`...as a reference work his book closes a great gap, especially concerning cross-national quality of life research. ... the value of his work for the Social Indicator's Movement is less in the supply of new realizations for the researcher involved in this thematic, but rather in the profound ans systematic working-up for scientists who want to get an overview of quality of life research. This makes people look forward with great interest to Veenhoven's forthcoming publication (1988) which will provide a survey and review of research in the years 1975-1985.' European Sociological Review, 2:3 (1986)