The Happiness Lessons That Changed Lives | Happiness Hour

Life Audio.

On today's episode of Timeless Wisdom.

And also, thank you for this tip. It really helped with my parenting. And I heard you say one day that you have an obligation to be— to the people around you to be happy.

That's right.

And where this really helped me was with my son, who, shall we say, is not the sunniest by his disposition kid in the world.

Right.

And he was unfortunately born into a family of really sunny people, and You know, I was pretty distressed by his moodiness, shall we say.

Yes.

And I tried a lot of things, you know, understanding him, working with him, and I— and those things all worked, and the gratitude thing was helpful. But because he's a good boy and he loves us, he really got the fact that he had an obligation to us and his family to try to be happy.

Wow!

Oh, you've made my day.

How old— how old was he when he got it?

He's 15 now, and I think I've been saying this to him probably for the last at least 5 years.

That's coming up. On Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager.

Rising interest rates, stock volatility, out-of-control inflation. People are concerned about what the future holds financially. This is Dennis Prager for AMFED Coin and Bullion. There's no better time than the present to move a portion of your IRA into precious metals. You should know there's a right and a wrong way to set up your precious metals IRA. Mistakes could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars in IRS fines. Call AMFED Coin and Bullion, 800-221-7694, americanfederal.com. That's americanfederal.com.

Welcome to Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. Hear thousands of hours of Dennis's lectures, courses, and classic radio programs. And to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles, go to DennisPrager.com.

Yes, yes, yes!

Yes, yes, yes!

Hey, it's the Happiness Hour on the Dennis Prager Show, the show, the show, the show!

Yahoo!

It's the Happiness Hour. Come hell or high water, we talk about happiness this hour of the week.

No politics, no disasters, no airplane crashes, no muggings, just happiness. Yep, this is the longest-running show on happiness in American radio history. It's also the only—

nope, that is not true. It is not the only. When I was a kid in New York City on WABC, There was a show called the Happiness Exchange, poorly titled since in fact it was the unhappiness exchange.

People would call up and tell how miserable their life was, and then people like my grandfather would send in money. They would call in money. Years later, I found that the host had kept most of it.

No wonder he called it the Happiness Exchange. It now occurs to me, guy got happier.

Woo-hoo!

Even as a kid, I thought, you know, I called him Papa.

Papa, are you sure that those people get that money?

Uh, why is it we are capable of laughing about very dark things afterwards? Isn't that interesting?

All right, anyway, folks, this is the Hour on Happiness because it is so important. Happy people make the world better. You hear that? Happy people make the world better. The older I get, the more I have valued happiness.

I—

in my earlier years, it was all goodness-oriented. The thing is to be a good person. And I still believe in, in the tremendous significance of goodness, obviously. But happiness is up there, folks. It is up there because unhappiness can thwart your goodness. Yeah, yep, it's a big one. Now, today is going to be different than all other Happiness Hours, of which there are hundreds and hundreds. Yes, that's how many we've done. By the way, there were CDs of, of the best. They're meant to be life-changing, these hours. And in light of that, I have today's question topic. So I need, I need your help here. If you have heard this program, or you heard this hour, or read my book on happiness— my book is Happiness Is a Serious Problem, and it is a deliberately chosen title because it is—

if you have read my book and/or heard this hour, And, uh, and one or two ideas have in fact affected your happiness. I would like to know them, them, and I would like all of my listeners to know what they are.

This hour is going to be driven by you, unless you don't call on it, in which case it will be driven by me.

But I want to hear from you. Think carefully. I've gotten so many emails on this, so many over the course of years. Ah, you said this and I have incorporated it into my life and it has in fact changed my life.

My number here is 1-800-PRAGER.

And I don't mean change your whole life. I don't— but it has in fact changed your life. Doesn't mean changed everything about you. I understand that, but changed your life in the sense that you have incorporated that idea into your life and it has in fact increased your happiness. Now think carefully and be generous in taking the time to call, because if people hear and I hear what ideas are in fact touching people, This can be of tremendous help. 1-8-Prager-776 is the number. 1-8-P-R-A-G-E-R-776.

Or in digits, it's 877-243-7776. 877-243-7776.

