The Age of Absurdity

The good news is that history's greatest thinkers have consistently proposed the same strategies for achieving happiness and fulfillment. The bad news? These very strategies are often discouraged by contemporary culture. This paradox is the focus of The Age of Absurdity—a witty and accessible exploration of how modern life constantly undermines our pursuit of well-being and satisfaction. Michael Foley delves into the concept of happiness as understood by philosophers, spiritual traditions, and modern psychology, revealing how these ideas are increasingly difficult to apply in a world of soaring expectations. The everyday challenges of work, relationships, and aging have become sources of existential anxiety in a culture obsessed with conspicuous consumption, intense relationships, and eternal youth. Yet, rather than rejecting the absurdities of modern life, Foley offers an entertaining and thoughtful strategy for embracing them—finding happiness within the very chaos that threatens it.