17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
YES! But will this book make any difference?, February 15, 2007
As someone who basically agrees with almost everything in this book, I am biased in its favour. On the other hand, one wonders whether it will only be "preaching to the converted" or maybe reduced to a conversation piece in middle-class circles. Psychologist Oliver James occasionally comes across as suffering from "affluenza" himself, a few too many references to his own success perhaps? But to be fair his style is also honest, self-effacing and funny in places. Someone in his well-connected position (a bit of a media figure, consultant to senior UK politicians and so on) writing a book like this has to be a good thing. It is surely better than no-one saying anything while people slowly drown in a sea of unchallenged, materialistic, individualism.
The essential message deserves to be taken very very seriously. The author's focus is on why so many people in English-speaking countries (such as America, England, Australia but not so much New Zealand) are experiencing higher rates of personal unhappiness than they were 30 years ago. According to James, this is the result of placing a high value on money, possessions, physical and social appearances, and fame. By contrast, countries such as Denmark and Holland have a less selfish version of capitalism and so are generally happier. Along the way there are entertaining interviews, some interesting psychological insights, suggestions on parenthood, and analyses of different cultures. I found the section on China's economic development particularly interesting.
There are three parts: The Virus, The Vaccines (basically some sensible self-help suggestions) and Wakey Wakey! In the last section James suggests a whole range of legislative measures such as having a system which selects leaders who are emotionally mature, and making housing property no longer a means of defining status. He calls for a genuine democracy that doesn't mean the rule of all by a rich minority. At one point James even goes so far as to question the necessity of economic growth and of course he is laughed at. Of course!
My guess is that some will think this book doesn't go far enough and others will think it goes too far. All credit to Oliver James for writing it.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Throught provoking and interesting, March 31, 2007
This work looks at the growing wealth of the west and the growing rates of depression and anxiety that accompany it. James brings his arguments togther thoughtfully and the book is well constructed.
I am not sure about his basic political arguments, but I am convinced about his personal statements. We need to look seriously at the way we are living, turn down the noise of advertising and begin to chart our own course.
The messages, we are recieving about consumption are leading to us to drained and anxious society. We need, as individuals, to rethink our lifes and work out where we want to head.
A very interesting work from a thoughtful man.
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rampant Capitalism Causes Unhappiness?, January 30, 2007
My opinion of this book is just that - total opinion. But that's fair, considering that the book itself is opinion. James offers very little documentation. The author asserts:
*There is an increase in unhappiness in Western Countries.
*Denmark is less unequal, has better socialization, and people are happier.
*The cause is rampant capitalism. We are even taught in schools (in so many word) to become good little consumers and producers.
*blah blah blah blah
But James has a point - many of the frustrations of living today we didn't have 50 years ago (or ever). That doesn't mean you can create an epidemiologic study that will reliably establish causes and effects. That would be no easier than forecasting the weather beyond a few days - there are too many variables.
Happiness is a very individual, elusive, and hard-to-pin-down combination of emotions. There is much evidence that genetics governs the biochemistry that controls a person's general outlook - perhaps realistically thought of as one's "happiness thermostat." Some studies confirm that after good or bad life-changing events, people tend to eventually (sooner rather than later) return to their inherent steady state level of happiness. Nurture, on the other hand, is judged much more influential about learned behaviors such as personal habits - and good ones are bound to benefit one's happiness.
Our general level of happiness on a day to day basis is more likely to suffer from nitpicky, seemingly insignificant irritants rather than how generally well off we are otherwise. Old saying such as "Don't sweat the small stuff," seems to hold up well here, as does, "Have the serenity to accept the things I can't change, the courage to change those I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." It makes sense to try to realistically identify and change recurrent irritants - also to re-evaluate the things that one REALLY likes, and make the appropriate adjustments in lifestyle.
With that in mind, James scores a point. The minor irritants may be more numerous today - more junk mail, computer viruses, too-complicated electronic devices, recurrent new charges on monthly bills, inability to find a human to talk to on the telephone, too many soccer games, etc. Depending on how you handle the potential sensory overload, your general happiness can suffer, but it's up to you, as always.
Overall, I'd say the book is worth reading if you don't mind sermons. If you follow his advice - don't compare yourself to others, don't get in debt, be less materialistic, make an effort to be emotionally mature - it certainly can't hurt. But rather than blaming capitalism (not that rampant capitalism doesn't have its faults), the finger could point instead to huge masses of people having to share (relatively) less space during the age of the internet and high technology. And you don't have to participate in all of it to be happy. All in all, I don't think there's ever been a better time to be alive.
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