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Быть или иметь?: Психология культуры потребления
В этой книге профессор психологии Тим Кассер объясняет с точки зрения науки, как современная культура потребления и материализм влияют на счастье и здоровье человека. Автор не только обозначает и описывает проблему, но и предлагает пути ее решения, позволяющие улучшить нашу жизнь.
Библиография размещена на сайте http://www.mann-ivanov-ferber.ru/book....
Книга будет полезной для всех, кто интересуется философией, экономикой, обществом потребления, а также для тех, кто хочет знать ответ на вопрос: «В деньгах ли счастье?».
Библиография размещена на сайте http://www.mann-ivanov-ferber.ru/book....
Книга будет полезной для всех, кто интересуется философией, экономикой, обществом потребления, а также для тех, кто хочет знать ответ на вопрос: «В деньгах ли счастье?».
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2002
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May 5, 2025
كتاب يستحق القراءة، أسلوب جميل ومشوق، يعتمد على الكثير من الدراسات والتجارب.
الكتاب متاح على صفحة الناشر:
المركز الإسلامي للدراسات الإستراتيجية
مقدمة المركز
هذا الكتاب يعتبر صرخة بوجه المادية الغربية وبقلم غربي حيث يبيّن المؤلّف تيم كاسِر، العالم النفساني الوجودي الأميركي، الأزمات التي تتركها المادية على الحياة الفردية والاجتماعية، ويبيّن نسبة الكآبة والفراغ وعدم الشعور بالهدوء والسكينة وازدياد الاضطرابات السلوكية والنفسية؛ مع ازدياد المادية والانغماس في الملذّات والشهوات.
في الفصل الأخير من الكتاب يستشهد المؤلف بحديث عن رسول الله [صلى الله عليه وآله] يقول فيه: "ليس الغنى عن كثرة العرض ولكن الغنى غنى النفس" ويشير إلى انّ كتابه جاء لشرح وتوضيح هذا الحديث النبوي حيث يقول: "قدمت في صفحات هذا الكتاب معطيات علمية لاُبيّن حديث محمد [صلى الله عليه وآله] أنّ الحياة التي تركّز على تحصيل المال واكتساب الشهرة هي حياة فاقدة للمعنى، وبيّنت في الفصل الثاني أنّ القيم المادية تتماشى مع المستوى المتدنّي لجودة الحياة والصحة النفسية، ورأينا في الفصول من الرابع إلى السابع أن إشباع الحاجات للسلامة والأمن والكفاءة وتقدير الذات والتواصل مع الآخرين والاستقلالية والأصالة، لا يتم بالمستوى المطلوب عندما تكون القيم المادية مورد الاهتمام الأساسي في نظام قيم الناس، كما وصف الفصل الثامن بعض الطرق التي تتعارض فيها القيم المادية مع رفاه الناس الآخرين والمجتمع والكوكب، وبعد توضيح هذه المسألة تبيّن أنّ القيم المادية تقوّض جودة حياتنا".
من أهم الأفكار التي وردت في الكتاب:
بقدر ما تكون القيم المادية في حياتنا، بقدر ما تقل جودة حياتنا.
ينزع الماديون إلى التملك وهم يفضلون الاحتفاظ بالأشياء بدلا من استعارتها، بخلاء لا يرغبون بمشاركة ممتلكاتهم مع آخرين، يميل الماديون إلى حسد الآخرون على ما يملكون.
المادية تجلب مزيدا من القلق، قليل من الحيوية، وبعض المشاعر المرضية، ورضا متدن بالحياة.
تمتع الناس الذين ركزوا على القيم المادية بمستوى من السعادة والصحة النفسية ادنى من اولئك الذين يعتقدون ان السعي وراء الماديات فاقد للأهمية نسبيا.
القيم المادية تصبح دائمة في حياة بعض الأفراد الذين لهم ماض لم يشبعوا حاجاتهم من خلاله.
بعد مسألة التزود بالطعام، والمأوى، والسلامة، فإن الزيادة في الثروة لا يساهم كثيرا في تحسين رفاه الناس وعادتهم.
يحاول النرجسيون تغطية مشاعرهم بعدم الكفاية من خلال الذهاب للطرف المقابل، والاختباء خلف شعور زائف بالقيمة يتوقف تماما على الإنجازات الخارجية.
القيم المادية دفعت الناس للتقليل من الاستثمار في علاقاتهم وفي مجتمعاتهم.
أذكر انني لا ادافع عن تكريس الفقر؛ فالموارد تساعد الناس على الشعور بالأمان، لكن يشير الدليل التجريبي أن مساهمة الثروة في تحسين الرفاهية ضعيف وأن البراعة في الاحتفاظ بالغايات المادية في حالة توازن مع القيم الجوهرية، وأن يكون لدينا غايات سليمة مسيطرة. القليل من كعكة الشيكولاتة (مادية) لن يؤذيك كثيرا، طالما ان السعرات الحرارية آتية من المنتجات الطازجة والحبوب الكاملة (قيم جوهرية).
الكتاب متاح على صفحة الناشر:
المركز الإسلامي للدراسات الإستراتيجية
مقدمة المركز
هذا الكتاب يعتبر صرخة بوجه المادية الغربية وبقلم غربي حيث يبيّن المؤلّف تيم كاسِر، العالم النفساني الوجودي الأميركي، الأزمات التي تتركها المادية على الحياة الفردية والاجتماعية، ويبيّن نسبة الكآبة والفراغ وعدم الشعور بالهدوء والسكينة وازدياد الاضطرابات السلوكية والنفسية؛ مع ازدياد المادية والانغماس في الملذّات والشهوات.
في الفصل الأخير من الكتاب يستشهد المؤلف بحديث عن رسول الله [صلى الله عليه وآله] يقول فيه: "ليس الغنى عن كثرة العرض ولكن الغنى غنى النفس" ويشير إلى انّ كتابه جاء لشرح وتوضيح هذا الحديث النبوي حيث يقول: "قدمت في صفحات هذا الكتاب معطيات علمية لاُبيّن حديث محمد [صلى الله عليه وآله] أنّ الحياة التي تركّز على تحصيل المال واكتساب الشهرة هي حياة فاقدة للمعنى، وبيّنت في الفصل الثاني أنّ القيم المادية تتماشى مع المستوى المتدنّي لجودة الحياة والصحة النفسية، ورأينا في الفصول من الرابع إلى السابع أن إشباع الحاجات للسلامة والأمن والكفاءة وتقدير الذات والتواصل مع الآخرين والاستقلالية والأصالة، لا يتم بالمستوى المطلوب عندما تكون القيم المادية مورد الاهتمام الأساسي في نظام قيم الناس، كما وصف الفصل الثامن بعض الطرق التي تتعارض فيها القيم المادية مع رفاه الناس الآخرين والمجتمع والكوكب، وبعد توضيح هذه المسألة تبيّن أنّ القيم المادية تقوّض جودة حياتنا".