I, I am looking to you for an answer to the question. What has touched you in terms of happiness? All right, because if we know what, what's working, then we can emphasize them more and people can hear from you instead of from me. These hours are always more driven by me. That's the nature of my show in general and the Happiness Hour, though I have learned—

you have no idea what I have learned from you. you, my callers. You have no idea. And my emailers. It is— it far, far surpasses the education I received at an Ivy League graduate school.

Alrighty, we go to Gardena, California, and Gwen. Hello, Gwen.

Dennis Prager.

Hi, it's an honor.

Thank you.

I read your book many years ago, and I recommend it to a lot of my friends who seem unhappy. I think the overwhelming concept is Gratitude, and just gratitude for little tiny things like being able to walk outside and not become rained on or something like that.

Mm-hmm.

And if, if it just permeates your lifestyle, it also gives you the ability to say, oh, that's no big deal, when other things come up. And that compounded with the gratitude makes more conflict-free living, and I think you're happier that way.

That's beautiful, Gwen. I'm going to talk about that now.

Thank you so much.

Okay.

That was, that was charming.

It was. Anyway, that's that. She hit it.

When I talk on happiness, when I give my speeches on it, and I've spoken on happiness on all 7 continents, I am proud to tell you, that includes Antarctica, where there being no people, I spoke To the penguins.

I had to speak to somebody in order to say 7 continents.

There is a picture of me, by the way, lecturing to the penguins on the DennisPrager.com website. My friends, that is right.

Gratitude is the secret to happiness. That is it.

The more grateful you are, the happier you will be. The less grateful you are, the less grateful you will be.

It is, uh, it is the most— it's, it's not alone.

Enough, but it is the most essential ingredient to be able to say, I thank you, God, thank you, life, thank you, luck, thank you, whatever.

But thank you, I am so lucky to have my health, for example. That's a big deal because we're all missing things and The gratitude can help undo the damage of that. All right, thank you. That was a big one. That is correct. Gratitude, be able to, uh, to express it. And by the way, it is very hard to feel it and express it.

It is not easy to raise grateful children in an affluent society. My parents grew up in the Depression.

It's much easier to feel gratitude if you grow up in the Depression than to feel gratitude if you grow up in our affluent society. It's very hard to raise grateful children, and therefore it's hard to raise happy children, because without gratitude, they can't be happy. But are they gonna— how are they gonna be grateful for all their meals? People who grew up in the Depression were grateful for a meal, grateful for new pants. Think my kids would get a pair of pants and think, oh, am I lucky, a pair of pants.

No.

new pair of pants. On the contrary. Oh no, I hate shopping. Imagine a kid in the Depression saying that. Oh, I'm sick of shopping. It's not possible. It is. So just know it is very tough to raise happy children if I'm right, and I am right on this, that gratitude is a sine qua non, meaning without which nothing, meaning indispensable to happiness. All righty, let's go to Kathy in Phoenix. Hello, Kathy. Dennis Prager. Kathy? Oh yes, yes, sorry.

It's okay.

Um, hi, thanks for having me on the show. Um, the show that I listened to that you described, um, or you defined what optimism really meant to you, um, that, that really helped me a lot because I had always thought that optimistic people were always happy. And so I just thought that I was a pessimistic person. And so I kind of looked down on myself until I heard your definition that an optimistic person looks on the bright side of negative circumstances.

Yes, as opposed to thinks everything will turn out right. Yeah, that's right. That's right. You really heard me carefully. That's a big deal. Because I'm in your category.

I don't always think things will turn out right.

Right.

And so people would say that they thought I was pessimistic, when in fact I thought, well, I do look on the bright side of things, but I never thought everything was going to turn out right all the time, given, you know, because of a given thing.

But the ability to see the good in any given situation, that's the real optimist.

Well done.

Well, thank you, Kathy.

Thank you.

I appreciate that a lot. We'll continue. What has most affected you? And you folks should take notes if you can, because these are like— it's like the all-star version, the All-Star Game version of all the Happiness Hours. What has affected you the most? 1-800-PRAGER-776. The Happiness Hour on The Dennis Prager Show.

This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this.

