurricular activities, accomplishments, and work experiences. It is worth creating the resume if youve been highly involved in activities outside of the classroom in high school. Learn More About Endicott College To learn more about Endicott College, high school GPAs, SAT scores and ACT scores, these articles can help: Endicott College Admissions ProfileWhats a Good SAT Score?Whats a Good ACT Score?Whats Considered a Good Academic Record?What is a Weighted GPA? Articles Featuring Endicott College: Colleges for Beach LoversMassachusetts Colleges If You Like Endicott College, You May Also Like These Schools: Roger Williams University:  ProfileMerrimack College:  ProfileUniversity of Massachusetts - Amherst:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBentley University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphSalve Regina University:  ProfileBoston University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphSalem State University:  ProfileUniversity of Massachusetts - Boston:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphStonehill College:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphKeene State College:  ProfileNortheastern University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT Graph

Strangers Identity Theft and Identity Fraud - 1604 Words

Strangers: Identity Theft and Identity Fraud What is Identity Theft and Identity Fraud? The U.S. Department of Justice defines Identity theft and identity fraud as â€Å"all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person’s personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.† Some of the tactics used by thieves to steal personal information are through shoulder surfing. This is when people watch from a nearby location as you punch in credit cards, passcodes, or ATM pins. They can also listen, without you being aware, to your telephone conversations and gather information, such as your name, address, credit card/ account number, social security, security answers, address, and any other information sensitive information you might provide to financial agencies during a phone call conversation. Another way is through dumpster diving. This is when the thief goes through your garbage and collects copies of checks, credit cards, bank statements, pre-approved applications, and any other records with your name, address, and/or your telephone number to get access to your accounts or to obtain lines of credits under your name. In an attempt to be up to date with the latest technological advances, many elders are learning how to use laptops, tablets, and smart phones to gain easy and fast access to financial sites, social networking, and discounted travel agency sites. Before the internet made its debut, elders were oftenShow MoreRelatedSocial Networing Sites: Befriending Identity Theft1126 Words   |  5 Pagesdoes one think that their Facebook site is hazardous to their identity. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, an estimated 11.7 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2010 (U.S. Dept. of Justice). Identity theft is defined as a crime where someone illegally acquires and utilizes another person’s vital information to deceive for personal gain. That same year, the Federal Trade Commission reported that identity theft crimes cost businesses and individuals an estimated $53 billionRead More Identity Theft and the Internet Essay1556 Words   |  7 PagesIdentity Theft and the Internet You come home and find two mysterious UPS packages at your doorstep. Funny; theyre addressed to you, but you didnt order anything. You open one of them to find a cell phone with the latest accessories. The enclosed invoice shows that it was shipped to you but billed to someone with your name at another address a few miles away. Same name? Same city? Stranger things can happen. Theres a phone number, so your husband tries to call to let your namesake know thatRead MoreIdenitty Theft1102 Words   |  5 PagesEver wonder how that can be? Well you might have been a victim of identity theft. What is identity theft you ask? It is a form of fraud or cheating of another persons identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that persons identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that persons name. According to the national association of the attorneys general, â€Å"Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the nation with an estimatedRead MoreProtecting Yourself from Identity Theft Essay1745 Words   |  7 Pagesin your name and it is your address. You may not believe it, but your identity has been stolen and now someone is out there posing as you, running willy nilly around town with your life in hand. The truth is, there is almost nothing you can do once your identity is stolen. How are you going to explain to a credit card company that you did not purchase anything when everything is in your name? This is what makes identity theft so effective, someone can go in, do large amounts of damage and disappearRead MoreIdentity Theft Essay1749 Words   |  7 Pagesin your name and it is your address. You may not believe it, but your identity has been stolen and now someone is out there posing as you, running willy nilly around town with your life in hand. The truth is, there is almost nothing you can do once your identity is st olen. How are you going to explain to a credit card company that you did not purchase anything when everything is in your name? This is what makes identity theft so effective, someone can go in, do large amounts of damage and disappearRead MoreRole of the Internet and Crime1140 Words   |  5 Pagesacross vast areas for planning, execution of a crime, recruiting, and general propaganda. Financial fraud consists of money laundering, illegal exports, arms trafficking and counterfeit pharmaceuticals. This type of fraud consists of crimes such as credit card fraud which is one of the top reported crimes. Frauds that involve a breach of personal trust are among the most widely practiced types of fraud. The internet has allowed people access to get other peoples information without their knowledgeRead MoreBest Practices For Preventing Identifying And Reporting Internet Fraud Essay1590 Words   |  7 PagesBest Practices for Preventing, Identifying and Reporting Internet Fraud The Internet plays critical roles in the fabric of today s society, and people use their computers and mobile devices for business, social contact, recreation playing games and many other activities. However, everyone faces cyber crime risks when using their computersm and these perils range from phishing to investment fraud. People use their computing devices to work, buy products and services and store vital personal informationRead MorePrivacy issues of Social Networking Sites1156 Words   |  5 Pageswith whom they share a connection, and view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system.† (p. 211) In other words, on social networking sites, people are proficient of initiating a relationship, often between strangers, through social networking sites, as well as communicating with each other and acquiring other’s personal information effortlessly. This denotes that offenders could assemble valuable pieces of intelligence related to their victims, and approachRead MoreIdentity Theft Of The Modern World2764 Words   |  12 Pages Identity Theft in the Modern World Chance Graff  Executive Summary On March 13th, while browsing the 25th most popular website in the world, reddit.com, I received a personal message from another user of the site. The message was simple: â€Å"hi.† Not recognizing the username, gurbadurab, I decided to ignore it; they had other plans. After roughly an hour, I received another message from the same user, this time it was a little more personal. â€Å"how are you? [sic]† the stranger asked me.Read MoreSocial crimes and their solutions1437 Words   |  6 PagesCrime is one social issue that has caught everyones eye. Crime has various branches; there are lots of different types of crime. Major crimes that are the main cause of concern include Kidnapping, Theft/Robbery, Murder, Rape, ChildAbuse (Verbal and physical), Terrorism (Bombings etc), and identity fraud so on and so forth. One of the main social agendas of our age is to find a way to prevent these crimes. There are different ways, theories and ideas as how to stop all of these crimes. Murder and