من أهم الأفكار التي وردت في الكتاب:
بقدر ما تكون القيم المادية في حياتنا، بقدر ما تقل جودة حياتنا.
ينزع الماديون إلى التملك وهم يفضلون الاحتفاظ بالأشياء بدلا من استعارتها، بخلاء لا يرغبون بمشاركة ممتلكاتهم مع آخرين، يميل الماديون إلى حسد الآخرون على ما يملكون.
المادية تجلب مزيدا من القلق، قليل من الحيوية، وبعض المشاعر المرضية، ورضا متدن بالحياة.
تمتع الناس الذين ركزوا على القيم المادية بمستوى من السعادة والصحة النفسية ادنى من اولئك الذين يعتقدون ان السعي وراء الماديات فاقد للأهمية نسبيا.
القيم المادية تصبح دائمة في حياة بعض الأفراد الذين لهم ماض لم يشبعوا حاجاتهم من خلاله.
بعد مسألة التزود بالطعام، والمأوى، والسلامة، فإن الزيادة في الثروة لا يساهم كثيرا في تحسين رفاه الناس وعادتهم.
يحاول النرجسيون تغطية مشاعرهم بعدم الكفاية من خلال الذهاب للطرف المقابل، والاختباء خلف شعور زائف بالقيمة يتوقف تماما على الإنجازات الخارجية.
القيم المادية دفعت الناس للتقليل من الاستثمار في علاقاتهم وفي مجتمعاتهم.
أذكر انني لا ادافع عن تكريس الفقر؛ فالموارد تساعد الناس على الشعور بالأمان، لكن يشير الدليل التجريبي أن مساهمة الثروة في تحسين الرفاهية ضعيف وأن البراعة في الاحتفاظ بالغايات المادية في حالة توازن مع القيم الجوهرية، وأن يكون لدينا غايات سليمة مسيطرة. القليل من كعكة الشيكولاتة (مادية) لن يؤذيك كثيرا، طالما ان السعرات الحرارية آتية من المنتجات الطازجة والحبوب الكاملة (قيم جوهرية).
February 24, 2016
I am currently conducting research on the relationship between consumerism, capitalism, addiction and personal spirituality. I was trained in existential-phenomenological psychological research methods. I would add that I agree, in principle, with the goals of this book.
This book wreaks of "publish or perish." The first seven chapters are full of junk science. I call it that because what is presented as serious scientific evidence is flawed by the methodology, specifically surveys made up by the researchers and, for the most part, given to the captive audience of college students. They are asked to speculate (although the author never seems to notice this) on what their values are. The basic message is that materialistic values are bad for one's self-esteem and we pass this on to our children. Rarely does the author mention how much these values resemble addiction. But they do and he would be much wiser to travel down that path than boring the reader with seven chapters of shallow, speculative evidence. After presenting much of his data, the author often says something to the effect of, "this MAY mean," or, "this PROBABLY suggests," and other such silly statements which prove that the "evidence" is not scientific, it is speculation based upon responses to statements comprising the surveys. The surveys were made up by the researchers, which compromises their value since they tilt the questions toward providing the data the author and his fellow researchers hope to find.
Then, in the last two chapters, he turns into Pollyanna. He presents implications from the data that any freshman in college sociology could spew even without the data. In the last chapter, he presents a sort of "hippie manifesto" as to how to change the world. They are all good suggestions. Some violate the first amendment. Some are so pie-in-the-sky, one wonders what happened to the "serious" researcher who wrote the first seven chapters. If this book is of interest to you at all, find it in the bookstore and read the last two chapters. The first seven are crap.
This book wreaks of "publish or perish." The first seven chapters are full of junk science. I call it that because what is presented as serious scientific evidence is flawed by the methodology, specifically surveys made up by the researchers and, for the most part, given to the captive audience of college students. They are asked to speculate (although the author never seems to notice this) on what their values are. The basic message is that materialistic values are bad for one's self-esteem and we pass this on to our children. Rarely does the author mention how much these values resemble addiction. But they do and he would be much wiser to travel down that path than boring the reader with seven chapters of shallow, speculative evidence. After presenting much of his data, the author often says something to the effect of, "this MAY mean," or, "this PROBABLY suggests," and other such silly statements which prove that the "evidence" is not scientific, it is speculation based upon responses to statements comprising the surveys. The surveys were made up by the researchers, which compromises their value since they tilt the questions toward providing the data the author and his fellow researchers hope to find.
Then, in the last two chapters, he turns into Pollyanna. He presents implications from the data that any freshman in college sociology could spew even without the data. In the last chapter, he presents a sort of "hippie manifesto" as to how to change the world. They are all good suggestions. Some violate the first amendment. Some are so pie-in-the-sky, one wonders what happened to the "serious" researcher who wrote the first seven chapters. If this book is of interest to you at all, find it in the bookstore and read the last two chapters. The first seven are crap.
October 13, 2024
الثمن الباهظ للمادية
تيم كاسر
هلموا إلى عصر الرفاهية! إلى زمن الاستهلاكية! هنا كل شيء معروض للبيع، كل شيء سلعة، وكل شيء يقاس بالمال. قيمة الشخص محسوبة بما يملك، لا بما يعرف أو بما يستطيع عمله. هنا تضمحل العلاقات لصالح الدخل، وتهون الصحة مقابل المظاهر، ويمضي العمر في تكديس المقتنيات.
ينطلق تيم كاسر من دراسات وإحصائيات ليوضح لنا التغير الجوهري الذي طرأ على فكر الناس ورغباتهم. الحياة أصبحت مادية بشكل يستعصي على التصديق. وعندما تحدث الأمور أمامنا وعلى أيدينا، فنحن في كثير من الأحيان لا نفطن إليها. لذا فكاسر هنا يقرع ناقوس الخطر ويهتف بنا حرصاً على الصحة والعلاقات والراحة النفسية.
ثمة فرضيات كثيرة في النص، لا شك أن أغلبنا يتفق معها، ومع ذلك فسنقول أن ليس باليد حيلة لأن الجميع أصبح "هكذا". هناك ملاحظات جيدة مثل أنك لو عودت ابناءك على التعويضات المادية، وأن تعبر عن حبك لهم عن طريق الهدايا المادية، فسيكبرون وفي أذهانهم فكرة أن الحب عبرة عن "أشياء". يوضح أيضاً أن العاشق في الماضي – على سبيل المثال – يبذل مجهوداً واضحاً للتعبير عن حبه: كأن يكتب قصيدة أو أن يقف تحت الشرفة طوال الليل. أما في عصرنا الحاضر فكل ما عليه هو شراء هدية جذابة.
