The Happiness Industry: How the Government and Big Business Sold Us Well-Being

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. <br>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. <i>The Happiness Industry</i> is a shocking and brilliantly argued warning about the new religion of the age: our emotions.