Area residents will have the opportunity to learn from a lifetime spent teaching others when former Morgan School English Department chair Patrick L. McKiernan delivers a free talk exploring the “Pursuit of Happiness” at the Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19.

The subjects covered in the lecture include the differences between pleasure and happiness, the quest for happiness in an individual enterprise, happiness in the creative spirit, and mindfulness.

McKiernan, 93, said he landed on the subject of the lecture through copious amounts of research and reading. One work that interested McKiernan was a book called The Little Book of HYGGE by Meik Wiking. The book describes a Danish ritual in which a candle is lit every day, and the light from candle gives people pleasure.

McKiernan became fascinated by the metaphor of light as pleasure, and decided he wanted to delve into the differences between pleasure and happiness in his lecture.

“Pleasure is not happiness,” he said. “Pleasure is sensual; happiness is mental.

“Going from one pleasure to another is not happiness in my view,” McKiernan added. “To approach happiness, you need to find what you can give to the world.”

McKiernan said he will discuss ways people can work to improve their level of happiness. Suggestions include taking control of your time, staying active, cultivating and nurturing close relationships, and getting enough sleep.

McKiernan was a teacher for decades in Clinton.

“I was a very successful teacher for 40 years,” McKiernan said. “My gift is teaching well, I found ways to teach the students.”

McKiernan has given several talks at the library before.

“I’ve given six to eight talks on Abraham Lincoln and am a pseudo-expert on Lincoln,” McKiernan said.

Sarah Borgnis-Tobin, the adult programming coordinator at the library, called McKiernan, who is a trustee of the library, “a local treasure.”

“He comes into the library all the time with his wife,” Borgnis-Tobin said. “He does programs regularly and is happy to contribute to events.”

McKiernan said he will do the talk whether it’s a packed audience or if only a few people show up to hear him.

“I haven’t had anyone walk out on me yet,” McKiernan said.

Asked how to keep the audience engaged throughout the lecture, McKiernan said, “Zest, and more of it.”

To register for the lecture, visit http://hchlibrary.org/event/the-pursuit-of-happiness.