Every day there's another headline about artificial intelligence. It's moving faster than most of us ever imagined, and it raises an important question: where's all this headed? There's one reason I think you're going to find Carbon Zero so interesting, because it feels so real. It's the latest novel from AI pioneer Craig W. Stanfill, someone who has spent years working in artificial intelligence and understands both its incredible potential and its very real risks. In the story, one seemingly harmless instruction to an advanced AI sets off a chain of events no one saw coming. It's a fast-paced thriller, but what makes it especially compelling is how believable it feels. If you love stories that make you think as much as they entertain, you're gonna love Carbon Zero. Should we be scared of AI? This book paints a picture. Carbon Zero is available now. Just go to Amazon and search for Carbon Zero by Craig W. Stanfill. That's Carbon Zero, a real page-turner that you won't be able to put down.

Go get your copy Now, back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom.

The Happiness Hour is the name of this hour on The Dennis Prager Show, every week at this time. Today is a sort of, uh, all-star game, if you will. The, the, the things that I have said or written in my book on happiness, Happiness Is a Serious Problem, that have most affected you. Uh, and increased your happiness. It is— the reason is partially for me. It's very important for me to get feedback, but I get a lot in your email. The, the major reason is to review some of the best ideas so that people might incorporate them and hear what has affected their fellow listener.

Alrighty.

All right. And now remember, this is very important. You had to have read it From me or heard it from me. It can't be a good idea that you hold. So Eva, check with Celeste if it's, if it's definitely something she heard from me or read from me. I'm not asking what makes you happy. I'm asking you, what did you hear from me or read in my book that has made you happier? Okay, that's very important. Otherwise, it's not the point otherwise. Okay, Cindy, Newport Beach, California. Cindy, hello. Dennis Prager.

Hi, Dennis.

Hi.

Thanks for taking my call.

Thank you.

And also, thank you for this tip. It really helped with my parenting. And I heard you say one day that you have an obligation to be— to the people around you to be happy.

That's right.

And where this really helped me was with my son, who, shall we say, is not the sunniest Right. By his disposition kid in the world.

Right.

And he was unfortunately born into a family of really sunny people. And, you know, I was pretty distressed by his moodiness, shall we say.

Yes.

And I tried a lot of things, you know, understanding him, working with him, and those things all worked, and the gratitude thing was helpful. But because he's a good boy and he loves us, he really got the fact that he had an obligation to us and his family to try to be happy.

Wow!

Oh, you've made my day.

How old is he?

Um, he's 15 now, and I think I've been saying this to him probably for the last at least 5 years, so I'd say around 10.

Oh, he already got it when you first started telling it to him?

You know, yes, and I think it's because he— I mean, he really does listen to me and think, you know.

Right, he's a child.

Now he doesn't so much listen to me because he's 15.

Naturally, right.

Well, no, he listens, but he doesn't admit it.

Well, there you go. That's a good secret.

Yes.

Um, anyway, he, he—

I think he did.

I could see it on his face. And I could see him making an effort. As I said, he's a really good kid, and he does feel obligated to us.

That's the biggest— thank you very much, Cindy. That is so big. That's the biggest. That—

when my book came out, I was on about 30 or 40 talk shows around the country.

The publisher sets you up.

You just do, you know, 5 minutes, 8 minutes per station, and you do, let's say, You know, 10 an hour, then you do it for 4 hours or 3 hours, then you do it another day.

Very interestingly, that was overwhelmingly the question that other talk show hosts asked me. Dennis, what do you mean by a moral obligation to be as happy as we can be? A moral obligation to be happy? What are you talking about? And yes, we do.

It's, it's one of the biggest moral obligations we have.

As much as to be honest and to be kind and so on. So if that was a powerful call that she was able to give that over to her child. Yeah, you see, you can't, you can't just, you know, enter into your unhappiness cocoon.

You just can't. You can if you live on a desert island, but not if you live with people.

All righty, let's go to Jan.

The Californians call in on personal subjects.

Jan in Lakeview, California, hi.

Hi, Dennis. Thanks so much for taking my call.

Thank you.

There are 2 things. I'm just reading your book, and the first thing that got my attention was, will this make me happy? And it's helped me to be much wiser about how I spend my money and my time. And that is, I've Real great blessing for me. But then that which I am seeing so much benefit with my family is not comparing up. I'm raising an adolescent daughter. She will be 15 next month. And, you know, she is feeling like she doesn't have as much as— although she's spoiled rotten. And she's coming to see that— yeah, last night in fact she said, here I am, the most spoiled kid in the world, complaining because I don't have— Oh, that's good.