The Current Marketing Environment of the Airline Free Essays

This report will evaluate the current marketing environment of the airline industry in Europe. This will involve looking into different area of the airline industry such as deregulation and open skies, current economic conditions, distribution channels, pricing and revenue management. It has been proved that the airline industry is probably one of the most competitive and complex industry in the world. We will write a custom essay sample on The Current Marketing Environment of the Airline or any similar topic only for you Order Now According to Mintel report (2009) in the past decade, air travel has grown by 7% per year. Travel for both business and leisure purposes grew strongly worldwide. Scheduled airlines carried 1.5 billion passengers last year. In the leisure market, the availability of large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 made it convenient and affordable for people to travel further to new and exotic destinations. Distribution channels In all areas of marketing links must be made between the customer and the product. These links are known as distribution channels. Airlines use a variety of these channels. All of them are giving rise to particularly intense debate at the present time, because the different channels result in different costs, and because they vary in the extent to which they allow airline to exercise proper and necessary control of the channel. S, Shaw (Airline Marketing Management, Fifth Edition, Page 194). Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) It’s impossible to talk about distribution channel in the airline industry without mentioning GDSs. For nearly twenty years, the subject of Global Distribution Systems has been a controversial one in the airline industry, and it remains so today. S, Shaw (Airline Marketing Management, Fifth Edition, Page 204). Until the early 1970s, contact between airlines and their distribution outlets was mainly by telephone, this was both time consuming and costly and became unsustainable as the industry grew. As the 1970s preceded, the first, pioneering carries set out to automate airline/travel agency contact. In order to do so, direct links were provided from each agency location into the airline’s reservations computer. Instead of phoning, agents could use the keyboard of Visual Display Unit to make bookings direct with the airline concerned. Besides saving a great deal of time, this also gave agent visual confirmation that required reservation had been made. Airline today In the old, regulated environment, European airlines relied on external channels (travel agents, consolidators, tour operators) to distribute up to 90 percent of tickets. Distribution via these channels typically cost an airline 17 to 20 percent of the ticket price, accounted for by travel agency commissions (including bonus â€Å"overrides†), computer reservation company booking fees, credit card fees, and the airline’s own costs (such as its salesforce). Since then, CRS technology and economics have changed a lot: thanks to the development of alternative distribution channels, such as the airlines’ Internet websites or their call centres, consumers have nowadays access to a multiplicity of information and booking channels for air transport services. About 40% of all airline tickets in the EU are booked via alternative channels and about 60% via travel agents and CRSs. Bookings made via the major global distribution systems (GDS) accounted for 64% of all airline passenger revenue in the U.S. in 2008 for U.S. point-of-sale transactions, but the figure has dropped below 50% in Europe, according to (Mintel report realised 2008) in the size, role and value of GDSs in travel distribution. The decline in Europe has been sharper, falling from 56% in 2006 and 51% in 2007 to 47% in 2008.The decline is attributable, in large part, to the rapid growth of low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair, that rely exclusively or primarily on direct bookings. 69% of the nearly â‚ ¬18 billion in air travel sold by European LCCs in 2008 was booked via their own Web sites. Deregulation and open skies Throughout its history, the airline industry has been constrained by decisions made by politicians and governments. Government have controlled where airlines can fly, and aspects of their product planning and pricing policies.’ They have also had a major involvement in the industry through the ownership of airlines. They have always had a role in regulating airline safety standards, a role that remains important and, principle, relatively non-controversial. For many years, and in almost all aviation markets, government controlled airlines’ route entry and capacity and frequency decisions. In recent years, substantial regulatory reform has taken place, giving carries the challenge and the opportunity of responding to a free economic environment. In describing the system of economic regulation of the airline industry, a fundamental distinction has always been between the regulation of domestic services which are solely under the control of one government, and international services, which require the agreement of at least two. Until relatively recently, almost all domestic travel market were highly regulated. The Agreement replaced and superseded previous open skies agreements between the US and individual European countries. Deregulation is also stimulating competition, such as that from small, low cost carriers. The EU’s final stage of deregulation took effect in April 1997, allowing an airline from one member state to fly passengers within another member’s domestic market. Beyond Europe too, ‘open skies’ agreements are beginning to dismantle some of the regulations governing which carriers can fly on certain routes. Low-Cost Airlines in Europe Budget airlines’ have been one of the main drivers of growth in intra-European travel, over the past decade. However, after a period of rapid expansion, it seems that the sector is now reaching maturity and that the growth is likely to slow down in the coming years. The low-cost business model is geared to short-haul routes, which allow for a quick turnaround of aircraft. As such, LCCs are increasingly in competition with other modes of travel, especially rail, which has undergone a substantial upgrading in recent years. The European Air travel today has many more cheap air travel options than a decade ago. The partial deregulation of air travel in Europe in the 1990s allowed the rise of low-cost airlines, and flying even short distances in Europe is often cheaper than taking the train. The days when national flagship carriers dominated air traffic and were regarded as national symbols are gone, and the fierce competition from low-cost airlines has led to bankruptcies and mergers of several large and reputable airlines. But with so many more airlines operating in Europe, comes the difficult choice for travellers to figure out how to get the best prices and the services they desire. Low-cost airlines have exploded onto the European market in recent years, and routes that were traditionally covered by national airlines now face the stiff competition of low-cost carriers. Current economic conditions The correct down fall of the economy has hit hard in all most every industry, but has hit even harder at the European airline industry. The air transport sector has been hit hard by the ongoing financial and economic crisis. Both demand and supply have been retreating at an almost unprecedented pace since early 2008. According to the IATA, international passenger demand fell by 5.6% in January 2009 compared to the same month in 2008, which was a full percentage point worse than the 4.6% year-on The current economic conditions cause consumers to make cutbacks. France, however, remains on a growth curve after several years of declining popularity. City and short breaks are increasingly popular as holidaymakers head for France for a quick-fix getaway. Even with the current economic conditions people are still using the air transport for quick getaway, †¢ European airlines affected The hardest hit has been the ‘flag carriers’ who have suffered hugely due to the slump in premium and business travel, coupled with the sharp rise in fuel prices. British Airways Plc in November posted a larger than expected first-half loss and predicted revenue would slump by one billion pounds by the end of 2009. Germany’s Deutsche Lufthansa AG in October provided a gloomy outlook for the airline industry and reported that its third quarter operating profit fell 21 percent. Air France-KLM posted a current operating loss of 543 million Euros for the six months ended in September, compared with a current operating profit of 592 million Euros for the same period a year earlier. Pricing and revenue management Pricing is a crucial activity for the air transport industry as airplane seats a perishable commodity. Before deregulation of the major air travel market, pricing were a relatively a simple matter, as carries generally enjoyed a monopoly, duopoly or at least a cartel situation with other carries on most routes. (Mintel June 2009) Since deregulation, the focus has switched towards filling the aircraft, which has led to greatly increased price discrimination (charging different customer segments different prices). The results has been rising load factors but decreasing real yield, as prices charged to marginal customers can be brought down to very low level (e.g. Ryanair) since the marginal cost of carrying one more passenger approaches zero.( Mintel 2009) Soaring fuel costs and impending EU Emissions measures spell danger for the industry. Load factors are also slipping, as a ‘golden period’ of fleet expansion threatens to cause a state of ‘over-capacity’. To maintain the cheap ticket model, carriers are going to have to drastically raise their ancillary revenues (in-flight sales, charges and add-ons) and increasingly expand into accommodation and transfer services, in order to cope with the economic and legislative storms they are flying towards. How to cite The Current Marketing Environment of the Airline, Essay examples

