The formula for a happy life

Dear Reader,
It was one of the most extraordinary evidence sessions in recent parliamentary history, but how much of what Dominic Cummings claimed was in fact true? Understanding what went on behind closed doors will require further witnesses, but many of Mr Cummings’s claims can be cross-referenced with what we already know about last year. Sarah Knapton does just that to reveal significant flaws in his evidence.
The demise of Tim Parker as chairman of the National Trust has brought to a head the simmering conflict over the running of one of Britain’s most significant institutions. Harry Mount, who is a member of the Restore Trust group that ousted Mr Parker, sets out the case for what has gone wrong at the Trust and makes the argument for what his group want to see instead.
Scientists at UCL believe that they have cracked the formula for a happy life. That is, they've come up with an actual mathematical formula. Translated into English, it amounts to “lower your expectations, but not too much”. Alice Hall explains the basic principles of happiness, from what you need to earn to how many children and friends you should have.
Eating less or no meat at all is held up as one of the quickest and most effective steps that an individual can take to reduce their carbon footprint. There might not be much arguing with that when it comes to factory-farmed meat, but could a change of practice make meat-eating a net positive for the climate? Clare Finney, a long-term vegetarian, writes about regenerative farming and how it brought her back to meat.
The Friends reunion special, which comes 17 years after the sitcom went off-air, is finally released today (you can read our review here). Seeing the cast's appearancetoday may come as something of a shock to anyone who remembers the original broadcasts. Yet, writes Kathy Lette, we are actually living in an age where midlife women are more prominent than ever on-screen and are helping to liberate female fashion from age-based constrictions.
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Chris
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