American Mania: When More is Not Enough
American Mania: When More is Not Enough by Peter C. Whybrow, published by W. W. Norton & Company on April 17, 2006, is a thought-provoking exploration of the cultural challenges faced by contemporary Americans. In this 360-page reprint, Whybrow, who directs the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA, examines the paradox of affluence in the United States, where an overwhelming desire for success often leads to widespread feelings of stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction. The book delves into the biology of the brain’s reward system, providing a comprehensive explanation for the compulsive nature of consumerism that characterizes modern life.
Readers will find a detailed analysis of how societal pressures contribute to a cycle of overwork and discontent, reflecting on the implications of these trends for individual well-being. American Mania draws on scientific case studies and vivid narratives to present a nuanced perspective on pressing social issues, including the impact of consumer culture on mental health and the pursuit of happiness. This edition invites readers to reconsider their understanding of American life and offers insights into how to navigate the complexities of modern existence.
Official synopsis Publisher
A doctor’s bold analysis of the cultural disease that afflicts us all.
Despite an astonishing appetite for life, more and more Americans are feeling overworked and dissatisfied. In the world’s most affluent nation, epidemic rates of stress, anxiety, depression, obesity, and time urgency are now grudgingly accepted as part of everyday existence they signal the American Dream gone awry.
Peter C. Whybrow, director of the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA, grounds the extraordinary achievements and excessive consumption of the American nation in an understanding of the biology of the brain’s reward system offering for the first time a comprehensive and physical explanation for the addictive mania of consumerism.
American Mania presents a clear and novel vantage point from which to understand the most pressing social issues of our time, while offering an informed approach to refocusing our pursuit of happiness. Drawing upon rich scientific case studies and colorful portraits, “this fascinating and important book will change the way you think about American life” (Karen Olson, Utne Reader).
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