يرى كاسر أن السعي وراء المادية مرهق من الناحية النفسية. سنجد أن الفقير يحلم بحياة الغني، والغني يتمنى لو أنه أكثر ثراء. نظرة الإنسان لنفسه وكفاحه لإثبات ذاته متعلق تعلقاً وثيقاً بما يملكه وبمظهره ورصيده البنكي. وكلما حصل على المزيد زاد جوعه للحصول على ما هو أكثر. لم يعد المرء يقضي حياته بحثاً عن المعنى بل عن الممتلكات.
الكتاب جيد ولغته رصينة ومدعوم بالأبحاث والدراسات. ربما نحتاج بين الحين والآخر لتنبيه يوقظنا من سباتنا المادي ويذكرنا بأن الحياة ليست مجرد أرقام.
تيم كاسر
هلموا إلى عصر الرفاهية! إلى زمن الاستهلاكية! هنا كل شيء معروض للبيع، كل شيء سلعة، وكل شيء يقاس بالمال. قيمة الشخص محسوبة بما يملك، لا بما يعرف أو بما يستطيع عمله. هنا تضمحل العلاقات لصالح الدخل، وتهون الصحة مقابل المظاهر، ويمضي العمر في تكديس المقتنيات.
ينطلق تيم كاسر من دراسات وإحصائيات ليوضح لنا التغير الجوهري الذي طرأ على فكر الناس ورغباتهم. الحياة أصبحت مادية بشكل يستعصي على التصديق. وعندما تحدث الأمور أمامنا وعلى أيدينا، فنحن في كثير من الأحيان لا نفطن إليها. لذا فكاسر هنا يقرع ناقوس الخطر ويهتف بنا حرصاً على الصحة والعلاقات والراحة النفسية.
ثمة فرضيات كثيرة في النص، لا شك أن أغلبنا يتفق معها، ومع ذلك فسنقول أن ليس باليد حيلة لأن الجميع أصبح "هكذا". هناك ملاحظات جيدة مثل أنك لو عودت ابناءك على التعويضات المادية، وأن تعبر عن حبك لهم عن طريق الهدايا المادية، فسيكبرون وفي أذهانهم فكرة أن الحب عبرة عن "أشياء". يوضح أيضاً أن العاشق في الماضي – على سبيل المثال – يبذل مجهوداً واضحاً للتعبير عن حبه: كأن يكتب قصيدة أو أن يقف تحت الشرفة طوال الليل. أما في عصرنا الحاضر فكل ما عليه هو شراء هدية جذابة.
يرى كاسر أن السعي وراء المادية مرهق من الناحية النفسية. سنجد أن الفقير يحلم بحياة الغني، والغني يتمنى لو أنه أكثر ثراء. نظرة الإنسان لنفسه وكفاحه لإثبات ذاته متعلق تعلقاً وثيقاً بما يملكه وبمظهره ورصيده البنكي. وكلما حصل على المزيد زاد جوعه للحصول على ما هو أكثر. لم يعد المرء يقضي حياته بحثاً عن المعنى بل عن الممتلكات.
الكتاب جيد ولغته رصينة ومدعوم بالأبحاث والدراسات. ربما نحتاج بين الحين والآخر لتنبيه يوقظنا من سباتنا المادي ويذكرنا بأن الحياة ليست مجرد أرقام.
October 7, 2023
يناقش الكتاب عملية التحول الاعتقادي إلى المادية والتي وقعت في العالم الحديث، حيث انحسار المبادئ وتبني المادية كجوهر ومبدأ للقياس.
الكتاب دراسة غربية لتيم كاسر، لكن لا يخفى أن شظايا الغرب الآن لم تقتصر على أهله، وأن الشاهد هو وقوع العالم كله في شراك المادية. لذلك تؤخذ الدراسات والإحصائيات المعروضة في هذا الكتاب بعين الاعتبار، ويمكن أن يستفاد من نتائجها بشكل معمم.
وهذه نظرة سريعة بسيطة في بعض موضوعات الكتاب:
يبدأ الكتاب بعرض صورة سماها بالرسائل المشوشة، قاصدًا التشوش في وعي الإنسان من تباين الآراء حول مفهوم المادية؛ فحسب الحكماء ورجال الفلسفة والدين؛ السعي وراء المال يعارض معنى الحياة. في حين أن الناظر لحياة مكنزي الثروات سيلحظ ظاهر ينم على رفاهية تطلب في الحياة.
بعد ذلك، يبدأ في البحث عن أسباب ونتائج سيادة هذا المنهج المادي. ويكون السؤال: ما السبب المحتمل لهذا التحول؟ ويجيب بما معناه، أن ثمة حاجات غير مشبعة أدى غيابها إلى محاولة تعويضها بالجانب المادي؛ فدمجت رسائل المجتمع الاستهلاكي مع القيم والمعتقد ثم بدأ الإنسان بتنظيم حياته طبقًا لها؛ أهدافه التي يسعى لها، مواقفه تجاه الأشياء والأشخاص، حتى سيطرت على نمط سلوكه كله. هذه الحاجات الغير مشبعة درسها بصورة تفصيلية، وكان منها على سبيل المثال:
- الأمان -بمعناه الواسع- كيف يؤثر غيابه باتباع الاستراتيجية المادية كمحاولة للحصول على بعض منه.
- الهشاشة في تقدير الذات وعدم الشعور بالرضا، كيف جعلت الثراء سيان مع غيابه، فعدم الرضا مولد لللهث وراء المادة مع غياب السعادة بها.
- العدوان ضد النساء كيف ولد فكر نسوي يحاول رفع قيمة النساء من خلال المادة، وأخذها كحمي.
- السعي المادي البحت كيف غيّب مفهومي الأصالة والاستقلالية، حيث دوام الشعور بالتهديد، وفرض قيود الضغط والإجبار.
أما الفصل الأخير، فيأتي بعنوان "صناعة التغيير" على ضوء حديث النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ليس الغنى عن كثرة العَرض، ولكن الغنى غنى النفس." ليضع بعض محاولات للتغيير والفكاك من أسر الفكر المادي؛ بداية على المستوى الشخصي، العائلي، ثم المجتمعي.
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الكتاب ثري جدًا بالدراسات التي يمكن الاستعانة بها، بعضها قام به الكتاب ومساعديه بنفسهم، وغيرها نقلها عن أصحابها. كتاب مفيد ويستحق الاطلاع عليه.
-وعودة بعد إنقطاع:)-
الكتاب دراسة غربية لتيم كاسر، لكن لا يخفى أن شظايا الغرب الآن لم تقتصر على أهله، وأن الشاهد هو وقوع العالم كله في شراك المادية. لذلك تؤخذ الدراسات والإحصائيات المعروضة في هذا الكتاب بعين الاعتبار، ويمكن أن يستفاد من نتائجها بشكل معمم.
