Introduction
Summary of the book Happiness by Darrin M. McMahon. Let us start with a brief introduction of the book. Imagine holding a fragile compass that spins through centuries, pointing to all the ways human beings have sought happiness. This book follows that compass across ancient Greece, medieval gloom, Renaissance awakening, Enlightenment courage, and modern complexity. It invites you to wonder: Where does happiness come from? Do we earn it through reason and virtue, or find it through faith and community? Should societies ensure our well-being, or must we seize it ourselves? As you journey through these chapters, you’ll witness evolving ideas—happiness as a divine gift, a human right, an emotional puzzle, or a collective dream. Each era shapes happiness differently, reflecting its fears, hopes, and beliefs. This introduction is a subtle invitation: open your mind, question what you thought you knew, and discover fresh angles on what it means to live a fulfilled life. You’ll see that happiness, ever elusive, still beckons us forward.
Chapter 1: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle – Ancient Philosophers Spark Curiosity About True Happiness.
Imagine a time when people believed that their lives and fortunes were fully controlled by mysterious higher powers. In ancient Athens, long before the comfort of modern inventions or the security of stable governments, people assumed that emotions like happiness were gifts or punishments sent by the gods. They saw human beings as small figures on a vast stage dominated by divine forces. During this era, it would have been normal for someone to wake up unhappy and simply accept it as fate. If luck smiled upon them, that was a blessing from above, and if not, there was little they could do. Happiness was not something to work towards; it was something to be handed down from the skies. Yet, as Athens transformed, so did people’s ideas. Slowly, the seeds of new thinking about happiness began to take root in the minds of curious thinkers.
With the emergence of democracy in fifth-century BCE Athens, ordinary citizens gained more freedom and influence. Suddenly, people were not mere playthings of fate; they had a voice in their own communities, and this newfound freedom made them wonder if perhaps they could shape their inner lives, too. Could a person do something to gain happiness, rather than just waiting for it? As the city-state blossomed, philosophers stepped forward with bold ideas. Socrates, the famed teacher who never wrote a word himself, used conversation and questioning to probe what made life meaningful and good. To him, discovering truth and acting with virtue guided one closer to a state of happiness. His pupil, Plato, continued this line of thought, suggesting that true happiness lay not in momentary pleasures but in seeking higher, eternal forms of goodness that existed beyond everyday material concerns.
Plato believed that the human soul had a special place in understanding true happiness. By examining ideas, practicing careful reasoning, and striving for moral excellence, a person could gradually free themselves from ignorance and confusion, moving closer to a lasting form of well-being. This well-being was not simply smiling and feeling pleasant; it was a profound alignment with what was right and true. Aristotle, who was once a student in Plato’s Academy, agreed that reason guided people toward happiness, but he approached it from a different angle. While Plato looked skyward to eternal ideals, Aristotle’s gaze turned toward the world around us. Aristotle thought happiness, or eudaimonia, depended on living well and fulfilling one’s purpose as a human being. For him, happiness was found when we acted virtuously, developed good habits, and realized our unique potential right here on Earth.
In Raphael’s famous Renaissance painting, The School of Athens, we see Plato pointing upward, symbolizing his interest in the realm of perfect ideals, while Aristotle gestures toward the ground, emphasizing the importance of earthly life and observable reality. These ancient philosophers introduced a remarkable idea: happiness was not merely at the mercy of unpredictable divine forces. Instead, humans could reason, choose their behaviors, and seek out wisdom to move closer to happiness. The shift they sparked was significant. No longer did people have to passively accept whatever emotional state the gods granted them. Instead, they could study nature, explore philosophy, and train their minds and characters to become better, nobler individuals. In doing so, they planted the earliest seeds of our modern understanding that happiness can be influenced, guided, and nurtured by human effort, thought, and personal responsibility.
Chapter 2: Medieval Darkness to Renaissance Light – Changing Perceptions About Attainable Happiness.
Fast-forward centuries into the future, and Europe looked very different. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the continent entered what many later thinkers called the Dark Ages. Life was hard, uncertain, and often painfully short. Disease, such as the devastating Black Death, reduced entire populations and left survivors scarred with fear and sorrow. During these medieval times, everyday existence felt like a heavy burden. Religious beliefs focused on sin and redemption. People were often taught that true happiness was not something they should expect here on Earth but rather something that would only be revealed in an afterlife—if they earned it by living a pious and obedient life. The mindset was bleak: suffering was normal, earthly pleasures were dangerous temptations, and the notion of shaping one’s own happiness seemed distant, almost unthinkable.
