What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Find Joy in a Capitalist Hellscape
Are you tired of the relentless grind and empty promises of a capitalist world?Ever feel like the world is one big dumpster fire? Yeah, me too. But guess what? There’s a way to find joy in this capitalist nightmare, and it doesn’t involve quitting your job to become a goat yoga instructor (unless you really want to).
How to Find Joy in a Capitalist Hellscape is your no-BS guide to carving out happiness in a world designed to stress you out. Packed with irreverent humor, practical tips, and a healthy dose of rebellion, this book will help
Laugh in the face of corporate greedFind peace without breaking the bankLearn ways to build real connections in a fake-news worldStay joyful and united in a divided societyDon’t wait for the revolution to start living your best life. Grab your copy now and learn how to thrive, not just survive, in the madness!
If you’re ready to find happiness in the madness, give the system the middle finger, and start fighting back against the capitalist class, grab your copy of this irreverent manual!
How to Find Joy in a Capitalist Hellscape is your no-BS guide to carving out happiness in a world designed to stress you out. Packed with irreverent humor, practical tips, and a healthy dose of rebellion, this book will help
Laugh in the face of corporate greedFind peace without breaking the bankLearn ways to build real connections in a fake-news worldStay joyful and united in a divided societyDon’t wait for the revolution to start living your best life. Grab your copy now and learn how to thrive, not just survive, in the madness!
If you’re ready to find happiness in the madness, give the system the middle finger, and start fighting back against the capitalist class, grab your copy of this irreverent manual!
265 pages, Paperback
Published October 2, 2024
3 people are currently reading
706 people want to read
About the author
Elsie Gilmore
2 books6 followersElsie Gilmore, author of How to Find Joy in a Capitalist Hellscape, holds a master's degree in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School. Known for her environmental activism, Elsie has participated in civil disobedience and was arrested at the White House in 2011 as part of Tar Sands Action. A dedicated activist for women's reproductive rights, institutional racism, and workers' rights, she also conducts social experiments involving talking to and hugging strangers.
Elsie began her writing journey when the internet was a mere toddler and hasn’t stopped since. Her work includes various personal and professional blogs, a column for the Rutland Herald, participation in several radio shows, and her current weekly Substack publication, Sunday Mornings in Bed. Described humorously as "that lady who will not stop talking," Elsie's voice is both persistent and passionate.
With a career spanning twenty years as a web developer and founder of Women With Moxie, a women's networking company, Elsie has worn many hats. From Vermont farm girl to multi-business owner and now a published author, she continues to pursue the awesome sauce in life.
Stay tuned for her upcoming non-fiction books, memoirs, inspirational accessory products, and maybe even a surprise fiction book.
Her writing, art, and social hijinks can be found at https://elsiegilmore.com
Follow her on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elsie...
On Instagram: https://instagram.com/elsie_gilmore_a...
And on Substack: https://elsiegilmore.substack.com/
Elsie began her writing journey when the internet was a mere toddler and hasn’t stopped since. Her work includes various personal and professional blogs, a column for the Rutland Herald, participation in several radio shows, and her current weekly Substack publication, Sunday Mornings in Bed. Described humorously as "that lady who will not stop talking," Elsie's voice is both persistent and passionate.
With a career spanning twenty years as a web developer and founder of Women With Moxie, a women's networking company, Elsie has worn many hats. From Vermont farm girl to multi-business owner and now a published author, she continues to pursue the awesome sauce in life.
Stay tuned for her upcoming non-fiction books, memoirs, inspirational accessory products, and maybe even a surprise fiction book.
Her writing, art, and social hijinks can be found at https://elsiegilmore.com
Follow her on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elsie...
On Instagram: https://instagram.com/elsie_gilmore_a...
And on Substack: https://elsiegilmore.substack.com/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 18, 2024
The critique of capitalism has been intensifying in recent years, with more people questioning the economic system that does not appear to work for the majority of Americans. In “How to Find Joy in a Capitalist Hellscape,” author Elsie Gilmore presents a quick and insightful read filled with valuable steps to break free from participating in capitalism. As a creative and activist Gilmore defines capitalism as the system of profit that enables large corporations to extract labor from people without equitable wages and exploit natural resources, harming the planet. The exchange imbalance creates winners and losers, as capitalism prioritizes profit over people and the environment. The book advocates for building tangible skills to help one earn a living while fostering community.
Gilmore writes in an informal and friendly tone, making complex ideas accessible and engaging as she encourages readers to reflect on their lives, beliefs, and behaviors. She anchors her advice on what each individual can do to escape the clutches of the cycle of extraction and exploitation. Feeling pressured by financial and economic limitations makes us feel fearful and insecure. When we practice self-consciousness, are aware of our emotions, and take care of our bodies, we can actively seek contentment outside the system of capitalism. The book is a guide for living a more joyful, balanced, and meaningful life while critiquing the capitalist system and its effects on individuals and society.
A book critiquing capitalism won’t be complete without sound financial advice. Gilmore encourages reducing dependency on material possessions to work less and live more sustainably. She urges readers to evaluate their relationship with material things and avoid spending money due to societal pressures or insecurities. Readers may appreciate her advice on avoiding making impulsive purchases, focusing on doing things, and taking trips when they are ready and able. Moving away from capitalism means that we can vote with our dollars, by supporting local independent retailers and businesses that align with our values. Even if locally sourced items cost more, they are well worth it because we make a positive impact on our community and the world.
