America the Anxious

Starred review from July 15, 2016
A Brit living in the United States exposes the dark side of the happiness business in her adopted country.Upon moving to Silicon Valley with her techie husband, journalist and documentary maker Whippman discovered that, in the U.S., the pursuit of happiness was of prime importance. (When this book was published in England earlier this year, the title, The Pursuit of Happiness: And Why It's Making Us Anxious, did not mention America.) Naturally, she plunged into an exploration of the phenomenon, checking out what she dubs the commercial happiness machine. What might have been a tedious anti-American tirade is in fact a hilarious narrative full of barbed observations, personal anecdotes, and comical stories. In her research, the author joined anxious happiness seekers paying good money to attend the Landmark Forum, a direct descendant of Werner Erhard's notorious "est" movement of the 1970s; took part in Wisdom 2.0, an annual conference where business leaders focus on the spiritual growth of their employees; visited the headquarters of the Zappos company, where cultural interviews of prospective employees weed out those deemed unfit at "Delivering Happiness"; and toured the offices of Facebook, famous for perfecting the art of keeping staff happy working long hours. A visit with Mormons in Utah, consistently ranked as the happiest people in America, left her wondering whether the cultural pressure to profess happiness might explain their high use of antidepressants. Closer to home, Whippman cast a cold eye on parenting techniques designed to produce always-happy children and on the pressures to present a positive outlook on Facebook and other social media. Her assessment of the positive psychology movement, one of the fastest-growing specialties in academia, is chilling. After putting the book down, readers may well agree with the author that if we want to be happy, what we really need to do is stop chasing after happiness and focus on living fuller lives. A delightfully witty, enjoyable read.

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July 1, 2016

The U.S. Declaration of Independence rather asserts the inalienable right to pursue happiness. Whippman, a British journalist and documentary filmmaker, suggests that this decidedly American endeavor can actually lead to increased unhappiness. The author exposes how the many touted paths to contentment create few, if any, lasting benefits, frequently resulting in increased anxiety and feelings of inadequacy when peace of mind doesn't manifest. Whippman investigates the self-help industry's claim that we hold the key to our own fulfillment. She also addresses the trend of managing employee satisfaction. Meditation, religion, parenthood, and social media are also scrutinized. Using examples from her own life and investigative reporting techniques, Whippman discovers that many happiness claims are somewhat tenuous or downright unsupported, and that studies often don't take into account one's individual circumstances. Her witty, insightful observations are supported by convincing data, as she pulls back the curtain to reveal the seedy side of the business of happiness. VERDICT Recommended to readers interested in the psychology of happiness or anxiety and especially those looking for an alternative to the multitude of "how-to" books on the subject.--Lydia Olszak, Bosler Memorial Lib., Carlisle, PA

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