Yet change was coming. By the time the Renaissance dawned in the 14th and 15th centuries, Europe began to rediscover and celebrate human potential. Instead of fixating solely on heaven or hell, Renaissance thinkers explored art, literature, science, and philosophy. They revisited the writings of ancient Greeks and Romans, seeking to understand how reason, creativity, and personal skill could uplift human life. People like the Italian philosopher Giovanni Pico della Mirandola argued that humans could determine their own place in the universe. Dignity, freedom, and the possibility of choosing how to live fueled a new sense of hope. If humans had a unique nature and could shape their own destiny, perhaps happiness, too, could be approached as a goal. No longer did people have to rely solely on divine will; they could study, learn, and improve themselves toward a more fulfilling existence.
The Renaissance did not deny the importance of spiritual life, but it encouraged a greater focus on the natural world and human capabilities. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo crafted works that elevated human beauty, intelligence, and emotion. Scholars translated and shared knowledge that opened minds to broader horizons. As more people acknowledged that humans had talents, strengths, and the ability to think independently, happiness began to feel closer, more achievable than before. It was no longer something entirely locked away in distant heavens or known only to saints. Instead, it emerged as something people could approach through learning, moral living, creativity, and community-building. While not everyone suddenly became joyful, the door had been opened to viewing happiness as a possible human experience, not just a rare gift from unseen forces.
In this environment, the spark of happiness as something one might influence or even partially control started to glow. Thinkers of the Renaissance gradually chipped away at old, rigid beliefs. They showed that life’s purpose could be found in understanding ourselves and the world around us, refining our talents, and embracing our human dignity. Religion remained important—many still believed perfect happiness lay only with God—but people saw that on Earth, through reason and virtue, one might approach natural happiness. This was a groundbreaking idea. It set the stage for even bigger changes to come. Soon, whole societies would reevaluate what happiness meant, how it related to moral conduct, and how it fit into the political structure of emerging nations. The seeds planted by Greek philosophers were now sprouting more fully, preparing the way for the revolutionary Enlightenment era.
Chapter 3: The Enlightenment’s Bold Claim – Happiness Emerges as a Fundamental Human Right.
By the 18th century, Europe was buzzing with new ideas, science, and progressive political thought. This era, known as the Enlightenment, dared to ask questions previously considered too bold. Thinkers examined society, religion, government, and human nature. They sought rational explanations and wanted to improve human life right here in this world. A remarkable shift occurred in how people viewed happiness. Rather than something reserved for the afterlife or accessible only to saints and philosophers, Enlightenment thinkers insisted that happiness might be a natural condition—something everyone could and should strive for. This was a gigantic change. No longer was happiness either an unattainable ideal or a shaky gift from uncertain gods. Instead, many people began to believe that all humans had an inherent right to pursue—and possibly achieve—a life marked by some form of happiness.
Some Enlightenment philosophers pointed to the natural world and human reason as reliable guides. Instead of waiting for Edenic bliss or heavenly reward, they focused on earthly improvements. Gardens filled with flowers, music, and laughter—the pleasure gardens of the time—symbolized this shift. In these delightful places, people could enjoy themselves, converse, and momentarily feel an earthly paradise. Happiness was no longer hidden in mystical realms; it could be felt in the rustle of leaves, the laughter of friends, and the savoring of knowledge. Voltaire and other thinkers championed the idea that this world was where we should seek contentment and meaning. If people practiced virtues and used their minds, they might improve their own conditions and that of society, moving closer to a general well-being that earlier centuries could scarcely have imagined.
This viewpoint also influenced politics. As people recognized that life could be improved, they began to question the old feudal systems and strict hierarchies that trapped many in misery. If happiness was a right, then governments and laws should not ignore it. Indeed, happiness started to appear in political documents and debates. It was no longer an abstract philosophical concept; it was becoming a key part of what it meant to be human and how societies should be organized. Intellectuals argued that if nature endowed all humans with the capacity for happiness, societies should foster conditions that allow it to flourish. This could mean more personal freedoms, education, justice, fairness in trade, and better relations among nations. Happiness was gradually turning into a benchmark for progress and a driving force behind social reforms.
