I cannot begin to unpack how much I love this piece. I've read the book too. And, as with seemingly all books on depression, the Capitalism/Neoliberalism card is never played. I almost leapt out of my chair when I got to that part of the essay on Thatcher. Nor sure if you've read Mark Fisher. You should. He talks almost endlessly on the subject of what he calls Capitalist Realism and depressive realism. The two, he argues, are inseparable. I've been saying this for decades since I first read Marx.
Highly recommend MF. If you have to pick one, go with 'Capitalist Realism.'
I also wanted to recommend a "anti-psychotherapist" he respected who also wrote a lot about the links between Capitalism and mental health. His name is David Smail. Cheers and Happy Holidays!
Great review. Johann’s book was a partial inspiration to finish my own project. You might enjoy... coming out next May...it’s all about the intersecting causes of disconnection...and American, the global temple to personal autonomy, takes it to a purely logical extreme...
I tell my students and anyone else who will listen that I think we have created the perfect society for maximizing unhappiness, which takes the form of loneliness, anxiety and depression. 21st century capitalism needs us to be lonely and unhappy. It doesn't work otherwise. If we realize we can't buy our way out of our misery, the whole system collapses.
Thanks for this review! Adding it to my to-read list.
I took Thatcher’s comment to mean perhaps that “society” is such an abstract term, something too vague to blame for all our problems. But narrowing it down is hard; easier just to throw off on “society” or “culture.”
A pre-pandemic movie I really liked, not about depression per se, but about the challenges of adolescence, its sometimes crippling self-consciousness, as complicated by the Internet, was Eighth Grade:
I think it was on Netflix for several years, but not sure now where it’s streaming.
In the U.S., It’s a Wonderful Life has long been a holiday favorite, a movie that families watch together, but I also like the weirdo Jimmy Stewart in Hitchcock’s Vertigo and the voyeuristic Rear Window.
takes a f*ck ton pf shiny benefited privilege to indlkge in the luxury of depression sweet cheeks. i prescribe a regimen of get off your butt, birdwatch for an hour befire scarfing then fit a few oiurs of volunteer work into your week.
doeas one good tio rermoe head from ass sad turn offf the damned tv
Thank you for this thoughtful take on a book I've heard about but had lagged about reading. I'll be getting it soon.
I cannot begin to unpack how much I love this piece. I've read the book too. And, as with seemingly all books on depression, the Capitalism/Neoliberalism card is never played. I almost leapt out of my chair when I got to that part of the essay on Thatcher. Nor sure if you've read Mark Fisher. You should. He talks almost endlessly on the subject of what he calls Capitalist Realism and depressive realism. The two, he argues, are inseparable. I've been saying this for decades since I first read Marx.
Hey! Glad you like it. I haven’t read them but I’ve seen some of his talks and know about him. Maybe something to pick up on 2024 :)
Highly recommend MF. If you have to pick one, go with 'Capitalist Realism.'
I also wanted to recommend a "anti-psychotherapist" he respected who also wrote a lot about the links between Capitalism and mental health. His name is David Smail. Cheers and Happy Holidays!
this spoke to me so deeply. thank you for writing this.
☺️
Some tropes are so powerful that we all know it, even though we might not know where it came from.
Great review. Johann’s book was a partial inspiration to finish my own project. You might enjoy... coming out next May...it’s all about the intersecting causes of disconnection...and American, the global temple to personal autonomy, takes it to a purely logical extreme...
Hi James! That’s cool! Is it a non-fiction as well?
Yes! Shameless plug. Pre-order available here - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Worst-Strength-Individualism-Discontents-ebook/dp/B0CDSXX581
If you'd like to see digital Galleys in Feb, LMK...I need all the help I can muster for the launch...
I tell my students and anyone else who will listen that I think we have created the perfect society for maximizing unhappiness, which takes the form of loneliness, anxiety and depression. 21st century capitalism needs us to be lonely and unhappy. It doesn't work otherwise. If we realize we can't buy our way out of our misery, the whole system collapses.
Thanks for this review! Adding it to my to-read list.
That's great. I hope they listen! :)
Me, too!
I took Thatcher’s comment to mean perhaps that “society” is such an abstract term, something too vague to blame for all our problems. But narrowing it down is hard; easier just to throw off on “society” or “culture.”
A pre-pandemic movie I really liked, not about depression per se, but about the challenges of adolescence, its sometimes crippling self-consciousness, as complicated by the Internet, was Eighth Grade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8lFgF_IjPw
I think it was on Netflix for several years, but not sure now where it’s streaming.
In the U.S., It’s a Wonderful Life has long been a holiday favorite, a movie that families watch together, but I also like the weirdo Jimmy Stewart in Hitchcock’s Vertigo and the voyeuristic Rear Window.
Eight grade is pretty good! I think I saw it on Netflix as well, but not sure anymore
takes a f*ck ton pf shiny benefited privilege to indlkge in the luxury of depression sweet cheeks. i prescribe a regimen of get off your butt, birdwatch for an hour befire scarfing then fit a few oiurs of volunteer work into your week.
doeas one good tio rermoe head from ass sad turn offf the damned tv