Oh, good.

Well, at least she has that self-image that she's understanding she can't be spoiled. But the first one I want to comment on, that's the biggest. That's another— well, they're all the biggest. What can I do? That is something I need you all to know. This show, I know, affected people when I spoke about Asking yourself before you do anything, before you spend— that was the example just given— before you do anything, will I be happier after I do it? You're going to watch 4 hours of TV that night? Ask yourself the question, will I be happier afterwards? If we just ask that question, we would live incredibly rich lives. Will I be happier after? People never, almost never ask themselves that question. They ask— they don't ask, they do what feels good at the moment, but they don't ask, will I be happy afterwards? When college kids get drunk, when college kids, uh, when they, you know, uh, are promiscuous, will I be happier afterwards? Just ask that. Forget morale. We're not talking— this show does not— this show always talks about the moral, the good and bad and right and wrong and so on. But I'm not talking— this is the one hour it's only happiness. Tell your high school kid, your college kid, aside from all the values you give, ask themselves this question: will I be happier afterward?

Because everybody wants to be happy.

Well, not everybody, but most people. Okey-dokey. Over to Saul in New York City. Hello, Saul.

Dennis Prager.

Dennis, it is an honor to speak with you.

Thank you kindly.

Well, some time ago you did an hour— you took a call— you did an hour about parents and children, and you took a call from a woman who was really heartbroken over the way her parents had abused her as a child, and you asked if she was a parent herself. And she was. And you went on to explain how that is— being a good parent, as she was, was really the best way that she could attempt to undo the damage that her parents did.

You know how I know you heard me say it? Because I was filling in the rest of your sentence with the words undo the damage. So I— but I didn't want to interrupt you. And the fact that you used the words that were in my mind, I guess, you know, just proves to me and it makes me feel wonderful.

Mm-hmm.

But are you a parent?

Well, my wife and I are expecting our 3rd child in about 2 weeks.

Well, I wish you truly good luck and a healthy child.

Thank you very much.

But it is true then, we— what I call it is the holes from our childhood can never be fully filled. You can't go back to your childhood, but you have a chance to fill those holes In the way you love your child. We get a— it's sort of a second chance. Thank you, Saul.

It was a great call.

We'll be back in a moment.

I'm Dennis Prager.

This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this.

Every day there's another headline about artificial intelligence. It's moving faster than most of us ever imagined, and it raises an important question: where's all this headed? There's one reason I think you're going to find Carbon Zero so interesting, because it feels so real. It's the latest novel from AI pioneer Craig W. Stanfill, someone who has spent years working in artificial intelligence and understands both its incredible potential and its very real risks. In the story, one seemingly harmless instruction to an advanced AI sets off a chain of events no one saw coming. It's a fast-paced thriller, but what makes it especially compelling? is how believable it feels. If you love stories that make you think as much as they entertain, you're going to love Carbon Zero. Should we be scared of AI? This book paints a picture. Carbon Zero is available now. Just go to Amazon and search for Carbon Zero by Craig W. Stanfill. That's Carbon Zero, a real page-turner that you won't be able to put down. Go get your copy today and start reading Carbon Zero.

Now back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom.

All right, my friends, this is the Dennis The Dennis Prager Show, and it is the happiness hour, and it's, uh, worth its weight in gold this hour. Hopefully always, but today because you are telling me, and I took a gamble, I really did. I just want you to know I felt it was a gamble. Maybe, uh, maybe, uh, you wouldn't recall or you wouldn't call about this, but I, I was prepared to have this entirely caller-driven. Usually Dennis-driven this hour, as most hours. But I wanted to know, what have I said about happiness on the Happiness Hour, uh, or what have you read in my book on happiness, Happiness Is a Serious Problem, that has truly touched your life? And you have— you're hitting the major themes. And it— you know, I got to tell you something, that's the greatest thing that I could really achieve, is that you remember and, and use what I say. Otherwise, It's not enough that you find me interesting or entertaining. You know, it's funny, there are times when I will meet people and they'll say, oh, I remember you when you came to Detroit. I heard you here 20 years ago. You were great. And then I will say, well, thank you. Do you remember what I spoke about? And then they will sheepishly say, no. It's not so great that you were great 20 years ago, but they don't remember what you talked about. It's better that they think you're not so great or weren't so great and actually were touched by the idea. Most of the time people do, but there are times when truly I get that response and I'm out on a limb when I ask that question, obviously. But the point is, to make headway is to have the point register with people. So I'm asking you, what have I said or written on happiness that has, that has in fact strongly affected you? Okay, it's a big deal, big deal. Alrighty, over to, uh, Arizona and Tom in Phoenix.