By the late 18th century, the idea that everyone had a right to happiness was nearly commonplace in many intellectual circles. This set the stage for dramatic changes in the centuries ahead. But ironically, as happiness became a right, new challenges arose. Not everyone’s circumstances improved equally, and new forms of hardship appeared. Additionally, as this right took hold, some people began to feel pressure to be happy, prompting a confusing mixture of joy and anxiety. At the same time, literature and art started to acknowledge the complexity of human emotions: sadness, longing, and melancholy gained new recognition. This twist, where the right to happiness existed side by side with the reality of suffering, would shape many debates in the following centuries. Happiness was no longer simple. It was a right that brought along responsibilities, hopes, doubts, and conflicts.
Chapter 4: The Rise of Sadness and Melancholy – A Strange Path Towards Real Joy.
As the Enlightenment’s glow dimmed and the 19th century approached, a curious thing happened: sadness, melancholy, and feelings of deep longing began to gain attention. This was not because people had given up on happiness. Quite the opposite. By now, many had been taught since birth that they were supposed to find happiness, that it was natural and deserved. But when reality fell short—when jobs were dull, relationships strained, or personal dreams failed to bloom—people began to wonder why they felt so discontented. Writers, poets, and philosophers started exploring these darker moods, seeing them as meaningful experiences rather than mere weaknesses. In literature, characters like Goethe’s young Werther openly expressed sorrow and dissatisfaction. Far from being scorned, these portrayals of deep sadness fascinated readers who recognized their own complicated inner feelings mirrored in the pages.
This new attention to sadness introduced the idea that not all unhappiness was harmful. Some thinkers argued that experiencing pain or loss could motivate people to seek improvement, growth, or new understanding. Maybe sadness, in all its complexity, helped people appreciate happiness more deeply. Romantic poets and philosophers crafted words that gave shape to feelings of emptiness or despair. The German term weltschmerz, or world-pain, emerged, describing a kind of sorrow felt by sensitive souls who saw imperfections in society and nature. These moods were not mere gloominess; they were signals that something in life was missing and needed to be addressed. Sadness became, in an odd way, a stepping-stone—an emotion that spurred individuals to reconsider their values, life goals, and connections with others, ultimately guiding them toward a truer, more hard-earned form of happiness.
People began to believe that one had to acknowledge sorrow to truly grasp what happiness meant. Religious ideas also fit into this pattern. Traditional Christianity had long recognized that suffering on Earth could lead to eternal joy in heaven. Now, even those less tied to religious frames could see that pain might foster empathy, moral depth, and personal growth. As the 19th century rolled on, the acknowledgment of sadness created a more realistic picture of human emotional life. Happiness was still cherished, but it was now understood to be intertwined with difficulties and challenges. Philosophers, poets, and artists encouraged people to confront unpleasant emotions head-on. By doing so, they reasoned, individuals could refine their character, deepen their understanding of themselves and others, and appreciate the flashes of joy that still graced their lives.
This surprising twist in the story of happiness did not mean that society abandoned joy. Instead, it introduced a more balanced perspective. If earlier generations had struggled to break free from the idea that the gods controlled happiness, and the Enlightenment had claimed happiness as a right, now people learned that sadness, too, had its place. By the dawn of the 19th century, a richer emotional landscape was recognized: happiness and sadness danced together, each shaping the other. Through sadness, people discovered resilience and sympathy. By grappling with sorrow, they forged stronger identities, learned to help others, and sought more meaningful forms of happiness. The world was growing more complex, and so were the ways people understood their inner lives. This complexity would continue to unfold, especially across the Atlantic, where new nations championed the pursuit of happiness in their founding documents.
Chapter 5: The American Experiment – Individual Responsibility in the Pursuit of Happiness.
When the United States declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776, it boldly stated that people have inalienable rights, among them Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. This was a radical and thrilling idea. The notion that governments should recognize each person’s right to chase happiness was a powerful sign of how far the concept had traveled since ancient times. Yet in the young American republic, this promise sparked debates about what happiness meant in practice. Did it mean everyone could demand to be made happy by society? Or did individuals have to take charge of their own destiny? After independence was declared, many people tried to interpret the phrase pursuit of happiness to suit their circumstances. Some even sued the government, claiming their right to happiness was not being honored in the ways they expected.
Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s Founding Fathers, stepped into this debate with a practical approach. He argued that while everyone had a right to try to be happy, no one would hand it to them on a silver platter. Instead, he urged individuals to catch it themselves, to work diligently, use their talents, and seize opportunities. Franklin’s view suggested that happiness was not guaranteed by law or fate, but discovered through personal effort, cleverness, and perseverance. In a land where social classes were less rigid than in old Europe, many Americans embraced this idea. The American Dream emerged: if you worked hard, saved money, learned new skills, and showed determination, you could improve your life. This belief that happiness was within one’s own hands—even if not fully guaranteed—inspired countless immigrants and settlers to cross oceans and frontiers.
But the American approach to happiness also left behind important questions. Not everyone had equal access to opportunities. Slavery, prejudice, and poverty kept many from pursuing happiness. As America grew, it became clear that stating a right to happiness was one thing; making it a reality for all citizens was another. Still, the idea that happiness was closely linked to individual initiative and personal choices influenced American culture. It encouraged self-reliance and optimism, even as it sometimes overlooked structural inequalities. Happiness in the American sense came to mean forging your own path, whether that involved building a business, raising a family with love, or contributing to a community project. It was both inspiring and demanding, placing a heavy responsibility on each person to find or create circumstances that would lead them toward a satisfying life.
Ultimately, the American experiment with happiness was a complex tapestry. On one hand, it promised freedom and the chance to improve your lot in life. On the other, it could breed disappointment if success was not easily found. Still, this notion of individually crafted happiness had deep and lasting effects on global thinking. The United States became known as a place where happiness was not just an inherited status or a distant gift from the divine, but something people believed they could earn through effort and ingenuity. This perspective would spread and be debated, challenged, and adapted. Eventually, in the modern world, the question would arise: was personal initiative enough to secure happiness, especially in times of massive social changes? Before tackling that, societies would first undergo rapid transformations that further complicated the idea of a contented human life.
Chapter 6: Industrial Shifts and Urban Struggles – Redefining Happiness in Changing Societies.
As the 19th century progressed into the 20th, the Industrial Revolution swept across Europe and America. Factories sprang up, cities expanded at a breakneck pace, and people flooded into urban centers looking for jobs. The traditional rhythms of rural life faded, replaced by crowded living conditions, long working hours, and pollution-choked streets. Amid this rush, happiness faced new tests. Where once people pondered happiness in terms of virtue, enlightenment, or personal effort, now they struggled with questions of basic well-being, fair wages, and manageable working conditions. Life in industrial cities was often grueling. Many wondered: could happiness survive in a world dominated by machines, noise, and uncertainty? Philosophers, social critics, and union organizers debated how to restore some sense of fulfillment. They asked if economic progress alone guaranteed happiness, or if it actually undermined genuine human contentment.
For some, happiness still followed the familiar pattern of personal responsibility. Individuals could try to climb the social ladder, earn more money, and secure comfort for their families. But as giant factories employed scores of workers in dehumanizing conditions, it became clearer that personal effort alone might not ensure a good life. If someone toiled in a factory all day for meager pay, how could they genuinely pursue happiness? The industrial age forced societies to reconsider old assumptions. Laws protecting workers, education for children, and improvements in healthcare and housing emerged partly because people realized that happiness needed a foundation. Without basic security, fairness, and stability, the pursuit of happiness became hollow. This period nudged the idea of happiness beyond individual struggles, suggesting a need for communal support systems and ethical responsibilities from employers, governments, and communities.
New technologies and scientific advances also influenced how people thought about happiness. Health improved as vaccines and better medicines emerged; leisure time increased slightly as labor laws shortened work hours. With more free time, people could enjoy entertainment, read books, or visit museums. Cultural life flowered, and amid the struggle, some found happiness in social clubs, religious gatherings, or political activism aimed at improving workers’ rights. However, others felt disconnected in big cities, surrounded by strangers. This loneliness in a crowd highlighted that happiness was not only about economic gain. Emotional bonds, friendships, and the sense of belonging to a supportive community became recognized as vital ingredients for lasting well-being. Thus, the industrial era transformed the conversation about happiness, blending concerns about individual initiative with a growing awareness that social conditions played a tremendous role in determining one’s quality of life.
