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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
A brief overview of the capitalist development of happiness as a goal someone can achieve (rather than an emotion which comes and goes), from individualistic hedonism of the 60-70s, to the soul crushing neoliberal "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" attitude. Cederstrom advocates for an alternative version of happiness (fulfillment might be the better word) which places community care over individual profit; eg, an anticapitalist, feminist reorganization of society. Cederson doesn't go very in depth into what this may look like, but that work has been done by many others already.
The book makes good on its main theme to show how the pursuit and definition of happiness radically changed between the 1960’s and today - co-opting what was an attempt to “find oneself” in an attempt to be free of the burdens of a capitalist society, into a a more selfish, gross hedonistic and material journey. It is clear from this that the more popular definitions of pleasure and happiness do not result in a happier society and so I am left wondering what fantasy is actually worth pursuing.
I could have done without all of the Trump bashing. I understand he is a symbol of the author’s point but it gives the book both a dated and partisan slant which I think undercuts an interesting, if cursory, exploration of the topic.
I could have done without all of the Trump bashing. I understand he is a symbol of the author’s point but it gives the book both a dated and partisan slant which I think undercuts an interesting, if cursory, exploration of the topic.
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced