Read the first chapter and the last chapter, and you will have read more than you needed to read to understand the point he makes -- pessimism and optimism are both wrong (but pessimism is more right than optimism), and we should only apply ourselves to our "garden," or our work, to be at peace, if not happy.

But really, don't read either chapter I suggested, because the book is crude and ultimately a Debbie Downer.