وهذه نظرة سريعة بسيطة في بعض موضوعات الكتاب:
يبدأ الكتاب بعرض صورة سماها بالرسائل المشوشة، قاصدًا التشوش في وعي الإنسان من تباين الآراء حول مفهوم المادية؛ فحسب الحكماء ورجال الفلسفة والدين؛ السعي وراء المال يعارض معنى الحياة. في حين أن الناظر لحياة مكنزي الثروات سيلحظ ظاهر ينم على رفاهية تطلب في الحياة.
بعد ذلك، يبدأ في البحث عن أسباب ونتائج سيادة هذا المنهج المادي. ويكون السؤال: ما السبب المحتمل لهذا التحول؟ ويجيب بما معناه، أن ثمة حاجات غير مشبعة أدى غيابها إلى محاولة تعويضها بالجانب المادي؛ فدمجت رسائل المجتمع الاستهلاكي مع القيم والمعتقد ثم بدأ الإنسان بتنظيم حياته طبقًا لها؛ أهدافه التي يسعى لها، مواقفه تجاه الأشياء والأشخاص، حتى سيطرت على نمط سلوكه كله. هذه الحاجات الغير مشبعة درسها بصورة تفصيلية، وكان منها على سبيل المثال:
- الأمان -بمعناه الواسع- كيف يؤثر غيابه باتباع الاستراتيجية المادية كمحاولة للحصول على بعض منه.
- الهشاشة في تقدير الذات وعدم الشعور بالرضا، كيف جعلت الثراء سيان مع غيابه، فعدم الرضا مولد لللهث وراء المادة مع غياب السعادة بها.
- العدوان ضد النساء كيف ولد فكر نسوي يحاول رفع قيمة النساء من خلال المادة، وأخذها كحمي.
- السعي المادي البحت كيف غيّب مفهومي الأصالة والاستقلالية، حيث دوام الشعور بالتهديد، وفرض قيود الضغط والإجبار.
أما الفصل الأخير، فيأتي بعنوان "صناعة التغيير" على ضوء حديث النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ليس الغنى عن كثرة العَرض، ولكن الغنى غنى النفس." ليضع بعض محاولات للتغيير والفكاك من أسر الفكر المادي؛ بداية على المستوى الشخصي، العائلي، ثم المجتمعي.
.
الكتاب ثري جدًا بالدراسات التي يمكن الاستعانة بها، بعضها قام به الكتاب ومساعديه بنفسهم، وغيرها نقلها عن أصحابها. كتاب مفيد ويستحق الاطلاع عليه.
-وعودة بعد إنقطاع:)-
July 30, 2019
كتاب بهاي سنگين مادي گرايي به جرات يكي از چند كتاب تاثيرگذاري بود كه در يك سال گذشته خوندم. اون هم به اين دليل كه دايما نشانه ها و علايم مادي گرايي رو در خودم و زندگي روزمره احساس ميكردم و نتايج اين مادي گرايي هم به وضوح برام روشن بود. براي همين اين كتاب خيلي فكرم رو درگير كرد. براي من حكم يك استاد بزرگ يا يك مشاور با مهارت رو داشت كه حرفاش به دلم مينشست. حتما اين كتاب رو بايد چندبار ديگر هم بخونم تا تمام جزييات و زواياش برام روشن تر بشه. به علاوه متن خوب و كاملا علمي و بر پايه آزمايش هاي گسترده روان شناختي ، ترجمه اين كتاب هم بسيار روان بود و خوندن كتاب رو لذت بخش تر ميكرد.
در كل خوندن اين كتاب رو به تمام كساني كه به دليل روياهاي پر زرق و برق ساعت هاي زيادي رو مشغول كار و كسب ثروت هستند پيشنهاد ميكنم.
در كل خوندن اين كتاب رو به تمام كساني كه به دليل روياهاي پر زرق و برق ساعت هاي زيادي رو مشغول كار و كسب ثروت هستند پيشنهاد ميكنم.
June 26, 2012
The message of Kasser’s book is simple; the pursuit of riches, fame and beauty lead to a life of dissatisfaction. Kasser has some excellent advice for parents towards the end of the book to help parents steer their children away from these pursuits. The majority of the book does deal with the material side of these pursuits, and though I agree with the author’s premise, he makes the typical mistake of jumping from condemning materialism to condemning capitalism. The two have nothing in common. We all are materialistic to some extent and so materialism exists in all economies. In fact, Socialism fails because it requires that everyone have the exact same level of materialism, which will never be. Capitalism, as a theory to define how economics work, gives people the freedom to pursue materialistic gains or not. It also rewards people for their pursuits. The materialists are rewarded with goods based on the work and risk they take. The environmentalist is allowed to change how the environment is used by supporting those companies (and politicians in a democracy) who share their views. The person who values free time is not forced to work in a government factory, but they also are not provided with assistance to meet their daily needs, but instead they reap the reward of leisure time over earnings from productive work. A person who believes capitalism is the best economic system for a country is simply saying that they believe allowing the economy to work as it has been proven to work, which the theory of capitalism has, is the best way to run an economy. They believe you should allow the economy to simply be, instead of fighting against what is inevitable. Materialism, and the pursuit of everything, plays into this as well. Once a government tells you what you can do to be productive, how much you can make in your pursuit of reward, that they will catch you if you fall, that you must support the non-productive, your willingness to pursue materialism, altruism, innovation, justice and everything else we pursue in our daily life, is altered for the worse as the natural consequences of our actions are now changed, based on the decisions of those who believe they know better than the people who are choosing what is important to them to pursue.
December 30, 2022
A better title would be "Materialism is associated with lower well-being and less social connectedness," but no publisher would go for that. I was pleasantly surprised that the book summarized several published studies of people's attitudes toward achieving wealth and status, and either other attitudes, or their behavior in laboratory settings (e.g. the extent to which they cooperate in games). Interestingly, the strongest evidence was one of reverse causation: if you make people contemplate their own inadequacies or mortality, they are more likely to subsequently behave in a materialistic way. There was little presented along the lines of inducing materialism and then observing some other negative outcome, which would have supported the "The high price of..." argument.
The author kept suggesting that watching more TV somehow causes materialism, but it is possible that lower well-being results both in more TV watching and higher materialism. The best evidence was that showing commercials for a toy to children made them choose to play with the toy (and a mean boy holding the toy) over playing with their friends.
I did really appreciate the criticism of Channel One. Forcing students to watch commercials in school was unacceptable.
Overall, it was nice to have a summary of all the studies in addition to sensible suggestions to focus on meaningful relationships, contributing to community, and pursuing interests with intrinsic satisfaction.
The author kept suggesting that watching more TV somehow causes materialism, but it is possible that lower well-being results both in more TV watching and higher materialism. The best evidence was that showing commercials for a toy to children made them choose to play with the toy (and a mean boy holding the toy) over playing with their friends.