Hello.

Yes, Mr. Prager, thank you.

Thank you.

I appreciate you taking my call. I don't know, this might be redundant because 2 of the lovely ladies that you have already talked to pretty much touched upon what I wanted to—

Oh, that's okay. If there is a point that keeps coming up, then I need to know that. That's just as valuable. Go ahead.

The fact that we have an option whether or not to choose if we're going to be happy, it all relates to the morally— we're obligated morally to choose to be happy around the people we have, but I guess I've taken it further. I'm obligated to myself. I never really stopped to think about the fact that I choose my attitude moment by moment, day by day.

Mm-hmm.

And I've taken it so far, you've touched me so much with this, that when you had that discussion about just choosing to be happy, I went and bought your book. And I've been in a recovery group for 3 years now, and I'm a leader. And once a month I lead the group and I get to give a little lesson. A couple weeks ago I started with your book, and I'm going through the whole book. Um, it really helps people there. Yes.

No, no, I'm just moaning from happiness.

I'm so, so delighted to know that this is doing that with people. What do you want to tell me which recovery group it is?

Um, it's a group called New Wine. And the way I also take the—

I mean, recovery from what is really what I'm—

Well, that's, that's what I was about to get into, is I take all the information calls when people want to know. And the best way I can describe it is it's a smorgasbord of dysfunction.

I see.

Uh-huh.

You've got everything there. It's a Christ-centered recovery, uh, 12-step group.

I understand.

Well, it means the world to me that you use it. And yes, the choice, the choice issue. You know, Abraham— I didn't put it in the book, uh, I probably heard of it afterwards.

Abraham Lincoln said, we are as happy as we decide to be.

And, uh, it's a, it's a big deal. Thank you, Tom.

Thank you.

You're, you're welcome. Means the world to me.

All righty. Yeah, a number of people have, uh, have been touched by that. The very notion though, I keep—

I, I just, I can't get it out of my mind that we have an obligation to be happy.

Is, is that's— I, of all the things in the book, I think it's the most unique. People just have— don't think that way.

They—

I didn't. You know that writing this book transformed me more than the writing of any of my books or any of my articles. Because I used to have the attitude— I'd love to tell you one day. You know what, Alan, put that down. One day on the Happiness Hour, I would like to tell you the whole story.

I do it in my speeches on this, but I don't think I've done it on the radio, of how this happened.

I never expected to be a happiness guru, as it were. In fact, I had somewhat contempt for people who lectured and wrote on happiness. And I thought it was a selfish pursuit. Man, was I wrong. We'll be back in a moment. I'm Dennis Prager.

Are you enjoying Timeless Wisdom? We'd love to hear from you. Call 877-243-7776 and leave a review, share your thoughts, or just even an encouraging word for Dennis. Your voicemail might just make it on the show. That's 877-243-7776. That's 877-243-7776. Thanks for listening and for your support.

I'm Dennis Prager, have been my whole life.

My God, do you realize how— you know how conservative I am?

I have retained the name that I was given at birth. I have retained the sex that I was born with, actually conceived with. I mean, that's, that's pretty boring.

Not many dramatic changes in that way. But I, you know what, but I have had dramatic changes internally though.

That's true. Although people who meet me who knew me when I was a teenager say that I am quite similar. I was Dennis the Menace then, and I'm Dennis the Menace today. This, uh, happiness hour is an invaluable one, I hope, for all of you listening. It's, it's almost like the highlights of all the hours and the book.

What has most affected you? And if everybody said the same thing, by the way, Eva, don't take calls on the basis of, is it variety?

Normally we might.

No, no, no.

And I'm not saying you are at all.

I'm just saying if everybody called in on the same exact theme, I'd want to know that. Then I'd know what it is that is most touching people that I'm saying about happiness. All righty. Let's go to Philadelphia and Celeste. Hello, Celeste, on WNTT 990.

Hi.

