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Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life
From one of our foremost psychologists, a trailblazing book that turns the idea of a good life on its head and urges us to embrace the transformative power of variety and experience.
For many people, a good life is a stable life, a comfortable life that follows a well-trodden path. This is the case for Shigehiro Oishi's father, who has lived in a small mountain town in Japan for his entire life, putting his family's needs above his own, like his father and grandfather before him. But is a happy life, or even a meaningful life, the only path to a good life?
In Life in Three Dimensions, Shige Oishi enters into a debate that has animated psychology since 1984, when Ed Diener (Oishi's mentor) published a paper that launched happiness studies. A rival followed in 1989 with a model of a good life that focused on purpose and meaning instead. In recent years, Shige Oishi's award-winning work has proposed a third dimension to a good psychological richness, a concept that prioritizes curiosity, exploration, and a variety of experiences that help us grow as people.
Life in Three Dimensions explores the shortcomings of happiness and meaning as guides to a good life, pointing to complacency and regret as a "happiness trap" and narrowness and misplaced loyalty as a “meaning trap.� Psychological richness, Oishi proposes, balances the other two, offering insight and growth spurred by embracing uncertainty and challenges.
In a lively style, drawing on a generation of psychological studies and on examples from famous people, books and film, Oishi introduces a new path to a fuller, more satisfying life with fewer regrets.
For many people, a good life is a stable life, a comfortable life that follows a well-trodden path. This is the case for Shigehiro Oishi's father, who has lived in a small mountain town in Japan for his entire life, putting his family's needs above his own, like his father and grandfather before him. But is a happy life, or even a meaningful life, the only path to a good life?
In Life in Three Dimensions, Shige Oishi enters into a debate that has animated psychology since 1984, when Ed Diener (Oishi's mentor) published a paper that launched happiness studies. A rival followed in 1989 with a model of a good life that focused on purpose and meaning instead. In recent years, Shige Oishi's award-winning work has proposed a third dimension to a good psychological richness, a concept that prioritizes curiosity, exploration, and a variety of experiences that help us grow as people.
Life in Three Dimensions explores the shortcomings of happiness and meaning as guides to a good life, pointing to complacency and regret as a "happiness trap" and narrowness and misplaced loyalty as a “meaning trap.� Psychological richness, Oishi proposes, balances the other two, offering insight and growth spurred by embracing uncertainty and challenges.
In a lively style, drawing on a generation of psychological studies and on examples from famous people, books and film, Oishi introduces a new path to a fuller, more satisfying life with fewer regrets.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2025
149 people are currently reading
9,893 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 10, 2025
Definitely one to re-read and refer back to for more inspiration!
I was able to finish this in 6 days at a leisurely pace and never felt like I was being lectured despite acquiring so much new information within this little time.
The dots are all connected for you, making this an easy-to-digest book. By "dots," I mean cultural references, research, and the author's anecdotes, which all flow into each other well. There is enough warmth and personal touch in this to not feel overwhelmed by the number of approaches to a better, fuller life that are presented throughout.
I would imagine a reader of any age could benefit from reading Life in Three Dimensions, as it is well-researched and non-judgemental. It doesn't feel as if you're being told what not to do, but instead, you are given several options for adding more to the path you're already on in life.
To get the full benefit of this book, I will refer to the notes for future books to read, movies to watch, and people to be familiar with.
Thank you, Doubleday Books, for the gifted copy.
I was able to finish this in 6 days at a leisurely pace and never felt like I was being lectured despite acquiring so much new information within this little time.
The dots are all connected for you, making this an easy-to-digest book. By "dots," I mean cultural references, research, and the author's anecdotes, which all flow into each other well. There is enough warmth and personal touch in this to not feel overwhelmed by the number of approaches to a better, fuller life that are presented throughout.
I would imagine a reader of any age could benefit from reading Life in Three Dimensions, as it is well-researched and non-judgemental. It doesn't feel as if you're being told what not to do, but instead, you are given several options for adding more to the path you're already on in life.
To get the full benefit of this book, I will refer to the notes for future books to read, movies to watch, and people to be familiar with.
Thank you, Doubleday Books, for the gifted copy.
February 3, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book. The concepts of happiness and psychological richness were great to read about. I hadn’t thought about these concepts in this way before. By the end of the book I came to understand that a psychologically rich life will be different for everyone, but it’s all in the way we look at our lives and figuring out a rich and happy life doesn’t have to be perfect. One of the most fascinating things to think about was the concept of What is a good vacation? Everyone would think about this differently. This is a question that has come up in my life recently and helped me think about what this means for me.