Gilmore writes in an informal and friendly tone, making complex ideas accessible and engaging as she encourages readers to reflect on their lives, beliefs, and behaviors. She anchors her advice on what each individual can do to escape the clutches of the cycle of extraction and exploitation. Feeling pressured by financial and economic limitations makes us feel fearful and insecure. When we practice self-consciousness, are aware of our emotions, and take care of our bodies, we can actively seek contentment outside the system of capitalism. The book is a guide for living a more joyful, balanced, and meaningful life while critiquing the capitalist system and its effects on individuals and society.
A book critiquing capitalism won’t be complete without sound financial advice. Gilmore encourages reducing dependency on material possessions to work less and live more sustainably. She urges readers to evaluate their relationship with material things and avoid spending money due to societal pressures or insecurities. Readers may appreciate her advice on avoiding making impulsive purchases, focusing on doing things, and taking trips when they are ready and able. Moving away from capitalism means that we can vote with our dollars, by supporting local independent retailers and businesses that align with our values. Even if locally sourced items cost more, they are well worth it because we make a positive impact on our community and the world.
March 5, 2026
How to Find Joy in a Capitalist Hellscape by Elsie Gilmore, illustrated by Yanuary Navarro delivers a sharp, irreverent, and surprisingly practical take on navigating modern life in a world that often feels relentlessly overwhelming. With humor as its primary weapon, the book invites readers to confront the absurdities of contemporary culture from burnout and consumer pressure to the emotional fatigue of constant social noise while still finding ways to cultivate genuine joy.
What makes this guide stand out is its ability to balance satire with substance. The tone is unapologetically bold, but beneath the playful rebellion lies a thoughtful message about reclaiming agency, nurturing meaningful relationships, and redefining what happiness looks like outside the traditional metrics of productivity and success. Rather than offering unrealistic promises or polished motivational clichés, the authors encourage readers to laugh at the chaos, question the status quo, and intentionally create pockets of fulfillment within it.
The illustrations by Yanuary Navarro add an extra layer of personality to the reading experience, complementing the book’s humor and reinforcing its spirit of creative resistance. Together, the writing and visuals create a work that feels both entertaining and reflective.
Ultimately, How to Find Joy in a Capitalist Hellscape succeeds as a witty cultural commentary and an accessible reminder that joy doesn’t have to wait for a perfect system it can be built in small, deliberate ways even within imperfect circumstances. Readers who appreciate candid humor, social observation, and unconventional self help will likely find both laughter and insight in these pages.
What makes this guide stand out is its ability to balance satire with substance. The tone is unapologetically bold, but beneath the playful rebellion lies a thoughtful message about reclaiming agency, nurturing meaningful relationships, and redefining what happiness looks like outside the traditional metrics of productivity and success. Rather than offering unrealistic promises or polished motivational clichés, the authors encourage readers to laugh at the chaos, question the status quo, and intentionally create pockets of fulfillment within it.
The illustrations by Yanuary Navarro add an extra layer of personality to the reading experience, complementing the book’s humor and reinforcing its spirit of creative resistance. Together, the writing and visuals create a work that feels both entertaining and reflective.
Ultimately, How to Find Joy in a Capitalist Hellscape succeeds as a witty cultural commentary and an accessible reminder that joy doesn’t have to wait for a perfect system it can be built in small, deliberate ways even within imperfect circumstances. Readers who appreciate candid humor, social observation, and unconventional self help will likely find both laughter and insight in these pages.
November 8, 2024
Self-care brilliance
Elsie Gilmore confidently states that the pursuit of joy is the ultimate antidote to rampant capitalism, but rather than bore us with theory and opinion, she chose instead to fill her book with concrete suggestions for self-care and value-driven living. I love this book! This is not an ordinary self-help book, but collection of reminders on how to live your best life. She rounds out each section with suggested resources and activities - calls to action that include so much more than I expected. You too can find joy and punch up!
Elsie Gilmore confidently states that the pursuit of joy is the ultimate antidote to rampant capitalism, but rather than bore us with theory and opinion, she chose instead to fill her book with concrete suggestions for self-care and value-driven living. I love this book! This is not an ordinary self-help book, but collection of reminders on how to live your best life. She rounds out each section with suggested resources and activities - calls to action that include so much more than I expected. You too can find joy and punch up!
November 13, 2024
How to Find Joy in a Capitalist Hellscape by Elsie Gilmore challenges us to re-examine what we have been taught about what it means to be successful and what’s important in life. It invites us to dig deep within by offering practical tips for cultivating greater peace, finding joy, living within our values, developing meaningful connections, creating a life of our own design, and showing kindness to ourselves and others across the many facets of life.
March 12, 2025
Much Needed Advice
Y'all, I've been STRUGGLING with this current Presidential administration - it's hard not to feel hopeless some days. This book is a s delightful little action guide to remind you that life is beautiful and all is not lost. With actionable steps to back it up! A quick, humorous read that I recommend!
Y'all, I've been STRUGGLING with this current Presidential administration - it's hard not to feel hopeless some days. This book is a s delightful little action guide to remind you that life is beautiful and all is not lost. With actionable steps to back it up! A quick, humorous read that I recommend!
December 22, 2025
This is a self help book for all of us in this capitalist world. Most of this I have already processed in my life. I pretty much agree with what Elsie Gilmore suggests— except when she says at the end she doesn’t want to get rid of capitalism completely.
I do
I do
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews