Are we in danger of losing the richest source of artistic and philosophical development?

This is the question posed by Wilson's Against Happiness, a treatise rooted in analysis of figures and their works that span from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. Wilson states that positive thinking and the pursuit of happiness are detrimental to Americans. He feels these concepts are eroding culture and even the environment and that embracing our melancholy urges may break the cycle (or at least buy us some time before a superficial definition of happiness plunges the country into a blissful dystopia).

contrarian thinkers, those who regularly play devil's advocate, anyone who questions the statistics showing that Americans are generally happy, and anyone that's sick of faux bubbliness

the diversity of examples Wilson selected. Though Wilson is an English professor, he pointed out examples from the political and philosophy theaters.

the writing style, as it sometimes read like a self help book that Wilson decried in most of the text. On the other hand, some of these cyclical arguments and dips into melodrama could leave room for this title to be interpreted as a parody of self help books. I personally think either interpretation would work.

give it to someone who had recently told me that he accepted melancholy as a valid emotion that allows genuine joy and glee to be experienced more fully. I may still give him this book to see what he thinks of it.

vindicated that I don't embrace all these "happiness" strategies and a bit more comforted that someone out there understands the human desire to dwell in a melancholy states.

is (as stated previously) an English professor at Wake Forest University. He has also written titles dealing with specific phenomena in film history and the macabre in general.

the pursuit of happiness has gotten out of hand. Even Stephen Colbert told Oprah in an interview that he thinks "happiness" is overrated. This book provides a detailed explanation as to why one might reach that conclusion.

the writing is occasionally melodramatic and could also use some more examples from the scientific world where scientists make their greatest discoveries while in the throes of emotional turmoil/melancholy.

Though not graphic in nature, this is a book that I think is best suited for a 21+ audience. It does require some worldly experience to fully appreciate (unless you've endured a fair amount of upheaval that would not be considered highly traumatic). Wilson also takes aim at goths, hipsters (albeit not by name) and other American subcultures that conscientiously opt out of the happiness game but do not full explore their "negative" feelings/ If you identify with one of these groups, you may end up missing all of the author's points.

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Created Apr 06, 2013 at 9:42pm • Submit your own review...