Willy Russell’s “Educating Rita” Essay Essay Example

Willy Russell’s â€Å"Educating Rita† Essay Essay In Willy Russell’s Educating Rita. the issues of category inequalities and the picks of instruction are the cardinal subjects of the drama. These thoughts are convey through non merely by the character of Frank and Rita and their utilizations of linguistic communication but besides the dramatic technique employed. Class differences are clearly illustrated at the beginning of the drama. in the relationship between Frank and Rita. Class differences are particularly apparent when Rita assumes that an academic like Frank will bask fictions such as â€Å"Rubyfruit Jungle† merely every bit much as she did. It is besides more obvious when Rita views the spiritual picture as ‘erotic’ . She besides thinks ‘Howard End’ sound like a ‘naughty’ book. She was looking through a on the job category uneducated position than to a higher. educated civilization. However. Rita wants to be able to read books and go to concert dance opera and appreciate these art signifiers. The spread exists between the universe she has lived in all her life and the universe she aspires is brought in several mentions to book. We will write a custom essay sample on Willy Russell’s â€Å"Educating Rita† Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Willy Russell’s â€Å"Educating Rita† Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Willy Russell’s â€Å"Educating Rita† Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer For illustration. in Act I scene I. Rita references a verse form she has read about contending decease and Frank leaps to the decision that she means Dylan Thomas. However it is a verse form by the Liverpool writer Roger McGough that Rita has in head. There is besides one boundary that she refuses to traverse which involves run intoing Frank on a societal degree. He invites her to dinner and although Rita finally finds his house. she knows that the vino she has brought is inappropriate and that she would hold been unable to speak confidently to the dinner party invitees. She is disturbed by her relations singing vocals at their local saloon. particularly when her female parent says â€Å"we could sing a better vocals that those† ( I. seven ) . Frank and Rita’s linguistic communication have hard communicating and they besides have different linguistic communication. Rita’s uses of linguistic communication show that she is from a contrast civilization to Frank as her linguistic communication employs as a batch of slangs and curses. On the other manus. Frank who comes from an educated category. his linguistic communication is more sophisticated and uses formal degree of English and literary devices to bespeak his societal position. An illustration of this to exemplify the differences of their linguistic communication is when Rita asks â€Å"What does assonance intend? † and Frank gives a short laugh so answer â€Å"What? † . However. despite their great contrast. the two categories can larn from each other. Rita is a ‘breath of fresh air’ ( I. I ) in Frank’s life. learning him to see things from a wholly different position unlike the conventional point of position he had adopt w hen learning literature for the past old ages. Yet. Frank can offer Rita an instruction and hence pick. However. Rita’s background does non halt her finding to be educated. Rita sees instruction as a ticket to chances of a life clip and a signifier of release. an ability to command her fate which she neer had before as an uneducated worker. She comments about the manner she came to reject the values of her friend and households and looked for something more meaningful in life other than apparels and work forces. The citation of â€Å"I wan na detect meself foremost. Make you understand that? † is extremely effectual because it shows that Rita knows that she is uneducated and expresses a passionate hungriness to cognize everything. It besides reveals that she are desire to alter into a new individual and she is full of hope at the alteration to better. Although Frank begins on higher on the rational ladder. he has a more hard acclivity. His dwelling sense of failure as a write. instructor. lover and human being have crippled him and made it hard for him to make his full potency. Education will non be his flight. alternatively it is the influence of Rita. whose involvement him and whose reflecting illustration of finding and energy are what motivate and inspire him to acquire traveling once more. Overall. Educating Rita has presented the chief issues of category inequality and instruction efficaciously through the characters. linguistic communication and the dramatic techniques.