Thank you to Shige Oishi, NetGalley and Double Day Books for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: February 4, 2025
Thank you to Shige Oishi, NetGalley and Double Day Books for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: February 4, 2025
February 8, 2025
The author blends psychological knowledge, philosophical discussion and his personal experience in the book and is genuine with the readers. The book contains interesting and relatable stories and it feels very easy to follow the flow and finish the book quickly. Recommend for everyone who wants to learn more about psychology in an engaging way!
April 10, 2025
I would love to sit through this professors course.
How to live a physiologically rich life.
Don’t specialize be a generalist. Don’t be afraid of negative events. Stay uncomfortable. Be playful.
Enjoyed
How to live a physiologically rich life.
Don’t specialize be a generalist. Don’t be afraid of negative events. Stay uncomfortable. Be playful.
Enjoyed
March 29, 2025
I borrowed this from the library and took so many photos of passages that resonated with me that I’m going to buy myself a copy!
The title describes the concept: that a “better� life has happiness, meaning, and is psychologically rich. The book focuses on the last part, explaining what psychological richness is (essentially, new experiences) and why it’s important.
He writes about why some people are driven to seek these experiences and why some aren’t. He shares a lot of research as well as anecdotal stories about famous people to illustrate his points. It’s not just about “fun� experiences either (like traveling) but how new, different, sometimes challenging experiences are those that enrich our lives.
I have always been a seeker of new experiences and really enjoyed reading about the science behind that inkling. I am looking forward to keeping this on my shelf and sharing with anyone feeling stuck, or lost, or wondering what they really want to do with their life.
The title describes the concept: that a “better� life has happiness, meaning, and is psychologically rich. The book focuses on the last part, explaining what psychological richness is (essentially, new experiences) and why it’s important.
He writes about why some people are driven to seek these experiences and why some aren’t. He shares a lot of research as well as anecdotal stories about famous people to illustrate his points. It’s not just about “fun� experiences either (like traveling) but how new, different, sometimes challenging experiences are those that enrich our lives.
I have always been a seeker of new experiences and really enjoyed reading about the science behind that inkling. I am looking forward to keeping this on my shelf and sharing with anyone feeling stuck, or lost, or wondering what they really want to do with their life.
February 4, 2025
A lovely and thought-provoking exploration of what makes a good life. Is the quest for happiness and meaning enough to satisfy a person? Can living a life full of psychological richness—trying new experiences, challenging yourself, gaining perspective from others and your experiences—provide satisfaction (instead)?
The writing is clear, and the anecdotes are varied and interesting. I appreciated the focus on how getting out of our comfort zones and committing to learning and exploring new things can be incredibly fulfilling.
Recommended to anyone curious about self-improvement, learning, the “secret� of finding happiness, etc.
Thank you very much to Doubleday and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
The writing is clear, and the anecdotes are varied and interesting. I appreciated the focus on how getting out of our comfort zones and committing to learning and exploring new things can be incredibly fulfilling.
Recommended to anyone curious about self-improvement, learning, the “secret� of finding happiness, etc.
Thank you very much to Doubleday and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
January 31, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
The author Shigehiro Oishi has done a wonderful job of breaking down the enigma of 'a good life' into simple and easily understandable concepts with clear examples for each. The hypothesis laid out at the outset of this book is that a good life could be one that is (a) a happy life, (b) a meaningful life, (c) one with rich psychological experiences or a combination of all three of the above. Oishi has referenced a few of the all time classics like Herman Hesse's novels and 'A Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley to elicit the fact that an exploratory life is the one worth living, even at the cost of uncertainties and highs & lows in life. At certain portions, I felt this book was more like an academic paper with all the arbitrariness included, instead of it being a book purporting a clearly postulated concept. Also, the concepts got repeated quite a bit, but this may have been intentional. Overall, an interesting book that along with the insights also helps the reader appreciate other works of literature better.
The author Shigehiro Oishi has done a wonderful job of breaking down the enigma of 'a good life' into simple and easily understandable concepts with clear examples for each. The hypothesis laid out at the outset of this book is that a good life could be one that is (a) a happy life, (b) a meaningful life, (c) one with rich psychological experiences or a combination of all three of the above. Oishi has referenced a few of the all time classics like Herman Hesse's novels and 'A Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley to elicit the fact that an exploratory life is the one worth living, even at the cost of uncertainties and highs & lows in life. At certain portions, I felt this book was more like an academic paper with all the arbitrariness included, instead of it being a book purporting a clearly postulated concept. Also, the concepts got repeated quite a bit, but this may have been intentional. Overall, an interesting book that along with the insights also helps the reader appreciate other works of literature better.
