THE CULTURE OF CONTENTMENT 1ST EDITION PDF, EPUB, EBOOK John Kenneth Galbraith | 9781400889020 | | | | | The Culture of Contentment 1st edition PDF Book The economic reality of modern Europe is increasingly based upon both underemployment and coercive employment, with people under duress from competitive forces apparently beyond governmental control. It should be remembered that in its Western form the existence of contentment is highly contingent upon racial and socio-geographical factors. Sort order. Twitter Facebook LinkedIn. Doug Cowley rated it it was amazing May 26, January 11, The Empathic Civilization Jeremy Rifkin argues that a new science of human nature is emerging that demonstrates that humans are not as…. This book is a groundbreaking assessment of the future of America. One must take a long view of history. John Kenneth Galbraith was a Canadian-American economist. We only see wisdom, after the event? Sep 09, Catherine rated it really liked it. He pays particular attention to the self-serving economic comfort achieved by the fortunate and politically dominant community and contrasts this to the condition of the underclass which he sees as being for the first time in these countries stalled in poverty. Ulinski rated it really liked it Jul 18, The culture of contentment is characterized by: a functional underclass to do the stuff we won't , military and market worship, fear of high taxes even for the upper class, since the contented middle class may be next , hatred of government intervention except for bailouts and subsidies , and short-term thinking. A good one-time read. Paperback , pages. Meanwhile, the use of workfare to suppress wages is widely, if quietly, lauded, across the continent, at least in right-wing circles. The Culture of Contentment is an important read as it illustrates that what is happening now has happened, is nothing new, and will continue to happen. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Like I said before, our book club reads ALL kind of books. The situation for many young people in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece is bleak and, this is now being reflected in the rise of new social and political movements around the semi-periphery of Europe — Spain and Greece particularly, with the rise of Podemos and Syriza. By turns, acerbic, quietly furious, damning and incredulous, but always beautifully written and horribly revealing of the self-serving community of complacent cultural aristocrats, whose community includes yours truly, and who are sleep walking into oblivion. Independent Media Accelerator. Not only is he easy to understand, many of his books being intended for the general public, but his writing style in these works is consistently witty and ironic. Dermot rated it really liked it Dec 30, Privacy Policy. But Europe as a whole is not revolting. Largely as a result of this deliberate abdication, real prosperity remains a distant prospect for so many, yet the prospect of solidarity seems equally remote. View 1 comment. The other part is a matter of style. The current right-wing political settlements across the continent can, therefore, be said to be an attack on universalism but, more than that: they are an attempt to manufacture consent based upon exclusion and a deliberate removal from political discussion of any topics outside the normal political conversation, for example, relating to inequality or the environment. Jul 22, Toby Newton rated it it was amazing. It seems that their current success is a result of more general political and social stagnation. Readers also enjoyed. The Culture of Contentment 1st edition Writer Second, as with the adoption of religious precepts, neo-liberalism can be adopted and incorporated in different ways by different societies, even in the absence of the large clusters of prosperity which formed the basis for the Western version of contentment. The messages can be closely targeted. To ask other readers questions about The Culture of Contentment , please sign up. Things are bad, people may think, but things could be a lot worse, and generally, people not forced to rely upon food banks remain comfortable and well-fed. Readers also enjoyed. The economic reality of modern Europe is increasingly based upon both underemployment and coercive employment, with people under duress from competitive forces apparently beyond governmental control. Like I said before, our book club reads ALL kind of books. Other Editions Charles rated it really liked it Nov 14, View 1 comment. Views Read Edit View history. Looking at these economies objectively, the numbers do not point to any significant degree of objective contentment for a majority of people. