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The Happiness Fantasy

by Carl Cederström
The Happiness Fantasy - Thryft
The Happiness Fantasy - Thryft

Authenticity: The new definition of happiness.

"The Happiness Fantasy" takes a witty look at today's definition of happiness and how it has evolved over the years. The book highlights how our present-day idea of happiness is connected to authenticity, physical pleasure, and personal branding. Cederstrom critiques these ideals and argues it's time to build new fantasies of happiness that are relevant in today's era of austerity. If you're interested in critically examining happiness and how we conceptualize it, this book is definitely a must-read.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

The Happiness Fantasy

by Carl Cederström
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9781509523818
Authors: Carl Cederström
Publisher: Polity
Date of Publication: 2018-11-12
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Personal Development, Sociology, Philosophy, History
Related Topics: Personal Development, Psychology, History, History
Goodreads rating: 3.6
(rated by 174 readers)

Description

In this devastatingly witty new book, Carl Cederström traces our present-day conception of happiness from its roots in early-twentieth-century European psychiatry, to the Beat generation, to Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. He argues that happiness is now defined by a desire to be "authentic", to experience physical pleasure, and to cultivate a quirky individuality. But over the last fifty years, these once-revolutionary ideas have been co-opted by corporations and advertisers, pushing us to live lives that are increasingly unfulfilling, insecure and narcissistic.In an age of increasing austerity and social division, Cederström argues that a radical new dream of happiness is gathering pace. There is a vision of the good life which promotes deeper engagement with the world and our place within it, over the individualism and hedonism of previous generations. Guided by this more egalitarian worldview, we can reinvent ourselves and our societies.
 

Authenticity: The new definition of happiness.

"The Happiness Fantasy" takes a witty look at today's definition of happiness and how it has evolved over the years. The book highlights how our present-day idea of happiness is connected to authenticity, physical pleasure, and personal branding. Cederstrom critiques these ideals and argues it's time to build new fantasies of happiness that are relevant in today's era of austerity. If you're interested in critically examining happiness and how we conceptualize it, this book is definitely a must-read.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.