Product Description

There is currently an epidemic of 'affluenza' throughout the world - an obsessive, envious, keeping-up-with-the-Joneses - that has resulted in huge increases in depression and anxiety among millions. Over a nine-month period, bestselling author Oliver James travelled around the world to try and find out why. He discovered how, despite very different cultures and levels of wealth, affluenza is spreading. Cities he visited include Sydney, Singapore, Moscow, Copenhagen, New York and Shanghai, and in each place he interviewed several groups of people in the hope of finding out not only why this is happening, but also how one can increase the strength of one's emotional immune system. He asks: why do so many more people want what they haven't got and want to be someone they're not, despite being richer and freer from traditional restraints? And, in so doing, uncovers the answer to how to reconnect with what really matters and learn to value what you've already got. In other words, how to be successful and stay sane.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4030 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 592 pages

Review
"A wonderfully clear and cogent thesis." -"Guardian"
"Should be mandatory reading for everyone." -Will Self

The Guardian, Nick Lezard
"as Oliver James's very important book demonstrates...he has thought about the problem a lot and he approaches it in a very winning fashion...he is consistently engaging in both his apercus and his occasionally eccentric asides"

From the Publisher
World-renowned psychologist, Oliver James, tours the minds of the affluent middle classes, in search of an answer to the question: is it possible to be successful and stay sane?

Customer Reviews

Morally bankrupt
Life, points out Macbeth, is a tale told by an idiot. The same, of course, is true of books written by Oliver James. Britain's most self-publicising pretend psychologist (does the British Psychological Society recognise his 'expertise'? Does it heck!) has been writing drivel for years, garbage purporting to be scientific but mainly the product of his distinctly peculiar mind.

The difference between this and some of his other books is that the central idea (money can't buy you happiness) is actually quite an accurate one which has been well researched by real psychologists. Granted, it's not original and even his title is stolen from another book, but he has the germ of an idea here - even if it's someone else's.

However, he is so hopeless with his arguments that he leaves you less convinced of even the most self-evident aspects than you were before you started reading. So Nigerians spend less time on the couch than New Yorkers? No kidding! They're probably busy wondering where their next meal is coming from. The World Health Organisation, which provides some of the data he mangles so incompetently, stress that the data should not be used to make like-for-like comparisons of states of mental health across countries. That doesn't stop Mr James, though.

A lousy book by a terrible author. Perhaps he should give some of his money away? He might feel better.

Interesting theory, poorly delivered
I agree that this book is not very well written at all, so much so that it failed to keep me engaged. I gave up half way through. Although I agreed with the authors original premise, I do believe that Alain De Botton wrote a much better book with Status Anxiety and explained the premise in a much clearer and concise manner.

promising concept, disappointing read
The concept of an affluent society really appealed to me, but the content of the book did not live up to the exciting idea it promised. It is full of anecdotes and not really any systematic points or conclusions. I wish I had saved my money.