A few weeks ago, you—

I don't remember if it was on a Happiness Hour, but you said that peace is the possession of adequate resources. And when I think of peace, I think of happiness regardless of the circumstances, which is, I think, what you talk about with happiness not being circumstantially driven. So that has just absolutely resonated with me because I mean, I don't have all the money that I would love to have. I don't have, you know, the cars and the houses and all that, but I absolutely have been blessed with adequate resources. And it just has made— it has just reaffirmed in my mind that I do have the peace or the happiness that I, you know, I—

Are you married?

I am.

Is it a good marriage?

Um, it's been a very rough marriage, actually. It's been very, very rough, but we are, um, we're working on it today, and we have 3 wonderful children, and, um, and, uh, you know, I have peace within even a very difficult situation.

So what, what is, what is a source of peace and comfort to you?

Uh, absolutely, my, my faith in Christ is a, is an absolute source. Um, when I was going through the darkest parts of, um, of our struggles in my marriage, just having, you know, God's And I mean, the wonderful thing— I know that you're Jewish— having Old and New Testament, because I get such absolute comfort and peace and direction from the Psalms. And definitely—

Is the Psalms your favorite book?

I'm sorry?

Is the Psalms your favorite book?

It's kind of hard. It's sort of like choosing between your children.

I know, that is true.

It is true. But that one gives you particular comfort?

It absolutely does, because what I, what I do so appreciate about it and what I've learned through reading it is that there are a lot of passages that are just unabashedly, you know, life is really difficult, I'm struggling, I don't know God, I don't hear God, God's not there, but I'm going to continue to believe. And then you'll come to the next Psalm and he'll be so— that the presence will— his presence will be there in the life of the psalmist.

And this has really sustained you.

Absolutely.

Well, you're inspiring. Thank you, Celeste.

Sure, thank you.

Appreciate it very much.

Yep.

Oh, there's no question that religious faith is powerful. I mean, obviously good religious faith.

There's bad religious faith, just as there's bad lawyering and bad doctoring. There's nothing that is guaranteed to be used beautifully. Okay, to Glendora, California. Albert. Albert Dennis Prager, what's touched you?

Hi, are you talking to me?

I'm Albert.

Yes, yes, Albert.

Hi, Dennis.

Hi.

A couple few years ago, you were discussing why have children if you're going to be sticking them in daycare, and you had a lady on.

Uh-huh.

You were discussing why people do that, and literally that night my wife and I discussed it and decided she would stay home.

Wow.

And now we have a beautiful daughter, and thank you.

Wow.

Are you choking up?

Yes.

You're going to choke me up.

Can't do that. That's powerful. That is powerful. You know, it's real. You talk about gratitude and I. Every day I feel incredibly grateful to have this microphone. It's not measurable. I am asked so often, including by friends, so come on, Dennis, it's 22 years, aren't you getting a little tired of it? I am more—

I am more animated and excited by this than ever.

I'm glad to hear it.

How could one not be? You know, when you, you would get tired of it if you didn't think that it was important, if you saw it as a career, as a breadwinner. But if you feel that you could do that, I mean, that is so such a powerful call. Thank you. That's, that's a big deal.

And one day your daughter will thank me.

That'll be the best. All righty, uh, over to, uh, Tom. Tom in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Hi.

Hello, Dennis. It's a pleasure and a privilege to speak with you.

Are you, are you in Rancho Palos Verdes? Is that where you are?

I am, sir.

Do you always call from there?

No, I sometimes call from Long Beach or Rancho depending which college I'm teaching at, Dennis.

I see. Okay, Tom, what's touched you?

Well, you know, Dennis, you've said this on the Happiness Hour and in your show, and you've been a great example of it, and that is to show equal respect and kindness to all people, from janitors, homeless. And I've been able to incorporate this in my life with respect to my children, people I come in contact with, the students I teach, and it's, it's really been great to have you as the living embodiment of a man who's brilliant and is firm. And I've kind of incorporated a motto in my life: be firm, but be kind to people. And I can't tell you how much inner peace this has given me in terms of being able to overcome my very hostile temper. And it's— you've just been an inspiration to me, Dennis, and I really, I really thank you for that.

Well, that's very— that's also very, very deeply moving.

By the way, I didn't set this hour up to get compliments.

I just want you to know. I have set some hours up like that.

I admit it.

