If you're interested in the prospect of a more serene, enjoyable life but can't abide the relentlessly chipper pablum passed off as self-help these days, A. C. Benson's essay collection Joyous Gard may be just what you need. Adopting a decidedly measured, thoughtful tone, the essays in this volume offer both philosophical ponderings and practical tips about how to achieve a more fulfilling existence.