Britain on the Couch [Import] [Paperback]

Oliver James (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: ARROW (RAND); New Ed edition (September 3, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099244020
• ISBN-13: 978-0099244028
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,644,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Whole World feels your pain, Britain, April 26, 2000

By 

seamus enright - See all my reviews

This review is from: Britain on the Couch: Why We're Unhappier Compared with 1950, Despite Being Richer - A Treatment for the Low-serotonin Society (Hardcover)

The Title of this book suggests a narrow scope, but much of what he writes could be applied to much of the developed world. This is particularly true of the chapters entitled "gender rancour" (a phrase many upper-class Britons would do well to avoid using), in which he draws largely on American work on the subject. His disdain for even the moderate branches of feminism is often disturbing, though his analysis of the role of consumerism in causing depression is compelling. His faith in Prozac and other SSRI's seems a little misplaced, though his call for a more reasoned debate on the merits of antidepressants is welcome. His optimism about the election of a Labour government in the UK in 1997 now seems a little naive as well. Though myself and others may not agree with all his judgements, it's impossible not to be impressed by his erudition.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking and in print in UK, January 31, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Britain on the Couch (Paperback)

Yes, this thought provoking, stimulating, and controversial book is in print on the UK and Canada web sites of amazon. And not to be missed, his new book is a best seller in the England: They ...You Up: How to Survive Family Life by Oliver James. I got a copy sent over and it is even more provocative: An outright challenge to theories of genetic and/or peer group influences on personality and psychopathology, it argues that those first 6 years in family life are the key to development. Both books argue that contemporary technological society, not genes, are responsible for low serotonin levels and the current epidemic of depression in European-American culture. Must read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book is available, March 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Britain on the Couch: Why We're Unhappier Compared with 1950, Despite Being Richer - A Treatment for the Low-serotonin Society (Hardcover)

Contrary to the site info, this book is available in paperback from Arrow, Random House, London