[Villages PL]

I started out liking this book, by Eric G. Wilson, Professor of English. He's a very gifted writer and has some interesting and unique truths to express about happiness. The main theme is that Americans are addicted to happiness and that leads to living a bland life. So we need to experience and appreciate a lot more than just happiness. What does that mean? Well, he praises "Melancholy" above all else.

However, I started disliking his book because there's not much that he likes about American culture. For example, he doesn't like shopping Malls because they are boxes made mostly of glass. Malls represent an economic system (capitalism) that tries to make people "happy" with material goods. It's all phony and plastic. Then, as if that's not enough, he doesn't like gated communities. According to him, those of us who live in gated communities are trying to maintain constant "bland" happiness by shutting out the real world.

It's sad because he's a very gifted writer. And just think how many college kids are being captivated by his writing.