I did really appreciate the criticism of Channel One. Forcing students to watch commercials in school was unacceptable.
Overall, it was nice to have a summary of all the studies in addition to sensible suggestions to focus on meaningful relationships, contributing to community, and pursuing interests with intrinsic satisfaction.
September 1, 2018
عندما تسيطر القيم المادية على مجتمعنا، نزداد بعداً عما يجعلنا متحضرين.
Read
May 9, 2017There have been numerous scientific studies on materialism (often as questionnaires and clinical evaluations). These studies have tested subjects from different sexes, socioeconomic backgrounds, races, cultures, educations, and ages. What has been consistently found is a correlation between lower psychological/physical well-being and materialism.
Those who value financial success, status among their peers, an urge to buy more, and so on, show a higher tendency toward narcissism, social anxiety, depression, lower self-worth, and unhappiness, in comparison to subjects who value their personal autonomy, self-acceptance, and integrity. What is more, those who strive for materialistic goals, such as buying the newest phone or becoming popular, test higher for negative traits (e.g. possessiveness, envy, insecurity).
Materialistic people focus on meaning through extrinsic rewards, undermining their quality of life. They may seek happiness outside themselves, such as when posting a selfie on Facebook for validation, buying a fast hotrod to show to all the neighbors, or spending hours styling their hair to match the latest trends. Those who value intrinsic rewards, such as in intimate friendships, self-acceptance, meaningful work, and community involvement, show a higher quality of life.
In some cases, materialistic values are symptoms of deeper unfulfillment. They’re expressions of unhappiness, an emptiness of craving. These patterns are a confusion of authentic needs with desires.
Clinging to owning more, showing off to peers, and cultivating a happy persona, may be signs of insecurity and fear (in relation to self, family, community, etc.), acting as a socially accepted coping mechanism, one that delivers short-term, but unsubstantial, relief.
By coping through consumption, feelings of insecurity may even deepen. People will buy more, strive to maintain their status, in a futile attempt to hide from their pain. Consequently, their “solution” then becomes an added problem to deal with their original problems.
What’s also essential to a high quality of life is social connectivity. Materialistic values, such as wealth and status and image, conflict with the values of close relationships and a stronger community. Rather than working closely in the community, materialistic people score lower on traits of generosity and empathy, while scoring higher in isolation and conflict.
Materialistic individuals often go into activities already craving their extrinsic rewards (praise, applause, recognition). They don’t look for joy in the intrinsic satisfaction of striving in the moment, challenging themselves and learning in struggle. They seek rewards, not a flow-state of experience. They’re drawn to passive activities that give them immediate pleasure, such as watching TV or YouTube videos or checking Facebook (consuming), rather than focusing on authentic experiences. They follow paths of conformity, wanting their praise, rather than doing what is uncertain or challenging. Materialistic paths lead to feelings of loss, dependence on the approval of others, a need to appear a certain way to seem favorable, while losing their freedoms. By pursuing paths of authenticity and autonomy, people can learn to rely on themselves for motivation, happiness, freedom, and joy.
Only when people can recognize the materialistic messages, which flash from computer and TV screens, billboards and corporations, social media sites and magazine covers, can they work to break their patterns. Then they can focus on what intrinsically makes their lives worthwhile.
Those who value financial success, status among their peers, an urge to buy more, and so on, show a higher tendency toward narcissism, social anxiety, depression, lower self-worth, and unhappiness, in comparison to subjects who value their personal autonomy, self-acceptance, and integrity. What is more, those who strive for materialistic goals, such as buying the newest phone or becoming popular, test higher for negative traits (e.g. possessiveness, envy, insecurity).
Materialistic people focus on meaning through extrinsic rewards, undermining their quality of life. They may seek happiness outside themselves, such as when posting a selfie on Facebook for validation, buying a fast hotrod to show to all the neighbors, or spending hours styling their hair to match the latest trends. Those who value intrinsic rewards, such as in intimate friendships, self-acceptance, meaningful work, and community involvement, show a higher quality of life.
In some cases, materialistic values are symptoms of deeper unfulfillment. They’re expressions of unhappiness, an emptiness of craving. These patterns are a confusion of authentic needs with desires.
Clinging to owning more, showing off to peers, and cultivating a happy persona, may be signs of insecurity and fear (in relation to self, family, community, etc.), acting as a socially accepted coping mechanism, one that delivers short-term, but unsubstantial, relief.
By coping through consumption, feelings of insecurity may even deepen. People will buy more, strive to maintain their status, in a futile attempt to hide from their pain. Consequently, their “solution” then becomes an added problem to deal with their original problems.
What’s also essential to a high quality of life is social connectivity. Materialistic values, such as wealth and status and image, conflict with the values of close relationships and a stronger community. Rather than working closely in the community, materialistic people score lower on traits of generosity and empathy, while scoring higher in isolation and conflict.
Materialistic individuals often go into activities already craving their extrinsic rewards (praise, applause, recognition). They don’t look for joy in the intrinsic satisfaction of striving in the moment, challenging themselves and learning in struggle. They seek rewards, not a flow-state of experience. They’re drawn to passive activities that give them immediate pleasure, such as watching TV or YouTube videos or checking Facebook (consuming), rather than focusing on authentic experiences. They follow paths of conformity, wanting their praise, rather than doing what is uncertain or challenging. Materialistic paths lead to feelings of loss, dependence on the approval of others, a need to appear a certain way to seem favorable, while losing their freedoms. By pursuing paths of authenticity and autonomy, people can learn to rely on themselves for motivation, happiness, freedom, and joy.
Only when people can recognize the materialistic messages, which flash from computer and TV screens, billboards and corporations, social media sites and magazine covers, can they work to break their patterns. Then they can focus on what intrinsically makes their lives worthwhile.
September 4, 2011
Read, read, read! This is a book that will change your view on life. There were several things I didn't agree with but the good points in the book made it well worth it. Being a libertarian and a big supporter of capitalism I, of course, felt that banning advertising, for example, goes against those principles. But this book gave me insight into how damaging our shallow culture can truly be. It forced me to look at media entertainment in a new light and reexamine the principles I want to make sure I live by. It also reinforced things I already believed and helped me to make sure I keep my guard up against becoming an unsatisfied person chasing temporary indulgences. It's a very quick read but during some of the science part in the beginning you may have to keep checking yourself in the reading comprehension area; I know I did. haha.
February 10, 2020
I started off with a keen interest in the book but ended up skimming through portions of it. I like that the book covers a seemingly obvious point and backs it up with hard evidence: that materialistic values lead to diminishing satisfaction and contentment, on various fronts and at multiple levels.
We kind of already know what it’s in the book. Every time you have a hunch about materialism and it’s direct impact on relationships, happiness, self worth etc, you’re probably right. With this book, you can now fact-check it too.
