"Affluenza is that strange desire we feel to spend money we don’t have to buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t know . . . A truly modern affliction, affluenza is endemic in Western societies, encouraged by those who profit from a culture of exploitation and waste. So how do we cure ourselves? In this sparkling book of ideas, Richard Denniss shows we must distinguish between consumerism, the love of buying things, which is undeniably harmful to us and the planet, and materialism, the love of things, which can in fact be beneficial. We should cherish the things we own – preserve them, repair them, and then gift or sell them when we no longer need them. We must foster new ways of thinking and acting that do not squander limited resources, and which support the things we value most: vibrant communities and rich experiences. At once a lucid explanation of a critical global issue and a stirring call to action, Curing Affluenza will change the way you think about your place in the world. With special contributions from Bob Brown • Kumi Naidoo • Marilyn Waring • John Quiggin • Leanne Minshull • Jim Stanford • Bill McKibben • Craig Bennett"

Previous editions of Affluenza described the early symptoms of the disease that led to a nearly fatal shutdown of all our financial systems in 2008. This new edition puts more focus on the behavior changes we need to make to be certain that the Great Recession does not become a prelude to something worse.

In the bestselling 'Affluenza', world-renowned psychologist Oliver James introduced us to a modern-day virus sweeping the English-speaking world. Now 'The Selfish Capitalist' provides more detailed substantiation for the claims he has already made.

Welcome to the enhanced edition of Affluenza! Each chapter of this updated third edition features scenes from the popular national PBS specials “Affluenza” and “Escape from Affluenza,” co-produced by Affluenza co-author John de Graaf and hosted by National Public Radio's Scott Simon. This iconic book shows how problems ranging from loneliness, endless working hours, and family conflict to rising debt, environmental pollution, and rampant commercialism are all symptoms of this global plague. In the enhanced edition you'll see hilarious skits including the frightening original diagnosis of “affluenza” and the shocking “surrender of the Joneses.” You'll meet experts and hear from ordinary people about how affluenza has affected their lives and what they are doing about it. You'll see victims of shopping fever and swollen expectations as they roam through the “affluenza hot zones” of tourist-destination shopping malls, watch in horror as marketers plan the manipulation of children, take a quick trip through the history of this dreaded disease, and see its often invisible but terrible consequences made visible. But it's not all gloom and doom—far from it. You'll also drop in on a simplicity circle (“affluholics anonymous!”), wander through a magical marsh where you come out enriched “and your wallet is still as full as when you left home,” and share the life of an urban family who is beating the bug! The authors also trace the role overconsumption played in the Great Recession, discuss new ways to measure social health and success (such as the Gross Domestic Happiness index), and offer policy recommendations to make our society more simplicity-friendly. Remember that nine out of ten doctors recommend this book as the cure for affluenza! Happy reading and…happy viewing! There are a total of 23 videos spanning 39:36 minute. File size: 379.7 MB

It is a peculiarly American notion that money will guarantee happiness, bring us personal fulfillment, strengthen our relationships, give us smarter, better-adjusted children--in short, make all our dreams come true.

“He never wants to touch me any longer, Natasha. It's like he's impotent or something.” “That's not impotence, that's just what being married is like!” Raising three beautiful children in her beautiful Bombay home with her aristocratic husband of 15 years – every bit the prince you read about in fairy tales – Natasha has it all. But when her closest friend drops the bombshell that she's isn't entirely fulfilled by her family and is having an affair, Natasha begins to ask some difficult questions about her own seemingly perfect life. From the bestselling author Shunali Shroff comes a novel about being a wife, a mother and the woman you used to be before that. Featured in 50 Books to Look Out for in 2019 by Huffington Post

"A hilarious new play from James Sherman, Affluenza! borrows classic characters from Restoration Comedy like the cuckolded husband, the coquette, the wily servant, and the fop to create a contemporary comedy of manners. When multi-millionaire, William Moore brings home his new girlfriend, his son and ex-wife are threatened by the potential new heir to the family fortune. Who gets what and who ends up with whom is revealed in this dazzling display of wit and wordplay."--Publisher's website.

Part self-help guide and part social commentary, this witty expose takes a hard look at America’s obsession with consumerism, how it’s ruining our lives, and how we can eradicate this toxic behavior in ourselves. You know those people who always have to have the latest model of everything? Whether it’s the newest iPhone, the hottest TV on the market, or the latest trend in this season’s fashions, it seems like they’re always trading what they have for something newer with the assumption that “new” automatically implies “better.” Theorizing that as the world’s ability to mass produce goods has increased, our obsession with consumerism has risen in response, Affluenza explores this trend in detail by analyzing American life and overconsumption in the post-Industrial age. Employing the term “affluenza” to define our current state of obsession with materialism and the pursuit of wealth, de Graaf and Wann demonstrate how this form of cultural extremism is detrimental not only to our wallets, but to our hearts, relationships, and minds. Do you want more free book summaries like this? Download our app for free at https://www.QuickRead.com/App and get access to hundreds of free book and audiobook summaries. DISCLAIMER: This book summary is meant as a preview and not a replacement for the original work. If you like this summary please consider purchasing the original book to get the full experience as the original author intended it to be. If you are the original author of any book on QuickRead and want us to remove it, please contact us at [email protected]

Essay from the year 2018 in the subject Sociology - Social System and Social Structure, grade: 1,0, University of Ljubljana, language: English, abstract: The western world has always been fascinated with the lifestyle of the wealthy. Affluenza in simple words can be defined as the painful, contagious and socially transmitted need to purchase more in order to gain status and happiness. It describes the extreme materialism and consumerism associated with the pursuit of wealth and success, often resulting in a life of chronic dissatisfaction, debt, overwork, stress and impaired relationships. It has also been used to refer to an inability to understand the consequences of one's actions because of financial privilege. The term was invented by critics of consumerism in the United States of America, derived from the words 'influenza' and 'affluence'.