AFFLUENZA

There is currently an epidemic of 'affluenza' throughout the world - anobsessive, envious, keeping-up-with-the-Joneses - that has resulted inhuge increases in depression and anxiety among millions. Over a nine-monthperiod, bestselling author Oliver James travelled around the world to tryand find out why. He discovered how, despite very different cultures andlevels of wealth, affluenza is spreading. Cities he visited includeSydney, Singapore, Moscow, Copenhagen, New York and Shanghai, and in eachplace he interviewed several groups of people in the hope of finding outnot only why this is happening, but also how one can increase the strengthof one's emotional immune system. He asks: why do so many more people wantwhat they haven't got and want to be someone they're not, despite beingricher and freer from traditional restraints? And, in so doing, uncoversthe answer to how to reconnect with what really matters and learn to valuewhat you've already got. In other words, how to be successful and staysane.