We kind of already know what it’s in the book. Every time you have a hunch about materialism and it’s direct impact on relationships, happiness, self worth etc, you’re probably right. With this book, you can now fact-check it too.
May 28, 2019
This book reads like a bad undergraduate honors thesis[*]: it summarizes a bunch of research in a boring, superficial way, and uses correlations to conclude causations in an unconvincing way. Ironically, I agree with the conclusions, but don't think the arguments in the book support them.
[*] I've never read an undergraduate honors thesis, but I can imagine.
[*] I've never read an undergraduate honors thesis, but I can imagine.
September 29, 2014
I feel like a book should be more than just a summary of research. Or, at least, it should be an interesting summary of research. This book takes hundreds of pages to say one sentence: "Materialism has been empirically shown to be bad for us." There isn't much more to it.
August 23, 2024
Tipo bué real e bué válido, sim consumismo tá-nos a comer a cabeça e as relações! No entanto, do ponto de vista científico (?) não foi o livro mais convincente de sempre. Pareceu-me que ele saltava para muitas conclusões e fazia um exercício um bocado moralista demais para aquilo que eu espero de um investigador de psicologia (que não é assim tanto, já agora, obrigada fpul). Ele discutiu coisas que eu acho super relevantes em demasiado pouco detalhe (por exemplo, o efeito da publicidade nas crianças) e focou-se em coisas um bocado shantis ?? não sei, foi bastante ok mas eu sinto que se não concordasse já com ideias que ele deu no final nem tinha chegado a meio do livro
[todos os dias a ler "não-ficção" são dias menos felizes]
[todos os dias a ler "não-ficção" são dias menos felizes]
November 15, 2019
The last two chapters are the best and most meaningful part of the book.
June 20, 2015
Some interesting correlations between materialism and unhappiness, harm to communities, family, etc., but some of the conclusions drawn from the research seem shaky. I'm not arguing that excessive materialism and the pursuit of huge sums of wealth aren't detrimental - I'm sure they are - and more recent studies I've seen in the news have also supported some of those findings. But the author seems to play fast and loose with definitions of "materialism," and readily links correlation and causation. And when he started talking about dream analysis studies, it made me skeptical of the methodology. However, I did enjoy some of the theories and practical advice about how to cultivate a meaningful life.
March 29, 2018
I think this paragraph sums up the book with more details and data if you read it.
" ..People are happier to the extent that they focus on values for self-acceptance, good relationships, and contribution to the community. To the extent we can break, both personally and collectively, some of the vicious cycles brought about by a focus on materialism (effects on personal well-being, psychological needs, relationships and some other things), we will be able to improve the quality of life for ourselves, our families, our communities and our planet."
" ..People are happier to the extent that they focus on values for self-acceptance, good relationships, and contribution to the community. To the extent we can break, both personally and collectively, some of the vicious cycles brought about by a focus on materialism (effects on personal well-being, psychological needs, relationships and some other things), we will be able to improve the quality of life for ourselves, our families, our communities and our planet."
July 17, 2012
While I agree with the broader points that Kasser is making, I thought this was a sub-par book at best. His presentation of the material is tedious and some of his suggestions are just boilerplate tripe. Materialism is a product of diminishing returns, but there must surely be better ways of getting the point across than this.
Want to read
January 28, 2018الكتاب ليس ذائع الصيت
مثير للاهتمام بأن الكاتب استشهد بقول للرسول محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم
عمر حسين اعتبر الكتاب انه خرب حياته وبالتالي عمل تلخيص للكتاب بطريقته على يوتيوب
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QxCDpia...
مثير للاهتمام بأن الكاتب استشهد بقول للرسول محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم
عمر حسين اعتبر الكتاب انه خرب حياته وبالتالي عمل تلخيص للكتاب بطريقته على يوتيوب
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QxCDpia...
August 4, 2019
کتابی پژوهشی است درمورد تاثیری که نگاه مادیگرایانه بر زندگی انسان گذاشته است. نویسنده دلایل خود را همراه با آمار و ارقام و بدون هیچگونه ادعایی آورده است.
بسیار مفید و آموزنده بود.
بسیار مفید و آموزنده بود.
August 4, 2017
Easy read for someone totally against materialism like me. Still i want to know if there are more details I can learn.
"A need is something a person either desires or wants that is essential to their survival, growth and functioning. If these psychological needs are unsatisfied, materialism is often the result. "
There are some possibly causes to be materialism as followed.
" 1. Young adults from divorced families frequently become materialistic. 2. If the child was raised in a poor family, they are likely to become materialistic. 3. Children attending schools with poor discipline and frequent fights, vandalizing by other students, and general defiance of authority were more likely to become materialistic than children attending well organized and highly disciplined schools. 4. Older people are more materialistic than young people. 5. During poor economic times, people become more materialistic. 6. People from poor nations are more materialistic than those from rich nations. 7. People who watch a lot of TV are more materialistic than those who don't."
How to get rid of materialism?
The author offered ideas from 3 parts:
1. individuals: Understand oneself more to know what could really make one happy, more activities without spending money. stop Impulsive purchases.
2. families: Parents should be good examples, avoid watching too much TV (too many commercials and ads..), schools also need to take some measures to educate kids. Parents should not offer kids videos games, toys whenever kids ask for them.
3. society: Television shows would be interspersed with reminders that buying products will not really satisfy your psychological needs or make others love you in an authentic way. Instead, advertising companies would emphasize that any product's utility is limited to helping you get back and forth to the office or to removing spots from your clothes, but really nothing more. (page 110) create a ads-free zone such as school, transportation. Vote for governmental leaders who value something other than just increasing the nation's wealth.
In the end i think those who are materialists are the ones who should read this book, but unfortunately, they are too busy shopping and they won't spend time to find the joy from non-material things, such as learning new stuff, reading books. I wonder if we can have some classes in the universities, or even just couple of hours at elementary school to teach the true value of happiness, we might might a huge different in next generations.
"A need is something a person either desires or wants that is essential to their survival, growth and functioning. If these psychological needs are unsatisfied, materialism is often the result. "
There are some possibly causes to be materialism as followed.
" 1. Young adults from divorced families frequently become materialistic. 2. If the child was raised in a poor family, they are likely to become materialistic. 3. Children attending schools with poor discipline and frequent fights, vandalizing by other students, and general defiance of authority were more likely to become materialistic than children attending well organized and highly disciplined schools. 4. Older people are more materialistic than young people. 5. During poor economic times, people become more materialistic. 6. People from poor nations are more materialistic than those from rich nations. 7. People who watch a lot of TV are more materialistic than those who don't."
How to get rid of materialism?
The author offered ideas from 3 parts:
1. individuals: Understand oneself more to know what could really make one happy, more activities without spending money. stop Impulsive purchases.
2. families: Parents should be good examples, avoid watching too much TV (too many commercials and ads..), schools also need to take some measures to educate kids. Parents should not offer kids videos games, toys whenever kids ask for them.
