Rush: Why You Need and Love the Rat Race

by Todd G. Buchholz

We think we will be happy when we have some downtime-when we can finally go on vacation, disconnect, shut down. But in this provocative book, Todd Buchholz will convince you that what you really want is to chase your tail-even if you never catch it. Weaving in everything from neuroeconomics to evolutionary biology to renaissance art to General Motors, Buchholz will convince you that the race to compete has not only made us taller and smarter, it's what we love and need. Among the book's many counterintuitive takeaways are: * Put off retirement-it can make you stupid. * We all need to be control freaks. * In-house competition is actually great for morale. * Never let the ninth place team take home a trophy. Witty, breezy, and very funny, Todd Buchholz shows that it's the race itself that literally delivers the rush, even if we never reach the finish line.

Genres: Psychology, Economics, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2011

About the author

A well-known American economist and a former senior economic advisor at the White House, Buchholz holds advanced degrees from Cambridge University and Harvard, where he won the Allyn Young Teaching Prize. Buchholz is known for being on the short list for Federal Reserve considerations in 2006. He frequently writes for newspapers such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, in addition to appearing as a commentator on NBC, CNBC, Fox News, and PBS. His books have been translated into over 15 languages.

Buchholz resides primarily in San Diego, California, but travels around the world speaking to various companies, including Microsoft and Citibank, about the worldwide economic issues. Buchholz is involved in several business, real estate, and design companies, including Wetamorph and the Two Oceans Fund. He is one of the founding producers of Jersey Boys.

Reviews

[Chris Aylott · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, that wasn't really what I expected. I suppose I was looking for reassurance that working hard is worthwhile, and there's a little of that. And I like to see arguments that we are motivated and stimulated by appropriate challenges, and there's a little of that too. He even gets in a nod at the end towards the idea of deciding what you really want to do in life and pushing yourself to do it.

But most of the book is a screed defending market capitalism against "Edenists," who apparently want us all to stop the world, coddle the kids, retreat to the jungle and zen out at Walden Pond. Huh? Who the hell are these Edenists? Are we talking the dusty old counterculture movement of decades ago? Am I missing out on the latest insidious conspiracy? And is market capitalism really under any threat at all? In a world where socialist nations have bustling markets and the "Communist" Chinese markets are growing by leaps and bounds? Really?

Apparently we all have fulfilling jobs, or we would if we just applied ourselves. If we don't, we're probably lazy twentysomethings who need to get over our sense of entitlement. Or we're being ruined by Edenist Propaganda and the nanny state! We'd all be happy if we thought about our situations the right way. After all, Buchholz approvingly points out, Tom Sawyer managed to convince his friends that painting a fence was play, which is a great "lesson on work/play preferences."

Of course, Tom Sawyer is a budding con man who profits from the labor of others. And I think that tells us everything we need to know about the viewpoint of Todd Buchholz.

[Jack Goodstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

Right wing analysis of why stress and competition is good for people. Work is beneficial. Big paternalistic government is evil. Argues that we wouldn't be happy in an Edenic state, nevertheless he seems to hold up eras like the fifties as some sort of Eden to be emulated.

[Wendy Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no perfect performance from yourself to be happy. Only to know that everything rounds off itself and to know that true happiness and find your own Eden. Whether you're going to the bowling alley or spending your time in finance or yoga, you need that rush to be happy. People need to feel like they are a part of something and there is no better way then to immerse yourself in competition or in with other people. There are many facts and philosophies from an assortment of people from different walks in life about their need for the rat race. Buchholz is witty and knowledgeable in his subject matter that will keep you turning the pages.

I believe that anxiety is the key to your gains or your losses in life. It's the key to everything; the things you learn and the mistakes you make. It's a rush and it will make you think about how things apply to your own life.

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book can be summed up with this: Based on biological/theological/societal evidence, humans need to work, and working makes us happy. One caveat: if you are not passionate and enthusiastic about your work, it will not make you happy. Also, competition is good and communism fails.
So overall, the book is kind of ramble-y and parts of it seem to advance the author's personal agenda (the "Buchholz Hypothesis" and whatnot). But it wasn't boring, and I was able to finish it.

[Marc P · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is so often the case with these "modern/social science" type books I found the gist of the point made within the first few chapters to then be re-iterated (to the point of boredom) across those remaining. As such, I didn't finish it but was generally taken with it's premise (and I'm paraphrasing of course; no matter how much we think we don't, we do actually like working.

[A Ter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Several powerful ideas about how we view daily challenges. Hardly what you would expect from an economist -- seems to aim for broad overarching theories based more in psychology and neuroscience. Occasionally he takes logical sequences too far and relies on anecdotal examples to prove a point. Too bad the useful messages frequently get lost in snide right-wing diatribe.

[Effendy Yahaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many insightful stories that intermix with a good experience and references. Strong competition makes us as individual to strive, even without ever notice that we are part of the development to date. The subconscious mind and feels, did ever triggered those event to be part of survival. As we are already in rat race. Be passionate and be yourself.

[Anthony Meaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

At times reads like a long blog rant than a book but there are some interesting thoughts here. Bucholz wrote one of my favourite books "New Ideas from Dead Economists" and while Rush isn't quite as good it is still an interesting read.

[Paul Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, I had to give this 5 stars because my college roommate wrote it. But he has some important things to say about common models of health and happiness... and it may be counterintuitive!

[Rocky Ybarra · Rating 2 out of 5]

A drawn out commentary of fact. I rushed through it...............

[Eric Henry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have read Chris' review before reading this book. Not recommended at all.

[Silvina Furnadzhieva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Забавна колекция от научни факти, които ни убеждават, че конкуренцията и стресът не са чак толкова лошо нещо, а могат да служат като мотиватор и двигател на прогреса.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read......