February 12, 2025
Wow - this book was a perspective changer. Traditionally, we have been presented with two paths to a good life: a happy life or a meaningful life. But Professor Oishi proposes a third way: the psychologically rich life. In a very clear and concise way, he reveals some of the "traps" of our pursuit of happiness and search for meaning. With a good balance of scientific evidence, cultural references, personal stories, and literary anecdotes, I found myself reflecting deeply on my own way of life. It provides a nice guide with tips and tricks for becoming rich - psychologically rich!
April 17, 2025
There was definitely a lot of valuable and interesting information and anecdotes about different ways to live a good life. I took lots of notes and got a decent amount of inspiration. However I will say the book just felt like a string of stories that never really made a point. It didn’t feel like there was a message or theme and the author contradicted himself a lot. He would say that none of the 3 ways of having a good life are better than others but then spend the majority of the book telling you to live a psychologically rich life. Maybe I’m being too harsh because I did like a lot of the information it just didn’t feel like a very well directed story.
February 11, 2025
I don't like self-help books, except of course when I do.
February 18, 2025
This book explains what I knew in my gut, but didn't have the words to explain. I highly recommend it
October 31, 2024
absolutely loved this book (written by my PI!!!). am feeling very inspired to live a psychologically rich life
March 9, 2025
Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life is a thought-provoking and inspiring exploration of how we can enrich our lives through curiosity, exploration, and meaningful experiences. Oishi delves into the ways in which expanding our horizons and engaging with the world around us can lead to greater fulfillment and happiness.
One of the standout themes of the book is the importance of curiosity. Oishi argues that staying curious and open-minded allows us to grow both personally and intellectually. The book highlights how curiosity encourages us to question, learn, and discover new ideas and perspectives, which can lead to deeper satisfaction in life.
The concept of exploration is also explored deeply. Oishi emphasizes that stepping outside of our comfort zones and engaging with the unknown can be one of the most powerful ways to enrich our lives. Whether it's through travel, trying new activities, or embracing new challenges, the act of exploring the world around us helps to build resilience, creativity, and a stronger sense of self.
The book is filled with fascinating insights backed by research, but Oishi’s writing remains accessible and relatable. Each chapter offers concrete examples and practical advice for cultivating a life filled with curiosity and exploration. Whether you’re looking to make small changes or undertake larger life shifts, Oishi provides a thoughtful roadmap for creating a more meaningful existence.
What I appreciated most about Life in Three Dimensions is its reminder that a fuller life isn’t just about accumulating achievements or possessions—it’s about actively engaging with the world, staying curious, and seeking experiences that push us to grow. Oishi’s writing is an invitation to reflect on how we can all make the most of the limited time we have.
Overall, this book is a compelling read for anyone seeking to live a more intentional and adventurous life. It encourages us to move beyond the routine and embrace the richness that comes from a life of exploration and curiosity. Highly recommended for readers looking to find more depth, joy, and meaning in their everyday experiences.
One of the standout themes of the book is the importance of curiosity. Oishi argues that staying curious and open-minded allows us to grow both personally and intellectually. The book highlights how curiosity encourages us to question, learn, and discover new ideas and perspectives, which can lead to deeper satisfaction in life.
The concept of exploration is also explored deeply. Oishi emphasizes that stepping outside of our comfort zones and engaging with the unknown can be one of the most powerful ways to enrich our lives. Whether it's through travel, trying new activities, or embracing new challenges, the act of exploring the world around us helps to build resilience, creativity, and a stronger sense of self.
The book is filled with fascinating insights backed by research, but Oishi’s writing remains accessible and relatable. Each chapter offers concrete examples and practical advice for cultivating a life filled with curiosity and exploration. Whether you’re looking to make small changes or undertake larger life shifts, Oishi provides a thoughtful roadmap for creating a more meaningful existence.
What I appreciated most about Life in Three Dimensions is its reminder that a fuller life isn’t just about accumulating achievements or possessions—it’s about actively engaging with the world, staying curious, and seeking experiences that push us to grow. Oishi’s writing is an invitation to reflect on how we can all make the most of the limited time we have.
Overall, this book is a compelling read for anyone seeking to live a more intentional and adventurous life. It encourages us to move beyond the routine and embrace the richness that comes from a life of exploration and curiosity. Highly recommended for readers looking to find more depth, joy, and meaning in their everyday experiences.