3. society: Television shows would be interspersed with reminders that buying products will not really satisfy your psychological needs or make others love you in an authentic way. Instead, advertising companies would emphasize that any product's utility is limited to helping you get back and forth to the office or to removing spots from your clothes, but really nothing more. (page 110) create a ads-free zone such as school, transportation. Vote for governmental leaders who value something other than just increasing the nation's wealth.
In the end i think those who are materialists are the ones who should read this book, but unfortunately, they are too busy shopping and they won't spend time to find the joy from non-material things, such as learning new stuff, reading books. I wonder if we can have some classes in the universities, or even just couple of hours at elementary school to teach the true value of happiness, we might might a huge different in next generations.
November 22, 2023
آدمی فکر میکند که به اتخاذِ روشهای دمدستی که بین عامهی مردم، موجب چونوچرایی که نمیشود هیچ؛ بلکه به توصیف واقعبین و زِبر و زرنگ حتی مقبول و تشویق هم میشود؛ میتواند که بیهیچ آسیب و صدمهای زندگی خود را پیش ببرد.ولی وای بر دلِ غافل که از این خبرها نیست.
آنکه مثلن به پیشگرفتنِ بینش مادیگرایی فکر میکند که راه عافیت را یافته است،بهراستی که کور خوانده است و صدمات بسیاری به روحوروان خود مسلط میکند که هیچ از آن آگاه نیست. با تقلیل سطح نیازهای آدمی به مادیت، گستردگی نیازهای آدمی برای سلامت روح و روان خود را نمیتواند ببیند.
نمیتواند بفهمد که تمرکزِ بر ارزشهای مادی منجر به کاهش بهزیستی و شادکامی میشود. نه تنها از تجارب منجر به رشد و سلامت منحرفاش میکند، بلکه بیگانگی اساسیاش از چیزهایی که اهمیت حقیقی دارد را نمایان میکند.
وقتی که یک زوج بیشترِ وقتشان را صرف کار و کاسبی میکنند که به قول خودشان فرصت سر خاراندن هم پیدا نمیکنند؛ نمیدانند که وقتی فرصت باهم بودن را از دست میدهند. فرصت یک لقمه نهار، فرصت گپ و گفتِ باهم و گشت و گذار را از دست میدهند، اگر هم نتیجهی کسب و کارشان، خونه و ماشین شیک و پیک هم باشد، آن لذت اصیل و ذاتی را که به ارضای نیاز به خشنودی و رضایت میانجامد را از دست میدهند و از جیب پروپیمان و از روح و روان به دردسر میافتند.
هدف را که به کسبِ بیشتر از مادیت منحرف کنند؛ مگر از عزتنفس بهرهای میبرند؟ به هر دسترسی از هر تراز مادیت، باز دل و جان در تمنای ترازی بالاتر سرکوب و سرکوفت میخورد که احساس بیهودگی میکند و نمیتواند که از رضایت خاطر سرشار باشد. چراکه مادیگرا تخممرغهای عزت نفساش را در سبدِ اُمید کسب مادیتی چیده است که او را نااُمید خواهد گذاشت. چراکه عزت نفس بالا تا حد زیادی از رشد کردن در محیطی صمیمی، همراه با عشق والدین و استفادهی مناسب از شایستگیها و تواناییهای فرد جهت رسیدن به اهدافش حاصل میشود.
و مصیبت اینجا هم ته نمیگیرد. مادیگرا توانایی همدردی با همنوع خود را از دست میدهد. در قحطی صمیمیت و برقراری روابط با همسایگان، حلقههای دوستی و زندگی خانودگی مستحکم به سر میبرد. چراکه اولویت دادنِ به ثروتمند بودن، دغدغهی نسبتاً کمی برای "مراقبت از دیگرانی که من نیاز دارند" دارد. اصلاً دیگران را گویی به صورت ابزار در راستای اهدافاش میبیند.
اولویت دادنِ بیشتر به مادیگرایی، انگاری به معیوب شدن آدمی میانجاند. آدمی در سیطرهی این نگاه، جوانب بسیاری از انسانیت خود را از رشد مانع میشود.
#بهای_سنگین_مادی_گرایی
November 30, 2022
Generally useful message: focusing on material goals leads to bad outcomes. However, I felt like the research and the story was incomplete. Much of the data was from surveys of college students with fairly low n-counts and dubious measures of statistical significance. Aren't there other metrics: for example, consumer spending habits, that better track materialism and could correlate with life outcomes? I also felt Kasser didn't really do a good job explaining how we got here. Is our society's focus on materialism a result of the material abundance brought about by the industrial revolution? Or is there a deeper malaise present?
Kasser also seems to have a very naive view of freedom as this unalloyed good, when it's clear from the research he presents that "freedom" is part of the problem. See Liquid Modernity by Zygmut Bauman for a more in-depth take on this. Humans need another social force pushing back against capitalism, which historically, for better or worse, has been some combination of the church and the state.
That said, this book certainly made me think, especially about the way I'm approaching goal setting. when it comes to reading, running and work. Seems to me that ideal should be to get dopamine from the actual activity: being in the "flow state", rather than from external reward of race results, pages read or likes on my blog posts. Trying to rack up pages read, kudos on Strava or any other metric is just going to make that the goal, rather than whatever the process and underlying "real" goal might be. Hoarding read pages is also a type of materialism.
Can't give this book too low of a score because it made me think so much, but there's MUCH better social science out there. I'm coming for you in 2023 Thinking Fast & Slow!
Kasser also seems to have a very naive view of freedom as this unalloyed good, when it's clear from the research he presents that "freedom" is part of the problem. See Liquid Modernity by Zygmut Bauman for a more in-depth take on this. Humans need another social force pushing back against capitalism, which historically, for better or worse, has been some combination of the church and the state.
That said, this book certainly made me think, especially about the way I'm approaching goal setting. when it comes to reading, running and work. Seems to me that ideal should be to get dopamine from the actual activity: being in the "flow state", rather than from external reward of race results, pages read or likes on my blog posts. Trying to rack up pages read, kudos on Strava or any other metric is just going to make that the goal, rather than whatever the process and underlying "real" goal might be. Hoarding read pages is also a type of materialism.
Can't give this book too low of a score because it made me think so much, but there's MUCH better social science out there. I'm coming for you in 2023 Thinking Fast & Slow!
November 27, 2019
Although from the title of this book, it may look as if this will be filled with a diatribe against materialism/ consumerism and would be sermonizing in its tenor; for the most part it is scientific explanation and exposition of how materialistic values or extrinsic goals are detremental to one's (mental) health and do not satisfy the basic psychological needs of being human.
Tim Kasser is a well respected psychologist belonging to the SDT tradition of Deci, Ryan and Sheldon and his position is based on solid psychological research. The materialistic values of wealth, fame and beauty are contrasted with the intrinsic/organismic goals of self-acceptance, intimacy and generativity and are linked with the basic needs of safety and security, mastery, connectedness and autonomy that form the backbone of Self Determination Theory (SDT).
Kasser, also has some solutions as to how to tackle the menace of materialism that has become the predominant value system and while some of the solutions advocated put this into a sermonizing category and may upset some people, there is merit in what he proposes.
Its not too long and definitely something that must be read, reflected on and used as a guide to change ones value system. As this would directly confront some people's value system, it may be a bitter pill, but it needs to be swallowed if our society has to become a sane society.
Tim Kasser is a well respected psychologist belonging to the SDT tradition of Deci, Ryan and Sheldon and his position is based on solid psychological research. The materialistic values of wealth, fame and beauty are contrasted with the intrinsic/organismic goals of self-acceptance, intimacy and generativity and are linked with the basic needs of safety and security, mastery, connectedness and autonomy that form the backbone of Self Determination Theory (SDT).
Kasser, also has some solutions as to how to tackle the menace of materialism that has become the predominant value system and while some of the solutions advocated put this into a sermonizing category and may upset some people, there is merit in what he proposes.
Its not too long and definitely something that must be read, reflected on and used as a guide to change ones value system. As this would directly confront some people's value system, it may be a bitter pill, but it needs to be swallowed if our society has to become a sane society.
July 22, 2022
في كتابه "الثمن الباهظ للمادية" ، يقدم تيم كاسر شرحًا علميًا لكيفية تأثير ثقافتنا المعاصرة للاستهلاك والمادية على سعادتنا اليومية وصحتنا النفسية. أظهر كتاب آخرون أنه بمجرد حصولنا على ما يكفي من الغذاء والمأوى والملبس ، فإن المكاسب المادية الإضافية لا تفعل الكثير لتحسين رفاهيتنا. يذهب كاسر إلى أبعد من هذه النتائج ليبحث في كيفية ارتباط الرغبات المادية للناس برفاهيتهم. يوضح أن الأشخاص الذين تركز قيمهم على تراكم الثروة أو الممتلكات المادية يواجهون خطرًا أكبر من التعاسة ، بما في ذلك القلق والاكتئاب وتدني احترام الذات ومشاكل العلاقة الحميمة - بغض النظر عن العمر أو الدخل أو الثقافة. على مدار عقد من البيانات التجريبية ، يفحص كاسر ما يحدث عندما ننظم حياتنا حول الملاحقات المادية. إنه ينظر إلى التأثيرات على تجربتنا الداخلية وعلاقاتنا الشخصية ، وكذلك على مجتمعاتنا والعالم بأسره. إنه يوضح أن القيم المادية تقوض في الواقع رفاهيتنا ، لأنها تديم مشاعر عدم الأمان ، وتضعف الروابط التي تربطنا ، وتجعلنا نشعر بأننا أقل حرية. لا يحدد كاسر المشكلة فحسب ، بل يقترح طرقًا يمكننا من خلالها تغيير أنفسنا وعائلاتنا ومجتمعنا لنصبح أقل مادية.
July 11, 2019
This was definitely an interesting book but not in the way I had expected. Kasser seeks to definitively prove the negative impact of materialistic values. To this effect he discusses the several studies conducted that show a correlation between high materialistic values and low self-esteem and higher likelihood of narcissistic behavior. He also seeks to go beyond correlation and discusses the studies that demonstrate the fundamental insecurities that prevent the development of healthy goal-setting and lead instead to empty materialistic pursuits. While I had expected a deeper discussion of the tradeoffs made in the pursuit of materialistic goals, Kasser still manages to include a final chapter with a condensed version of this discussion as well as the ways in which we can fight the materialistic values inculcated by our society.
January 22, 2020
All in all, I agree with the general premise of this book (the more you have doesn't make you more happy/satisfied). I have been interested in leading a more minimalist, frugal, sustainable lifestyle and this book was recommended, probably from a blogger but I can't remember who.
This book was not what I expected. I actually expected it to be more like the last 3rd of it (which is the only part I really enjoyed). The first 2/3rds where very research/psychology heavy. I have a research background so I did not necessarily mind that but a lot of it was Kasser's teams studies or studies he was mentioning that were not cited properly in the end notes. The tables and graphs were helpful but at times the book dragged on.
It was a relatively short book (in length) but if you are not into research papers/style writing, then this book probably isn't for you.
This book was not what I expected. I actually expected it to be more like the last 3rd of it (which is the only part I really enjoyed). The first 2/3rds where very research/psychology heavy. I have a research background so I did not necessarily mind that but a lot of it was Kasser's teams studies or studies he was mentioning that were not cited properly in the end notes. The tables and graphs were helpful but at times the book dragged on.
It was a relatively short book (in length) but if you are not into research papers/style writing, then this book probably isn't for you.
April 11, 2021
Many of the reviews criticize the research side of this book but I think the conclusions are unsurprising. Those who focus on material goods tend to under focus on relationships- to their detriment. The data is sociological in nature, so I don’t think we should object that they are in survey format. The book does spend a lot of time discussing the studies, which like some, I found somewhat dull. But the author is attempting to back up the thesis with people’s real world beliefs.
After an entire book of how materialism is entrenched and pervasive in most cultures, the end is short and optimistic. I think that’s because it relies on humans to right the wrongs when really we need a bigger force to do so. As a Christian, I think a spiritual revolution is needed and inward renewal of new values is the only way forward.
After an entire book of how materialism is entrenched and pervasive in most cultures, the end is short and optimistic. I think that’s because it relies on humans to right the wrongs when really we need a bigger force to do so. As a Christian, I think a spiritual revolution is needed and inward renewal of new values is the only way forward.
October 8, 2024
I read this book because I wanted to understand better why we spend so much money on things we don't need, just to feel worse about ourselves. I must say this book was such a breeze to read, not only because of its length but also because it doesn't have any unnecessary anecdotes or repetitive information. It was written by an academic, so I really appreciate that most of his ideas are based on research. There are a few parts, such as his research on dreams in which he worked with his wife, that are much less convincing. But on the whole, this book provides a great overview of the problem, the huge problem, that results from having a materialistic value system, which is the case of most people in our society. The insights of this book will certainly help me in my path to be more spiritual, less materialistic and achieve a much more simple and fulfilling life.
September 10, 2017
An enjoyable and accessible book for anyone needing some help overcoming the societal and inevitably internal pressures of materialistic values on our well being, and how their various forms force us into the pursuit of goals that involve very little potential for fulfillment and often have no intrinsic value. Although the studies justifying the general argument within the book are certainly suspect for making broad generalizations due to their size and demographics, very few of them contained conclusions that the typical adult should find surprising or would not expect if performed on a large scale.
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