Full Description
Compared to much of the rest of the world, America and its citizens are rich. But many people are also deeply miserable—at work, at home, or both. In this provocative book, author John Brueggemann unpacks why so many people are struggling, both emotionally and financially, in a nation that looks so prosperous on the surface.
From a hospital patient reduced to a balance sheet to a parent working such long hours that he misses dinner, Brueggemann argues that market thinking has permeated every corner of our lives. In the pursuit of more and better, relationships erode, to the detriment of individuals, communities, and the nation as a whole. Rich, Free, and Miserable not only outlines these pressing social problems, but also offers practical suggestions for people looking to make a positive change.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Missing the Forest and Most of the Trees: What's Useful and What's Not in Current Conversations
Chapter 3: Social Change and Continuity in U.S. History
Chapter 4: Triumph of the Market
Chapter 5: Economic Life: Winning the Rat Race
Chapter 6: Civil Life: Cool iPods, Rolling Stops, and Fighting Dads
Chapter 7: Family Life: Frenzy and Atomization
Chapter 8: Resetting the Moral Compass
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
