[3] Dolan conducts research on the measurement of happiness, its causes and consequences, and the implications for public policy, publishing in both scholarly and popular outlets.

He has previously held academic posts at York, Newcastle, Sheffield and Imperial College London and he has been a visiting scholar at Princeton University.

[9] He is an author of the Mindspace report published by the UK Cabinet Office, which seeks to apply lessons from the psychological and behavioural sciences to social policy.

[13] Dolan has also spoken at a variety of national and international meetings and conferences, and made numerous media appearances,[14] such as on the BBC1 television programme Lose Weight for Love.

[21] The book draws on a variety of studies ranging over wellbeing, inequality and discrimination,[23] and was described by Guardian writer Oliver Burkeman as "one of the most rigorous articulations of the new mood of acceptance".

In promoting the book, Dolan said, “Married people are happier than other population subgroups, but only when their spouse is in the room when they’re asked how happy they are.

In his response, Dolan toned down his claims significantly but maintained that "it still seems fair to say that men benefit more from marriage than women," adding that he respects that "other people can reach a different conclusion" from the evidence base.

Dolan had previously said, "We do have some good longitudinal data following the same people over time, but I am going to do a massive disservice to that science and just say: if you're a man, you should probably get married; if you're a woman, don't bother.