March 2, 2025
For years, people have argued that to maximize their quality of life, people should strive for both happiness and meaning in their lives. In his book LIFE IN THREE DIMENSIONS, Dr. Oishi introduces a third component to formula � psychological richness. In other words, in addition to seeking happiness and meaning, we should see out experiences that take us out of our comfort zone, challenge us, teach us, or change our outlook on life. He then goes on to explain the different paths we can take to achieve this richness, be it a trip or a book we wouldn't normally read.
I enjoyed the book largely because I agree with Dr. Oishi's theory. I believe people should never stop learning or growing. I've seen within in my own family that staying in your comfort zone and being afraid to take risks often leads to a lifetime of regret.
What those risks are, however, is a matter of opinion. This is where Dr. Oishi's book stumbled for me. His definition of psychologically enriching experiences felt very narrow and based on his personal world view. For example, at one point he compares a life of happiness vs a psychologically rich life as the difference between a Caribbean cruise and a backpacking trip, his logic being that on a cruise all your needs are met and therefore you are neither challenged nor changed by the experience. I would disagree. Someone who has never stepped out of their hometown or state might be very much changed by the cruising experience.
All in all, the book while interesting and well-written, failed to introduce too much new information to me. Dr. Oishi's theory is spot-on, but I wonder if this book would have been better as a long article.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced read in exchange for this honest review.
I enjoyed the book largely because I agree with Dr. Oishi's theory. I believe people should never stop learning or growing. I've seen within in my own family that staying in your comfort zone and being afraid to take risks often leads to a lifetime of regret.
What those risks are, however, is a matter of opinion. This is where Dr. Oishi's book stumbled for me. His definition of psychologically enriching experiences felt very narrow and based on his personal world view. For example, at one point he compares a life of happiness vs a psychologically rich life as the difference between a Caribbean cruise and a backpacking trip, his logic being that on a cruise all your needs are met and therefore you are neither challenged nor changed by the experience. I would disagree. Someone who has never stepped out of their hometown or state might be very much changed by the cruising experience.
All in all, the book while interesting and well-written, failed to introduce too much new information to me. Dr. Oishi's theory is spot-on, but I wonder if this book would have been better as a long article.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced read in exchange for this honest review.
February 9, 2025
The author’s work has proposed a third dimension to a good life: psychological richness, a concept that prioritizes curiosity, exploration, and a variety of experiences that help us grow as people. The author has has made many discoveries about happiness that have eluded researchers before him. Life in Three Dimensions will give you new insights into the many ways to live well. He even includes advice on how to pick the one most likely to be right for you. This is a self help book.
I am curious as to why this is considered a new idea. I have always been curious, willing to explore and have enjoy a variety of experiences. It just seemed “normal� to live life this way. Is this to give people the idea that if they don’t live life this way, they will be unhappy? I disagree with the author. This is a book that may give you a different way to looking at your own happiness.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
I am curious as to why this is considered a new idea. I have always been curious, willing to explore and have enjoy a variety of experiences. It just seemed “normal� to live life this way. Is this to give people the idea that if they don’t live life this way, they will be unhappy? I disagree with the author. This is a book that may give you a different way to looking at your own happiness.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
February 14, 2025
It's long been held that well-being can be thought of as containing two essential components: hedonic (happiness, satisfaction, pleasure) and eudaimonic well-being (meaning, purpose, virtue). Yet what Oishi has argued in the academic literature is that these components don't fully explain what we often consider a life worth living and that there is something missing. He refers to this missing component as psychological richness or having varied and interesting experiences. For the sake of linguistic consistency, I like to call this polyempeiric well-being (derived from the Ancient Greek words poly [many] and empeiria [experience]) and have been quite compelled by this idea.
This book, aimed at a very general audience, lightly spells out Oishi's key idea, providing an easy, straightforward introduction and speculation on how to live a psychologically rich life. Overall, it's an interesting potential advance in our understanding of well-being.
This book, aimed at a very general audience, lightly spells out Oishi's key idea, providing an easy, straightforward introduction and speculation on how to live a psychologically rich life. Overall, it's an interesting potential advance in our understanding of well-being.
March 19, 2025
This is an excellent example of ‘better reading through books.� A fantastic, inspiring, informative, humorous and beautiful exploration of psychological richness and its impact on a well-lived life. We understand happiness and meaningful experiences but what would it mean to live a life rich in adventure, exploration, challenges, failure, risk and curiosity? Not once did I feel like I was being lectured to nor did I spy a ‘in 10 easy steps…� instead I was treated to research, philosophy, history, poetry and anecdotal evidence. It felt like an exchange of ideas, sprinkled with insight and wisdom. This book will reaffirm every bump, scrape and less traveled road you have taken and then encourage you to seek more. Happiness and meaningful experiences will give you a good life but a psychological rich experience will give you an extraordinary life.