About once in 5 years I will ask, or maybe once a year on occasion on my birthday, tell me how the show has affected you.

But I really wanted to know the ideas. When I come back, I'll tell you about the treating the janitor as well as the boss concept in a moment.

This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this.

Every day there's another headline about artificial intelligence. It's moving faster than most of us ever imagined, and it raises an important question: where's all this headed? There's one reason I think you're going to find Carbon Zero so interesting— because it feels so real. It's the latest novel from AI pioneer Craig W. Stanfill, someone who has spent years working in artificial intelligence and understands Both its incredible potential and its very real risks. In the story, one seemingly harmless instruction to an advanced AI sets off a chain of events no one saw coming. It's a fast-paced thriller, but what makes it especially compelling is how believable it feels. If you love stories that make you think as much as they entertain, you're going to love Carbon Zero. Should we be scared of AI? This book paints a picture. Carbon Zero is available now. Just go to Amazon and search for Carbon Zero. By Craig W. Stanfill. That's Carbon Zero, a real page-turner that you won't be able to put down. Go get your copy today and start reading Carbon Zero.

Now back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom.

We'll take a vote on it. What do you think, Sean? Okay, yeah. Alrighty everybody, you're listening to the Dennis It doesn't go anywhere, but maybe that was why it was chosen. The ongoing battles on what music is to be— Eva's just apologized to Alan. She doesn't like it. The internecine warfare on my staff. You have no idea how much tension exists.

Amongst us.

Dennis Prager here, and this is the happiness hour I've never quite conducted. I just wanted to hear from you on what has touched you that I've said. I am going to read some of yours now because of the time factor, so don't give up. A lot of everybody gave up and we redid the list here. 1-800-PRAGER-776. Uh, oh, that's a good one. Wayne in Palm Desert, California on KGAM. You have to determine what's more important for your happiness, things or experiences.

You had never heard that before.

Yes, it was the first time he ever heard me, he heard that. Yeah, that's why I— it's one of the reasons that I advocate the cruises that I go on with, with you listeners.

And if you have the opportunity, because I, I don't know if I'll be doing as many in the future, Only because I'd just be choosing different types of things to do on vacation time.

But that is a good example.

In the final analysis, I mean, there are things that bring us happiness, and I always think in my own case, of course, I mean, my computer.

I mean, it's a necessity, so that's obvious.

And my stereo system, because I love music so much.

But by and large, I have chosen— I always chose experiences over things. And it's worked out. Thank you for reminding me of that. Matthew in Sherman Oaks, California. If you want to be happy, act power— act happy. The power of behavior. Boy, Matthew, if I got that across to you, I have earned goodwill. That is right. That's correct. I'm a big behaviorist, folks. Even if you don't feel kind, act it and you'll end up feeling it. Even if you don't feel happy, act it and you may end up feeling it. That's, that's correct. Steve is legally blind. It's opened my eyes. It's important to think and listen.

Thank you.

Thank you, Steve.

Got a lot of blind listeners.

Obviously, this is their mode of communication. There are not many advantages to being blind, but one of them is you don't get to watch TV. Alrighty, my friends, it's meant a lot to me. And you can email me so I'll know as well what have I said on happiness that has touched you. In the meantime, next week, back to it, and the next hour is all yours.

On tomorrow's episode of Dennis Teaches the Torah.

Moses gives 4 reasons why he can't take the Jews out of Egypt, but the truth is he doesn't want to take them out of Egypt. He wants somebody else to do this. That's the beauty of this whole thing. We finally are reduced to the truth.

Join us tomorrow to hear more on Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. Visit DennisPrager.com for thousands of hours of Dennis's lectures, courses, and classic radio programs, and to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles. We want to take just a second to thank the team at Life Audio for their partnership with us on the podcast. Go to lifeaudio.com to find dozens of other faith-centered podcasts in their network, including shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.

Precious metals dealers come and go. This is Nick Grovich, president of Amped Coin and Bullion. We've stood the test of time since 1983. With the flurry of coin and bullion dealers coming and going, How do you know who to trust and what to buy? At AMFED Coin and Bullion, we value educated consumers. We want to alert you to good bullion buys in the market and help you steer clear of the tricks and bad deals. Call AMFED Coin and Bullion for a free coin performance review. 800-221-7694 or americanfederal.com.