Affluenza Review

In the book, Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic, Affluenza is defined as "a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more." It looks at Americans problems with money, credit, and the acquisition of more things. The book seems to be written as a medical report; it descriptively explains "symptoms" of the "disease" and then suggests ways for "treatment." Three main sections divide the book, including Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment.

As with every disease there are contributing symptoms. The authors of this book clearly state many "symptoms," as they call it, of Affluenza. From aches to fever, they show how the disease of never thinking you have enough, relates very closely to the symptoms of Influenza or "the common flu." There are many of these examples, including shopping fever, which is buying things for no reason, but just to have them. According to the book, "Americans each spend more than $21,000 per year on consumer goods." This is a staggering amount, especially when the average income is not much higher than that. Another example is swollen expectations, where people have greed and constantly want something bigger or more of it even if it isn't necessary better. "Our average rate of saving has fallen from about 10 percent of our income in 1980 to zero in 2000" (Afflueza). Lastly is the stress of excess, where people can not find a place for all of the things they possess in their homes, they need to buy a storage place somewhere. Horribly, the book states, "More people are filing for bankruptcy each year than graduate from college." With all the debt in American's lives, there is no room for their own college expenses or sometimes even to send children to college. Those were only a few examples but the authors gave plenty more. The book seems to show that shopping and buying possessions will make you feel better for the moment. However, after the buyers get the bill in the mail (or online) in all reality, they will be more depressed, since they can not pay for it at that time. The price will only get higher, and they will fall harder into debt. Sometimes by the time they finally have the money to pay off the item, the excitement has already worn off, and they do not even think about it (the item) any more. In summary, the symptoms of affluenza include communities where people don't know each other; houses with televisions for every member of the family; and people who, on the surface, have it all but feel depressed and empty (Mack).

You can not have a disease with symptoms but without any causes. Therefore the second section is titled: "Causes." The industrial revolution, argue the authors, had the most impact on affluenza. It brought along material conveniences with the ability to be produced in a fraction of the time. With the creation of steam power and assembly line techniques, a three or four hour work day could produce the same amount of textile or other goods that were produced by hand before. Production began to rise significantly at this point, which really increased labor hours and profits. The more hours people pick up at work, the more profits they get. The more profits give them more money to spend on things they want. However, the authors note that each week Americans spend six hours shopping and only 40 minutes playing with their children. So with increased work hours and more profits people want more shopping time yet less family time. More and more things are being advertised for and the American's believe this is the standard of life that they are to have. Everyone wants to "keep up with the Jones" which is most likely the richest neighbor on their street. From new houses, cars, clothes, and electronics, everyone is always trying to compete with the next person. One of the major causes of persuasion is the television. TV shows are showing a "standard" that every American now wants. Commercials are advertising new innovations that make life easier or just little things that are interesting. TV and magazines can be used as bait. People are the fish, and more times than none they take the bait. For example, a marketing director for the Chicago Tribune wrote, "The well-being of our entire system depends on how much motivation is supplied the consumer to make him continue wanting." The goal of companies is to persuade people to buy their product in any way possible. And now days, convenience is overruling price and consumers are going for it. From walk-in coffee shops every morning to get your day started, fast food drive-thru's on lunch hour, and sit in casual restaurants after a long day at work, America is going for the easiest way of living while consistently spending a ridiculously unnecessary amount of money.

The final section of Afflueza: The All-Consuming Epidemic is treatment. Many things can be done in order to back track this "disease." The good thing is that this can be treated by you, yourself. No doctors