The Age of Absurdity Why Modern Life makes it Hard to be Happy

'Not the usual cleverclogs claptrap. Foley delivers well-judged wisdom' Oliver James, bestselling author of Affluenza. 'An entertaining tirade' Financial Times 16/1 'Michael Foley's entertaining, intelligent book may just help you get over yourself...Absurdly readable' Observer 21/2 'Achingly funny and wise...vastly entertaining' Daily Mail 19/2 'Insightful and entertaining ... wickedly sceptical' Irish Examiner 15/3 'Michael Foley's Age of Absurdity is, like its author, witty, erudite and provocative. It challenges received wisdom in a way that many people will find compelling whether they agree with Foley or not. He's the thinking man's Alain de Botton' Scottish Sunday Herald 28 Nov 2010 THE AGE OF ABSURDITY by Michael Foley "Affluenza' is the condition at the heart of Michael Foley's book, and is defined as "a social disease caused by consumerism, commercialism, and rampant materialism". The cure for it - as suggested by commentators such as Oliver James and Alain de Botton - is to live simply. However, in Foley's captivating meander through western culture he suggests another panacea. Rather than throwing off the shackles of modern society, the Derry author says we should embrace it in all its absurdity. And who doesn't want to be happy and have nice things as well? Foley marshals a host of great thinkers to his cause, from Joyce and Spinoza to Buddha and Jesus, and the result is both admirable and convincing. He contends that once we learn to ignore "cultural conditioning", happiness is to be found even in the most mundane tasks. While there's some sage advice here, Foley is never preachy. One for those who feel they're swimming against the tide' Sunday Business Post 20/2