In No Exit, the existentialist play that sees three strangers confined to a single room for eternity, Jean-Paul Sartre argued that “hell is other people.” But, had he lived long enough, Sartre might have updated his hell-room to include Pharrell Williams’ insufferably cheerful “Happy” playing on an infinite loop.
Alas, Sartre died in 1980, and “Happy” must build its own literary home. The AP reports that Williams just signed a deal with Putnam Books for a series of four children’s books, the first of which will be based on the hit single from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack. In what could be interpreted as a tacit confirmation that the best version of “Happy” is one that sits silently on the page, the book will feature children “celebrating what it means to be happy.” It is unclear what portion of the children will be photographed wearing comically elongated park ranger hats. Happy the book will go on sale September 22.