I have fond memories of this green curry I had a while back.

It somehow managed to balance the sweetness of coconut milk, the sourness of maybe tamarind,

the savory, salty umami of perfectly fried tofu,

the mild bitterness of basil and the spicy sting of chili in every single bite.

I would choose this curry over a sugar cube any day.

So why is it so easy to assume a sweet life, happy, easy, predictable, uncomplicated is always better than a more

complex existence. From KERA in Dallas, this is think. I'm Chris Boyd. My guest calls it a psychologically

rich existence, this mixed combination of experiences that can yield deep satisfaction, if not the same

buzzy euphoria as that metaphorical spoonful of sugar. He's noticed that most studies of what

makes a good life have focused on happiness or meaning, but he is eager for us to understand

those are not the only paths. Shigahiro Oishi is Marshall Field, the fourth professor of psychology at the

University of Chicago. His book is called Life in Three Dimensions, How Curiosity, Exploration, and

Experience make a Fuller, Better Life. Shiga, welcome to think. Thank you. You have thought about

this question of how to define a good life, in part because your

choices have been so different from your father and your grandfather and all your male ancestors

all the way back.

Will you tell us a little bit about that?

Yeah.

You know, I grew up in the rural area in Japan and my family was always a farmer.

And my father was the first son in this family.

So, you know, he took over his farm and never left.

And, you know, he lived his life, entire life, in the same village, and meeting with the same people,

...