Description
Book SynopsisCompared to much of the rest of the world, America and its citizens are rich. But many people are also deeply miserableat 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. The paperback edition features a new Preface that discusses the widening wealth gap, the ongoing effects of the recent recession, as well as the implications of the Tea Party and Occupy moveme
Trade ReviewRich, Free, and Miserable examines why so many successful people are miserable, at work and at home, struggling emotionally and financially in the world’s most prosperous nation. Brueggemann’s book...is clearly written and easy to follow....[Brueggemann] drew upon existing research to try to diagnose what ails contemporary America. He cites numerous studies that show that Americans feel less connected to each other, that they have less time and that membership in civic organizations is declining. * Schenectady Gazette, August 2010 *
Brueggemann's Rich, Free, and Miserable provides a concise and fairly comprehensive examination of the consequences of unregulated markets on the moral life of America. . . .[T]his book is insightful, well written, and comprehensive. * Critical Sociology *
This book is a searing indictment of the invasion of market thinking into every corner of American life, including areas where market considerations should never be primary, as when we hear about 'the health industry' or 'the education industry.' Brueggemann points out that market pressures undermine moral commitments dear to liberals, such as social justice, and moral commitments dear to conservatives, such as personal loyalty and responsibility. He suggests the possibility of a civil discussion across our ideological divides to think about how we can resist long-standing pressures that undermine the moral life of all of us. It is a badly needed book and deserves a wide and diverse audience. -- Robert Bellah, Professor of Sociology, Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley; coauthor of Habits of the Heart
A highly accessible account of what Brueggemann calls the Death Zone—the grim moral universe of an America where markets have overwhelmed government and civil society. A Durkheimian critique that, despite the unsparing assessment of the moral crisis, points to the hopeful possibility of American renewal. -- Charles Derber, Boston College; author of Welcome to the Revolution: Universalizing Resistance for Social Justice and Democracy in Perilous Times
Cultural and political conservatives rail against the loss of civility, morality, and family values while simultaneously celebrating its principal cause—the individualist, materialist, and competitive free market. In Rich, Free, and Miserable, John Brueggemann sets the record straight, with prose that is powerful, engaging, and as contemporary as yesterday's newspaper. People who long for civility and community should turn off their iPods, their cell phones, and their laptops, and read this book. -- Barry Schwartz, professor of psychology, Swarthmore College; author of The Paradox of Choice and Practical Wisdom
Brueggemann's sociology of every-day experience shows how the power of the market is stealing our neighborhoods, our families, our time, our lives. I was reading it on the plane from Fargo to Los Angeles, and it was so fascinating that my seat partner surreptitiously read it as I did. And then he started talking about how it makes sense of his own life. This is a great conversation-starter. -- Glen Harold Stassen, Lewis B. Smedes Professor of Christian Ethics, Fuller Theological Seminary, author of Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemp
The conversational and open-ended approach the author engages in is excellent. The biggest questions and conundrums of our day are tacked head-on. Grounded in important issues and questions, and up-to-date in current social science research, this book addresses the core questions of our time in a well-balanced, non-partisan tone. -- Vincent Roscigno, professor of sociology, Ohio State University
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Preface to the Paperback Edition 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
