"If you're so rich, why aren't you happy?"

As a voracious reader for many years, I am known to read four or five books at a time---with folded open books scattered next to my bed, my office and the desk in our kitchen (it drives my wife nuts!).  I try to convince Elvia (my wife) that this crazy habit is because I have a wide variety of interests, but the hard truth is, I rarely come across a book that is so well-written and compelling that I don't tire of it very quickly.  Well, Elvia was overjoyed the last few weeks to find just one book following me around the house---a book so compelling that I couldn't bear to put it down.  It is called The Progress Paradox:  How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse by Gregg Easterbrook.

In short, if you're feeling down about life at any point in the next few days (weeks or months!) I challenge you to pick up a copy of this book and read it.  It will serve as a permanent mood adjustment (drug free!).  And, it's not another in a long laundry list of motivational pap that have the intellectual depth of a wading pool, and the lasting impact of a National Enquirer headline.  This is a substantive book of sociology, psychology and scientific rigor, written in a highly readable, and engaging style.

The essence of Easterbrook's argument is that, without question, life has never been better than it is now----in every way.  Yeah, I know you'll give him the fact that we are materially rich---but you'll exhort that we've never been more ethically poor, or crime ridden.  Right?  Wrong!  I mean, we are richer in every way---even in terms of ethics and crime.  If you doubt this, I challenge you to read the book and e-mail me your refutation.   (for more evidence of how much better things are, check out this N-C program).

But here's the rub:  Despite record levels of affluence and opportunity, we have never been unhappier or more lonely.  And much of it, certainly not all--but much, is due to our misunderstanding of the blessings we have been granted from the toil of previous generations.  In short, complaining and whining about our lot in life, is a luxury only afforded by those of us in this affluent society.  The rest of the world has to work for a living!

I left the reading of this book with a profound sense of gratitude for all the blessings in my life, and I know you will too.

And, for those of you who still say "things were better in the 50's" let me list a few of the realities of that great decade:  Children still dying of measles and polio; voting rights for blacks still not secure; workplace rights for women still rare; typical house less than half of today's; air conditioning still rare in the South; U.S. Poverty still above 20 percent; medicare for senior citizens not available; air and water pollution still unregulated.

Truly, would anyone really switch places with someone in the fifties?  Not for a day, but for a lifetime? 

Read this book, and then take the challenge to turn every complaint you have, into an opportunity to contribute.  That way we'll leave the world even better than we found it.

Dan Strutzel

Comments

[Da Coach]

Based on the recommendation of The Mighty Dan Strutzel, I'm gonna put this book high on my reading list!

Money (or the lack of it) doesn't correlate too well with happiness; a sense of mission or purpose, clearly defined goals and a positive mental attitude do. And, as you point out, a sense of gratitude doesn't hurt either.

Jim "Da Coach"

[eddie rosenthal]

Regarding comments on the book The Progress Paradox; I already am reading 5 or 6 books myself but I will put it on my list. Let's go over a few of those points about the 50's vs. now;
Voting rights for blacks still not secure - We have 'better voting' machines now than ever before, and more paranoia about counting them correctly. We now have new segments of the population ( off shore voting, military) that is in question. Not that it won't be corrected 'in the future'.

Workplace rights for women still rare - I think it was shown that for every dollar a man earns a woman does the same job for .70 cents. In other words, the problem was swept under different rug.

Typical house less than half of today's - I grew up in a home where there was actual grass between homes, it was about the same size as the median priced home now, and it was a quiet street. And it cost 29,000 when my dad bought it. The same house now costs probably 575,000 where I live ( Sonoma County, Ca.).

Air conditioning still rare in the South - One could argue that the air conditioner is abused and sucks the power out of the grid. I am sure air conditioners are better than ever before, but still abused. Let's argue for some personal responsibility now and into the future.

And as for U.S. Poverty still above 20 percent; medicare for senior citizens not available; air and water pollution still unregulated - If after reading 'The Book on Bush' you still think we are doing better than ever, I've got some land in Florida I'd like you to purchase, just before global warming makes it an island.

[INNOCENT]

please i wish to build up a bussines empire but i dont know what exactly to embark on at this point in time.
can you kindly advise me please on what to do and how to go about it?

cheers
Innocent

[HERNANDO HERNANDEZ]

thamxs for the info,/ rewie, i can't waite to get my eyes on that book !
will like to see more opinions , and thoughts about it