What are people's thoughts about the book "Affluenza" by Oliver James?
I am hearing a lot about this new book recently here in the UK and wonder if people have read it and whether anyone has a strong opinion about it either way.
The basic concept is that in today's world the more we have the worse we feel. James background is in psychology and he explores why this is and what we can do to avoid picking up the 'viral motives' that make us unhappy.
I was thumbing a copy in a bookstore today and it compared the 'lot' of two individuals: One a successful 35yr old guy making $20M/yr living in Manhatten, who has a hollow life satisfied by high class prostitutes; and the cab driver who drove him to see the first guy. An imigrant, on a low wage, who had been mugged many times for his takings and who had a more positive outlook on life and thought things were pretty good. The argument is that affluence does not bring happiness, just an increased desire to have the things we haven't acquired yet.
Anyway, I would really like to know if this book has made a good or bad impression on anyone out there.
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