No one knows the recipe for happiness – and yet Héctor Abad has given us a whole volume. His recipes, at times bizarre, at times wise, can cure almost anything – although the ingredients are not always easy to come by. "Cauliflower in the mist" is protection against melancholy, seasoned with salty tears; and the right preparation of lobster and cutlet can have extraordinary effects on the human mind. With subtle wit and irony, Abad gives practical advice on how to eschew sadness, attract joy and retain delight.