In 'American Mania,' Peter C. Whybrow explores the obsessive pursuit of wealth and success that defines American culture. He delves into the psychological underpinnings of a society that equates more with happiness, unraveling the consequences of this relentless drive. Through captivating anecdotes and scientific research, Whybrow illustrates how such mania can lead to dissatisfaction and mental health crises. Readers are challenged to reconsider their own values in a world where enough is never enough. This thought-provoking examination will leave you questioning what true fulfillment really means in contemporary America.
By Peter C. Whybrow
Published: 2006
"In a world where the pursuit of more seems insatiable, we often lose sight of what truly nourishes the soul."
A doctor's bold analysis of the cultural disease that afflicts us all. Despite an astonishing appetite for life, more and more Americans are feeling overworked and dissatisfied. In the world's most affluent nation, epidemic rates of stress, anxiety, depression, obesity, and time urgency are now grudgingly accepted as part of everyday existence they signal the American Dream gone awry. Peter C. Whybrow, director of the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA, grounds the extraordinary achievements and excessive consumption of the American nation in an understanding of the biology of the brain's reward system offering for the first time a comprehensive and physical explanation for the addictive mania of consumerism. American Mania presents a clear and novel vantage point from which to understand the most pressing social issues of our time, while offering an informed approach to refocusing our pursuit of happiness. Drawing upon rich scientific case studies and colorful portraits, "this fascinating and important book will change the way you think about American life" (Karen Olson, Utne Reader).
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“In a world where the pursuit of more seems insatiable, we often lose sight of what truly nourishes the soul.”
American Mania
By Peter C. Whybrow
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Peter C. Whybrow is a distinguished psychiatrist and author, renowned for his insightful examination of the human mind and behavior. He served as the director of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA and has published extensively on the interplay between emotional and physical well-being. His notable works include 'A Mood Apart: Depression, Mania, and Other Afflictions of the Self' and 'The Well-Tuned Brain: Neuroscience and the Life Well Lived', which reflect his unique blend of scientific expertise and engaging narrative style. Whybrow's writing is characterized by a deep empathy for his subjects and an accessible approach that combines personal experience with rigorous research, making complex psychological concepts understandable to a broad audience.
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