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Gallup Press

Blind Spot: The Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It

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The cover of Gallup’s new book, Blind Spot.
About the Book

A Message From Author Jon Clifton

Rising Unhappiness

Anger, stress, worry and sadness reached record highs in 2021.

Unhappiness has been increasing globally for a decade, according to Gallup -- and its rise has been missed by almost every world leader. That's because while leaders pay close attention to measures like GDP or unemployment, almost none of them track their citizens' wellbeing.

The implications of this blind spot are significant and far-reaching -- leaders missed the citizen unhappiness that triggered events ranging from the Arab uprisings to Brexit to the election of Donald Trump.

Image of our global reach with 99% of the world map covered by our nationally representative samples.
The Negative Experience Index is a composite measure of the five negative experiences (anger, stress, sadness, physical pain and worry). Index scores range from zero to 10.
What will leaders miss next?

Grounded in Gallup's global research, Blind Spot makes the urgent case that leaders should measure and quantify wellbeing and happiness -- how citizens' lives are going -- and shows them how. It also discusses the five key elements of a great life and where the world needs to improve in each of them to better the lives of people everywhere.

Take a Deeper Look: Book Overview
A man at work smiling.

The Leadership Blind Spot: Happiness and Wellbeing

Global leaders have relied too heavily on objective indicators to the detriment of their constituencies. The book begins with examples of countries where their economies were growing but the subjective wellbeing of their citizens was declining -- in some cases, dramatically.
A man speaking in front of co-workers.

Addressing the Blind Spot: Measuring Happiness and Wellbeing

The second part of this book offers a solution: Global leaders should closely follow wellbeing and happiness metrics to better understand how people's lives are going. Gallup has produced global statistics for wellbeing and happiness since 2006, and these metrics perfectly complement the objective indicators for human development that leaders already follow so closely.
A hand writing on a post it note on a wall.

What Makes a Great Life?

Wellbeing and happiness metrics have helped us better understand what makes a great life. The third part of this book highlights the five elements of wellbeing -- work, financial, community, physical and social wellbeing -- and where the world is struggling most in each of them.
A woman smiling while workiung with co-workers.

Four Unanswered Questions

The fourth part of this book poses four questions from Gallup's wellbeing research that continue to confound experts. This section outlines what we have discovered and offers possible explanations.
A group of co-workers sitting at a table together at work.

What Leaders Can Do to Improve How People's Lives Are Going

The fifth part of this book gives public and private sector leaders recommendations on what they can do to improve people's wellbeing.

What world leaders are saying about Blind Spot

"The book is fun, serious, informative, and wonderfully well-written." -- Sir Angus Deaton, Nobel laureate

"The secret to visionary leadership in a troubled world is bringing happiness to others, not just material prosperity. In Blind Spot, Jon Clifton shows why this is the case, how we have failed to focus on this with devastating consequences, and how we can do better. A must read." -- Arthur C. Brooks, Professor, Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, and #1 New York Times bestselling author

"This is a leader's book, no matter what kind of leader you are." -- Robin Renee Sanders, former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and the Republic of Congo

"The antidote to all human suffering is joy. Joy is the ultimate measure of success and wellbeing, and is the soul of leadership. Read this extraordinary and well-researched book and discover the mechanics for yourself." -- Deepak Chopra, M.D.

"Jon Clifton outlines one of the biggest leadership challenges of our time and how every leader missed it." -- Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, former U.S. Ambassador to Finland, CEO of Pace Communications, and first woman Chairman of the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross

Available Now
Order Your Copy Today

To improve people's lives, you first need to know how their lives are going. Order your copy of Blind Spot to learn how to measure and improve what really makes life worth living.

Buy Now the New Blind Spot Book From Gallup

Why are emotions important in our daily lives?

Visit the Global Happiness Center to learn more about why and how Gallup measures global wellbeing and to see the world's hot spots with our Global Emotions Interactive page.

  • Emotion is a fundamental element of the human experience.
  • How people feel affects life outcomes and is a definitive indicator of societal health and progress.
  • Tracking big-picture trends worldwide reveals which populations have high wellbeing and which are experiencing emotional turmoil.
Descriptive image collage showing emotions in daily lives.

Learn More About Happiness Around the World

Over 1 in 5 People Worldwide Feel Lonely a Lot

Globally, 23% of people experienced a lot of loneliness in 2023. Loneliness often accompanies other negative emotions, including stress and worry.

Negative Emotions Take a Positive Turn

Can Great Management Improve Mental Health?

Global Rise in Unhappiness Stalls