The happiness industry : how the government and big business sold us well-being

In winter 2014, a Tibetan monk lectured the world leaders gathered at Davos on the importance of Happiness. The recent __DSM-5__, the manual of all diagnosable mental illnesses, for the first time included shyness and grief as treatable diseases. Happiness has become the biggest idea of our age, a new religion dedicated to well-being. In this brilliant dissection of our times, political economist William Davies shows how this philosophy, first pronounced by Jeremy Bentham in the 1780s, has dominated the political debates that have delivered neoliberalism. From a history of business strategies of how to get the best out of employees, to the increased level of surveillance measuring every aspect of our lives; from why experts prefer to measure the chemical in the brain than ask you how you are feeling, to why __Freakonomics__ tells us less about the way people behave than expected, __The Happiness Industry__ is an essential guide to the marketization of modern life. Davies shows that the science of happiness is less a science than an extension of hyper-capitalism In Winter 2014, A Tibetan Monk Lectured The World Leaders Gathered At Davos On The Importance Of Happiness. The Recent Dsm-5, The Manual Of All Diagnosable Mental Illnesses, For The First Time Included Shyness And Grief As Treatable Diseases. Happiness Has Become The Biggest Idea Of Our Age, A New Religion Dedicated To Well-being. In This Brilliant Dissection Of Our Times, Political Economist William Davies Shows How This Philosophy, First Pronounced By Jeremy Bentham In The 1780s, Has Dominated The Political Debates That Have Delivered Neoliberalism. From A History Of Business Strategies Of How To Get The Best Out Of Employees, To The Increased Level Of Surveillance Measuring Every Aspect Of Our Lives; From Why Experts Prefer To Measure The Chemical In The Brain Than Ask You How You Are Feeling, To Why Freakonomics Tells Us Less About The Way People Behave Than Expected, The Happiness Industry Is An Essential Guide To The Marketization Of Modern Life. Davies Shows That The Science Of Happiness Is Less A Science Than An Extension Of Hyper-capitalism-- When Jeremy Bentham Proposed That Government Should Run 'for The Greatest Benefit Of The Greatest Number,' He Posed Two Problems: What Is Happiness And How Can We Measure It? With The Rise Of Positive Psychology, Freakonomics, Behavioural Economics, Endless Ted Talks, The Happiness Manifesto, The Happiness Index, The Tyranny Of Customer Service, The Emergence Of The Quantified Self Movement, We Have Become A Culture Obsessed With Measuring Our Supposed Satisfaction. In Anecdotes That Include The Buddhist Monk Who Lectured The Business Leaders Of The World At Davos, Why The Nike Fuel Band Makes Us More Worried About Our Fitness, How Parts Of Our City Are Being Rebuilt In Response To Scientific Studies Of Oxytocin Levels In Our Brain, And What A Survey From Radisson Hotels--that Proves That 62% Of Us Believe That Well-being Is A Luxury Worth More Than Work Or A Good Relationship--really Tells Us About The Way We Measure Ourselves, And Continually Find Ourselves Wanting-- Knowing How You Feel -- The Price Of Pleasure -- In The Mood To Buy -- The Psychosomatic Worker -- The Crisis Of Authority -- Social Optimization -- Living In The Lab -- Critical Animals. William Davies. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 281-302) And Index. “Deeply researched and pithily argued.” — New York Magazine “A brilliant, and sometimes eerie, dissection” of ‘the science of happiness’ and the modern-day commercialization of our most private emotions ( Vice ) Why are we so obsessed with measuring happiness? In winter 2014, a Tibetan monk lectured the world leaders gathered at Davos on the importance of Happiness. The recent DSM-5, the manual of all diagnosable mental illnesses, for the first time included shyness and grief as treatable diseases. Happiness has become the biggest idea of our age, a new religion dedicated to well-being. Here, political economist William Davies shows how this philosophy, first pronounced by Jeremy Bentham in the 1780s, has dominated the political debates that have delivered neoliberalism. From a history of business strategies of how to get the best out of employees, to the increased level of surveillance measuring every aspect of our lives; from why experts prefer to measure the chemical in the brain than ask you