The Industrial Revolution did not solve the mystery of happiness, but it exposed how complicated it had become. Ancient philosophers saw happiness in virtue and reason; Enlightenment thinkers considered it a right; Americans championed personal responsibility, and now industrial societies realized that individual effort alone could not guarantee it. With these complexities brewing, new political and economic theories entered the stage. Some argued for free markets and minimal restrictions, believing competition and progress would lead to overall improvements. Others insisted that a fairer distribution of wealth and opportunity would help more people achieve happiness. As this debate raged, another school of thought stepped forward, challenging the idea that happiness should be primarily an individual quest. Communists and socialists proposed that true happiness would come from strong communities that shared resources and helped each member thrive.
Chapter 7: Socialist and Communist Dreams – Seeking Collective Paths Toward Shared Happiness.
As 19th-century industrial capitalism fueled both great fortunes and terrible hardships, critics like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels watched closely. They believed that focusing too much on individual success prevented humanity from realizing a more meaningful happiness. In their view, modern societies had become divided between rich factory owners and the working masses who struggled to get by. According to communists, true happiness would never flourish in a system where competition, inequality, and private profit overshadowed shared well-being. Instead, they imagined a classless society where people cooperated for the common good. This vision challenged the idea that everyone should simply look out for themselves. Happiness, they argued, was not just a personal hobby but a social goal. Communities where everyone supported each other, shared resources fairly, and cared about each individual’s needs would unlock a deeper, more universal happiness.
To communists, capitalism’s focus on individual achievement had disconnected people from their own human essence. They believed people had lost their consciousness, their sense of belonging to a wider human family. Under communism, when private property and class divisions disappeared, humanity would supposedly rediscover its innate kindness, creativity, and moral compass. In this envisioned future, happiness would not come from hoarding wealth or personal ambition alone, but from contributing to the community’s success. These ideas formed a sharp contrast to the American notion of catching happiness by oneself. Instead, communist theory proposed that only by changing the structure of society as a whole—removing exploitation and ensuring everyone’s needs were met—could true and lasting happiness blossom. This collective approach was revolutionary in its vision, imagining a world where personal joy was inseparable from the prosperity of all.
Critics of communism argued that human nature was more complicated than these idealistic visions allowed. Would people work hard without personal incentives? Could a classless society truly emerge without conflict or corruption? As the 20th century unfolded, experiments in communist government often fell short of creating the promised paradise. Yet the underlying message still influenced debates about happiness: was it a matter of personal hustle, or should we reshape society to give everyone a fair chance at contentment? Even though many communist states eventually faced serious problems, they sparked important questions. The idea that individual well-being was tied to social structures and community life lingered. Could a balanced mixture of personal freedom and communal support create conditions for more people to flourish? Such questions remained central as societies continued to modernize and grapple with consumerism, identity, and changing values.
The communist vision taught us that happiness is not just about what happens inside our own heads. It reminded people that large systems—governments, economies, social norms—impact how easily we can find joy and satisfaction. Whether one agreed with communist methods or not, this perspective highlighted the importance of fairness and cooperation. It enriched the conversation by insisting that happiness was not a luxury for the privileged few but something that should be within reach for everyone. The legacy of these ideas would shape future political movements and public policies. As the world moved forward, many mixed and matched different approaches, seeking a middle ground. Some drew lessons from communism’s failures while appreciating its emphasis on shared humanity. Others continued to uphold individual rights and freedoms. The stage was set for the modern era’s ongoing debate about what makes people truly happy.
Chapter 8: Modern Complexity – Consumerism, Identity, and New Debates on Finding True Contentment.
In today’s world, happiness has become a complex puzzle, informed by centuries of shifting beliefs. We live in a time of rapid technology, global communication, and mass consumerism. Advertisements promise joy if we buy the right products, while social media displays perfect images of smiling faces and glamorous lives. Meanwhile, psychologists, economists, and neuroscientists study happiness scientifically, measuring brainwaves, income levels, social ties, and mental health. All these influences combine to create a complicated landscape. On one hand, individual freedom has expanded: we can choose careers, relationships, and lifestyles unimaginable in earlier eras. On the other hand, new anxieties emerge: are we making the right choices? Are we too focused on material wealth and online appearances, neglecting deeper meaning, authenticity, and genuine connection? The question of what leads to true happiness is more alive, and more puzzling, than ever before.