Free Essays on Howells “Editha“

, and he explained the war as breaking "the peace of the world" (Howells 268). The couple also discussed how God fit into the idea of war. Editha believed "God meant it to be war’ (Howells 270), while George seems unsure on God’s involvement. Before George left Editha’s porch to go home and think about it, he stated how he felt about war as of that moment: "I’d like to believe as you do. But, I don’t, now; I don’t, indeed. It isn’t th... Free Essays on Howell's â€Å"Edithaâ€Å" Free Essays on Howell's â€Å"Edithaâ€Å" In William Dean Howells’ "Editha", the title character is responsible for George’s death through her persistent and forceful support of war and his involvement in it. Editha’s ideals of war were very different than George’s, in many ways. They had different beliefs on the righteousness of war, and how it connects to their families’ values, God, and the very idea of killing another man. However, Editha influenced George enough to join the war effort, which winded up killing him after only a few weeks later. Editha had a very particular feeling toward war and she wanted greatly for her husband to be a part of the war effort, however, George did not agree with how Editha saw war and their feelings clash. The story opens with Editha sitting on her porch pondering weather to let George go to war. When she sees him approaching her house, she "decided that she could not let him stay"(Howells 268). She had an ideal of her husband being a hero, and if George were to go to war, he would fulfill that ideal. Editha explains, "she must put a guard upon herself against urging him to take, for the completion of her ideal of him" (Howells 268). Although she insisted that she did not want to influence him, she boosted the war in every way to show how much it meant to her. She inferred, rather than stated her opinion of what his position in the war should be. Editha described the war as "glorious"(Howells 268). George’s answer questioned her choice of words, and he explained th e war as breaking "the peace of the world" (Howells 268). The couple also discussed how God fit into the idea of war. Editha believed "God meant it to be war’ (Howells 270), while George seems unsure on God’s involvement. Before George left Editha’s porch to go home and think about it, he stated how he felt about war as of that moment: "I’d like to believe as you do. But, I don’t, now; I don’t, indeed. It isn’t th...

Around the World in 80 Days Review

'Around the World in 80 Days' Review Jules Vernes Around the World in Eighty Days is a rip-roaring adventure story set primarily in  Victorian England but spans the world following its protagonist Phileas Fogg. Written with a cosmopolitan and open view of the world, Around the World in Eighty Days is a brilliant tale. Vivid in its descriptions, Fogg, a cold, brittle man, who slowly shows that he does have the heart of an Englishman. The book wonderfully captures a spirit of adventure that was bubbling around the turn of the century and is impossible to put down. The Main Plot The story begins in London where the reader is introduced to an incredibly precise and controlled man by the name of Fogg. Fogg lives happily, although a little mysteriously, for no-one knows the true origin of his wealth. He goes to his gentlemans club every day, and it is there that he accepts a wager to travel around the world in eighty days. He packs his things and, along with his manservant, Passepartout he sets out on his journey. Early on in his voyage, a police inspector begins to trail him, believing Fogg is a bank robber. After a reasonably uneventful start, difficulties emerge in India when Fogg realities that a train line he was hoping to take has not been finished. He decides to takes an elephant instead. This diversion is fortunate in one way, for Fogg meets and saves an Indian woman from a forced marriage. On his journey, Fogg will fall in love with Aouda and, on his return to England will make her his wife. In the interim, however, Fogg faces a number of challenges, including losing Passepartout to a Yokohama circus and being attacked by Native Americans in the Midwest. During this incident, Fogg shows his humanity by going off personally to save his manservant, despite the fact that this could well cost him his bet. Finally, Fogg manages to get back onto British soil (albeit by leading a mutiny aboard a French steamer) and seemingly in enough time to win his bet. At this point, the police inspector arrests him, delaying him just long enough to lose the bet. He returns home saddened by his failure, but brightened by the fact that Aouda has agreed to marry him. When Passepartout is sent to arrange the wedding, he realizes that it is a day earlier than they think (by traveling East across the International date line they have gained a day), and so Fogg wins his bet. The Human Spirit of Adventure Unlike many of his more science-based fiction stories, Jules Vernes Around the World in Eighty Days is interested in the capabilities of technology in his own time. The things that human beings can achieve armed only with a sense of adventure and an exploratory spirit. It is also a brilliant dissection of what it is to be English in the time of empire. Fogg is a brilliantly drawn character, a man who is stiff-upper-lipped and precise in all his habits. However, as the novel goes on the icy man begins to thaw. He begins to place the importance of friendship and love above his usual concerns of reserve and punctuality. In the end, he is willing to lose his bet to help a friend. He doesn’t care about defeat because he has won the hand of the woman he loves. Although some would argue it doesnt have the great literary merit of some novels written around the same time, Around the World in Eighty Days certainly makes up for it with its vivid descriptions. The undoubtedly a classic story is peopled with characters who will be long remembered. It is a breathtaking roller-coaster ride around the world and a touching view of an older time. Filled with the thrill of adventure, Around the World in Eighty Days is a wonderful story, written with skill and no short order of panache.