how you are feeling, to why Freakonomics tells us less about the way people behave than expected, The Happiness Industry is an essential guide to the marketization of modern life. Davies shows that the science of happiness is less a science than an extension of hyper-capitalism. Why Are We So Interested In Measuring Happiness? What Was A Buddhist Monk Doing At The 2014 World Economic Forum In Davos Lecturing The World’s Leaders On Mindfulness? Why Do Many Successful Corporations Have A ‘chief Happiness Officer’? What Can The Chemical Composition Of Your Brain Tell A Potential Employer About You? In The Past Decade, Governments And Corporations Have Become Increasingly Interested In Measuring The Way People Feel: ‘the Happiness Index’, ‘gross National Happiness’, ‘well-being’ And Positive Psychology Have Come To Dominate The Way We Live Our Lives. As A Result, Our Emotions Have Become A New Resource To Be Bought And Sold. In A Fascinating Investigation Combining History, Science And Ideas, William Davies Shows How Well-being Influences All Aspects Of Our Lives: Business, Finance, Marketing And Smart Technology. This Book Will Make You Rethink Everything From The Way You Work, The Power Of The ‘nudge’, The Ever-expanding Definitions Of Depression, And The Commercialization Of Your Most Private Feelings. The Happiness Industry Is A Shocking And Brilliantly Argued Warning About The New Religion Of The Age: Our Emotions. When Jeremy Bentham proposed that government should run for the greatest benefit of the greatest number,he posed two problems: what is happiness and how can we measure it? With the rise of positive psychology, freakonimics, behavioural economics, endless TED talks, the happiness manifesto, the Happiness Index, the tyranny of customer service, the emergence of the quantified self movement, we have become a culture obsessed with measuring our supposed satisfaction. In anecdotes that include the Buddhist monk who lectured the business leaders of the world at Davos, why the Nike Fuel band makes us more worried about our fitness, how parts of our city are being rebuilt in response to scientific studies of oxytocin levels in our brain, and what a survey from Radisson hotelsthat proves that 62% of us believe that well-being is a luxury worth more than work or a good relationshipreally tells us about the way we measure ourselves, and continually find ourselves wanting. The pursuit of happiness only makes us sadand the rise in depression and anxiety proves it. "When Jeremy Bentham proposed that government should run 'for the greatest benefit of the greatest number, ' he posed two problems: what is happiness and how can we measure it? With the rise of positive psychology, freakonomics, behavioural economics, endless TED talks, the happiness manifesto, the Happiness Index, the tyranny of customer service, the emergence of the quantified self movement, we have become a culture obsessed with measuring our supposed satisfaction. In anecdotes that include the Buddhist monk who lectured the business leaders of the world at Davos, why the Nike Fuel band makes us more worried about our fitness, how parts of our city are being rebuilt in response to scientific studies of oxytocin levels in our brain, and what a survey from Radisson hotels--that proves that 62% of us believe that well-being is a luxury worth more than work or a good relationship--really tells us about the way we measure ourselves, and continually find ourselves wanting"-- Provided by publisher "When Jeremy Bentham proposed that government should run 'for the greatest benefit of the greatest number,' he posed two problems: what is happiness and how can we measure it? With the rise of positive psychology, freakonimics, behavioural economics, endless TED talks, the happiness manifesto, the Happiness Index, the tyranny of customer service, the emergence of the quantified self movement, we have become a culture obsessed with measuring our supposed satisfaction. In anecdotes that include the Buddhist monk who lectured the business leaders of the world at Davos, why the Nike Fuel band makes us more worried about our fitness, how parts of our city are being rebuilt in response to scientific studies of oxytocin levels in our brain, and what a survey from Radisson hotels--that proves that 62% of us believe that well-being is a luxury worth more than work or a good relationship--really tells us about the way we measure ourselves, and continually find ourselves wanting"