Modern life offers countless paths. Some believe happiness lies in personal success—getting good grades, landing a high-paying job, owning a beautiful home. Others argue that without strong communities, supportive friendships, and a sense of belonging, material wealth rings hollow. Religious and spiritual traditions still offer guidance, suggesting that by connecting with something greater than ourselves, we can find comfort and meaning. Meanwhile, many people experiment with meditation, therapy, volunteering, or creative pursuits, hoping these might spark lasting contentment. The world is so diverse now that no single definition of happiness fits everyone. Instead, people learn from history’s lessons: that happiness can be influenced by personal effort, social conditions, moral values, and our connections with others. The variety of ideas about happiness today mirrors the complexity of modern societies, where old debates continue but in a new global context.
Consumerism insists that buying more stuff can make us happy, yet studies often find that beyond meeting basic needs, extra possessions do not guarantee long-term satisfaction. Many feel that life’s sweetest joys come from laughter with friends, the warmth of family, the excitement of discovering a new hobby, or the peaceful sense of purpose in helping others. Identity also plays a role. People seek to understand themselves better—Who am I? What do I value?—in the hope that self-knowledge and self-acceptance can bring calm and confidence. As we navigate these questions, we realize that happiness might not be a final destination but an ongoing journey. We learn to cope with hardships, celebrate small victories, and find balance between ambition and gratitude. This flexible, open-minded view of happiness acknowledges the ups and downs that all humans face.
In our current era, the quest for happiness is both deeply personal and broadly cultural. We draw on ancient wisdom, modern science, religious faith, and political theory to guide us. We remember that ancient Greeks thought reason and virtue brought happiness, that Enlightenment thinkers claimed it as a right, that Americans tied it to personal initiative, and that communists saw it as a community effort. We consider the Renaissance’s focus on human potential, the Romantic era’s embrace of deep emotions, and the Industrial age’s reminder that environment matters. All these layers shape the modern understanding of happiness. Rather than providing a single answer, history offers us a mirror to reflect our own questions. We end up with a richer, if more complicated, appreciation of happiness. It remains something we each must pursue in our own way, informed by the past and hopeful for the future.
All about the Book
Explore the profound concept of happiness through history, culture, and philosophy in ‘Happiness’ by Darrin M. McMahon. Discover how the pursuit of joy has shaped societies and individual lives across the globe.
Darrin M. McMahon is a renowned historian and author, celebrated for his insightful exploration of happiness and its impact on human thought and culture.
Psychologists, Philosophers, Cultural Studies Scholars, Life Coaches, Sociologists
Reading Philosophy, Exploring Cultural History, Practicing Mindfulness, Engaging in Self-Improvement, Studying Human Behavior
Societal pressure to achieve happiness, Cultural definitions of joy, Mental health issues related to happiness, The philosophical underpinnings of well-being
Happiness is not a destination but a way of traveling through life.
Oprah Winfrey, Malcolm Gladwell, Brené Brown
National Book Award, Pulitzer Prize Nominee, Book of the Year Award
1. What are the historical perspectives on happiness explored? #2. How have different cultures defined happiness differently? #3. What role does philosophy play in understanding happiness? #4. How can happiness be measured or quantified in life? #5. What psychological theories contribute to happiness research? #6. In what ways does social context influence happiness levels? #7. How does modern society impact our pursuit of happiness? #8. What are the common misconceptions about happiness? #9. How can gratitude enhance one’s sense of happiness? #10. What are the effects of wealth on happiness? #11. How do relationships contribute to personal happiness? #12. What practical steps can improve overall happiness daily? #13. How does happiness differ across various life stages? #14. What are the consequences of seeking happiness excessively? #15. How can mindfulness practices lead to greater happiness? #16. What role does work have in achieving happiness? #17. How does nature influence human happiness and wellbeing? #18. Can happiness be cultivated through intentional practices? #19. What historical figures have shaped our understanding of happiness? #20. How do personal values align with the pursuit of happiness?
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