March 21, 2025
This book hit me in a way I didn’t expect. Lin in Three Dimensions helped me understand parts of myself that I never really put into words—why I love watching wrestling, why I see the world in such a playful way, always wanting to try new things, and even why I’m drawn to dark music and themes. It made me realize that what I truly crave is psychological richness. That drive to explore, to push boundaries, to embrace both the light and the dark—this book helped me see that it’s all connected.
More than anything, it made me realize how deeply I value freedom, even within the need for security. It’s one of those books that makes you reflect on who you are and why you do the things you do. If you’ve ever felt like something is just missing in your life, like there’s a piece of yourself you haven’t quite figured out yet, I’d definitely recommend giving this a read.
More than anything, it made me realize how deeply I value freedom, even within the need for security. It’s one of those books that makes you reflect on who you are and why you do the things you do. If you’ve ever felt like something is just missing in your life, like there’s a piece of yourself you haven’t quite figured out yet, I’d definitely recommend giving this a read.
April 10, 2025
A generally un-offensive look at what makes for a good life. I think the main idea of the book is a good one: there is more nuance to life than what many people think of as the happiness/meaning duality. I suspect that many of the studies cited might not replicate (cf the replication crisis in psychology) but I think the book would stand on its own without them. The book contains lots and lots of anecdotes, so your enjoyment of this book is likely to hinge on how compelling you find Oishi's storytelling technique. For me, the anecdotes are passable but not great - so 3/5.
April 23, 2025
A PhD professor with lots of creativity and a beautiful way to see the world uses statistics to answer questions about happiness, a meaningful life and, he adds his new dimension (told you, he is creative), "psychological richness".
There are interesting takeaways about how to "scientifically" make your life more interesting, happy or "psychologically rich".
The language used is approachable but keeps a statistical tone to it he talks about "medians, means, percentiles..." to describe the findings he is interpreting.
There are interesting takeaways about how to "scientifically" make your life more interesting, happy or "psychologically rich".
The language used is approachable but keeps a statistical tone to it he talks about "medians, means, percentiles..." to describe the findings he is interpreting.
March 8, 2025
As I've gotten older, I've become more curious about the idea of a happy life. Like Oishi suggests, it's the things I didn't do that I regret most.
During the pandemic, there was a pair of scrub jays that nested near my outdoor get away. As their eggs hatched, they got louder and louder. When I looked up what they represent, I learned it's speaking up. Not speaking up is something that I regret.
During the pandemic, there was a pair of scrub jays that nested near my outdoor get away. As their eggs hatched, they got louder and louder. When I looked up what they represent, I learned it's speaking up. Not speaking up is something that I regret.
April 4, 2025
What an interesting concept - a psychologically rich life. One beyond a happy life and/or a meaningful one.
‘How often do we tell our own life story? How often do we adjust, embellish, make sly cuts? And the longer life goes on, the fewer are those around to challenge our account, to remind us that our life is not our life, merely the story we have told about our life. Told to others, but - mainly - to ourselves.� Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending
‘How often do we tell our own life story? How often do we adjust, embellish, make sly cuts? And the longer life goes on, the fewer are those around to challenge our account, to remind us that our life is not our life, merely the story we have told about our life. Told to others, but - mainly - to ourselves.� Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending
April 5, 2025
I'd give this a 4.5 if I could. Initially i thought it was good but not great and wondered how the author had enough material for the book. But enjoyed the book more as I kept reading. Took me in directions I wasn't expected. As someone who values curiosity (along with kindness) at the top of my favorite personality traits in other people and myself, I loved reading about how much impact curiosity (and exploration/life experiences) has on our lives.
March 16, 2025
My favorite part was a short section at the end which is a retelling of Kierkegaard’s Either/Or (which I need to read). A father and son exchange letters which summarize the ideas for a richer life from the book.
March 28, 2025
i love the idea of this book and the concept of a psychologically rich life, & you can tell the author is passionate about it & has done his research. unfortunately it felt a little repetitive & tough to get through all of the many examples and stories, making it feel unnecessarily long-winded.
April 20, 2025
A really insightful look at what makes for a happy life, beyond just personal satisfaction. Oishi offers a framework that includes happiness across time, relationships, and society. Thought-provoking without being heavy—great for anyone rethinking what a good life really means.
January 20, 2025
The concept is exciting and one I embrace: curiosity and experience at the heart of happiness! This one however was a bit of a tough read although the Japanese story was interesting.
Read
March 3, 2025I have no intentions of finishing it
Read
March 5, 2025Is this an invisalign ad? its stressing me out
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