America The Anxious by Ruth Whippman
How Our Pursuit of Happiness Is Creating a Nation of Nervous Wrecks
A witty investigative journey through America’s booming happiness industry, this account follows a skeptical outsider as she samples mindfulness classes, corporate wellness programs, positive psychology labs, multilevel marketing rallies, and faith communities to see whether the nation’s fixation on joy delivers what it promises. She finds that the relentless, individualistic pursuit of well-being often fuels anxiety, guilt, and loneliness, and that genuine contentment is more closely tied to social trust, economic security, and meaningful relationships than to self-optimization schemes. Combining reportage, humor, and research, it critiques the commercialization of happiness while pointing toward community and policy as more reliable paths to a flourishing life.
- Published
- 2016
- Nationality
- British
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 240-260
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(5.0)
- Alternate Titles
- - The Pursuit of Happiness
This book is not currently on any lists.