Affluenza

"Having read the reviews and compared them with the (far fewer) reviews of the book of a similar title by the American, J. de Graaf, I can only suppose that it's OJ himself rather than his book that these critical reviewers object to. Why? What do they know about him that I don't know? What are they afraid of? What's their agenda? The point he's making is undeniably true, though he labours it too much. And his solutions to the problem are a bit naive; but who's got a better one which is really practicable in today's world?"
~ Written on 2008-06-27

"This book is written in a very personal style, and the author may not be to everyone's taste (as he frequently isn't to mine), but to evaluate it on the basis of the quality of the prose or even of the analysis is to miss the point. This book has a view of life that I took for granted as a teenager, but that slowly withered over twenty years of insidious peer pressure. It questions unstated assumptions that underpin so many of the messages that are blared at us constantly from advertising, newspapers, tv, movies. Even if James' policy recommendations are not always sensible, their heart is in the right place, and I seriously hope that enough people will read, absorb and transmit his message that some day we will be able, collectively, to kick some of the habits that are preventing us from turning the incredible wealth of modern western society into real happiness.

Though it is funny when he wonders what John Lennon would have to say to George Orwell about a certain country club. I mean, John Lennon was a pop star. I'd rather hear what George Orwell would have said."
~ Written on 2008-06-13

"I agree that this book is not very well written at all, so much so that it failed to keep me engaged. I gave up half way through. Although I agreed with the authors original premise, I do believe that Alain De Botton wrote a much better book with Status Anxiety and explained the premise in a much clearer and concise manner."
~ Written on 2008-06-12

"Oliver James seems to think that Affluenza only affects the middle/upper class, what rubbish.

This is a poorly written book with no notion that the vast majority of UK citizens earn less than £20k a year yet he seems to think that Affluenza does not effect these people.


His interviews with people around the globe are not a true survey only a very small snap shot."
~ Written on 2008-06-09

"There are some weaknesses in the style and structure of this book, however these don't detract from the arguments that James puts forward concerning the negative effect of marketing and the creation of wants as needs on the health of society. James does take a populist tone and for those who want something meatier and more academic I suggest 'The Challenge of Affluence' by Avner Offer (a professor of Economic History at Oxford University). This is a drier read than James and will I think challenge the views of those who pick holes in James' work for whatever reason.

A though provoking book and for some it seems a book that provokes!"
~ Written on 2008-05-28