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Article Submission. Carl Rowlands. The author also explores i This book traces the course of America's current sense of contentment, stemming from the economic comfort achieved by the fortunate, politically dominant community during the Reagan-Bush era of the s. Details if other :. Michael Wu rated it liked it Jul 12, By turns, acerbic, quietly furious, damning and incredulous, but always beautifully written and horribly revealing of the self-serving community of complacent cultural aristocrats, whose community includes yours truly, and who are sleep walking into oblivion. If not, they could be, however marginally, on the conscience of the comfortable. One must take a long view of history. Jeremy Rifkin argues that a new science of human nature is emerging that demonstrates that humans are not as…. Part of the attraction is a matter of values, Galbraith having become a democratic socialist before his death. His book The New Industrial State completely changed my personal life and this book is something of a sequel. No trivia or quizzes yet. The Culture of Contentment is an important read as it illustrates that what is happening now has happened, is nothing new, and will continue to happen. Kim Dooley rated it really liked it Jul 29, After that, I read bits of chapters from time to time, but only now, some fourteen years later, I got back to read it again in full. John Kenneth Galbraith. I first read this book 20 years ago, within weeks after published, and like it then. Jul 22, Toby Newton rated it it was amazing. Shelves: economics , european-economic-community , politics. Shelves: political-social- science. Nov 18, Jrohde rated it it was amazing Shelves: political-sciences. I picked it up again thinking it would be an interesting contrast with the present - it reads like it was written TODAY - even during the occupy WS movement. Equal parts satire and admonition, John Kenneth Galbraith turns his piercing gaze on the matter of the modern aristocracy, what he calls the "culture of contentment. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. The current right-wing political settlements across the continent can, therefore, be said to be an attack on universalism but, more than that: they are an attempt to manufacture consent based upon exclusion and a deliberate removal from political discussion of any topics outside the normal political conversation, for example, relating to inequality or the environment. The author also explores international issues, such as the parallels between the denial of trouble in Eastern Europe and problems unrecognized in America. Largely as a result of this deliberate abdication, real prosperity remains a distant prospect for so many, yet the prospect of solidarity seems equally remote. Published April 1st by Mariner Books first published Average rating 4. Although dated, much of its text being related to the Reagan recession, many of the problems addressed remain current, Galbraith's recommendations prefiguring much of the current presidential campaign of Senator Sanders of Vermont. As a consequence, a stale politics emerges, in which a grudging form of conservatism develops, as might mould in a dank cellar. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. For young people, times may be tough, politicians concede, using pessimism as a surrogate for empathy with those most affected by austerity. Catherine Galbraith wife Peter W. Enlarge cover. Yet politically, with the exception of some of the former Yugoslavia and possibly Romania, there seems little or no enthusiasm for social change. Open Preview See a Problem? The Culture of Contentment 1st edition Reviews Refresh and try again. Error rating book. Maarten Sebastiaan rated it really liked it May 07, Error requesting format availability. January 11, The Empathic Civilization Jeremy Rifkin argues that a new science of human nature is emerging that demonstrates that humans are not as…. Details if other :. Retrieved Galbraith son James K. Largely as a result of this deliberate abdication, real prosperity remains a distant prospect for so many, yet the prospect of solidarity seems equally remote. This book is a groundbreaking assessment of the future of America. This book traces the course of America's current sense of contentment, stemming from the economic comfort achieved by the fortunate, politically dominant community during the Reagan-Bush era of the s. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Jeremy Rifkin argues that a new science of human nature is emerging that demonstrates that humans are not as…. Kim Dooley rated it really liked it Jul 29, President Bush delivered his weekly radio address. A veil of perception, woven by modern marketing strategies, reinforces the stifling political culture in which current conservatism grows, stifling the political debate. Ahmed Adel rated it liked it Aug 16, About John Kenneth Galbraith. John Kenneth Galbraith was a Canadian-American economist. Other Editions To ask other readers questions about The Culture of Contentment , please sign up. Dermot rated it really liked it Dec 30, Michael Wu rated it liked it Jul 12, Inequality grows, environmental problems mount, economic forces prevent a stable economic settlement, whilst mainstream political democracy becomes increasingly devalued and limited in its demographic scope.