Mention Regarding Books Happiness
| Title | : | Happiness |
| Author | : | Will Ferguson |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 320 pages |
| Published | : | June 3rd 2003 by HarperPerennial (first published April 17th 2001) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Cultural. Canada. Humor |
Will Ferguson
Paperback | Pages: 320 pages Rating: 3.79 | 3116 Users | 279 Reviews
Narration Toward Books Happiness
4.5 starsAs much as I enjoy quirky satire, few books have consistently made me laugh--and think--like Will Ferguson's 2001 unexpected (albeit a wee bit dated) delight Happiness(TM), a book that hilariously yet poignantly eviscerates Americans' consumerist bent and the pursuit of happiness at any cost. He focuses his sights on the publishing world: specifically the Random Houses and HarperCollinses and Simon & Schusters responsible for churning out Self-Help books (everything from fad diet rehashes and "Chicken Soup for the Soul" inspirational claptrap, to monster megahit spiritual awakening screeds disguised as novels like James Redfield's The Celestine Prophecy.)
This "apocalyptic" tale (so deemed in the introduction, a stretch for sure) is seen through the eyes of Edwin de Valu, a scrawny, sarcastic, vile turd (who cheats on his wife and kicks the family cat every opportunity he can) and low-level Panderic Press editor of their Self-Help catalogue. After the author of Panderic's biggest seller, the "Mr. Ethics" series, is convicted of triple homicide, Edwin is tasked with culling the slush pile for "The Next Big Thing" to replace their fallen-from-grace money machine. After weeks of fruitless slush pile-culling, a mammoth 1,000-page uneditable manuscript plops in called "What I Learned on the Mountain" by a Bangladeshi guru named Tupak Soiree. Though it seems like a comprehensive Asian mishmash of every single Self-Help book published to date, Edwin (under the gun to get something published or risk losing his job) gets the behemoth printed and distributed. And, amazingly, with no publicity or marketing effort, the book explodes in popularity. almost attaining a religious fervor with its readers. The book becomes so popular, with multiple millions of happy adherents, that a wave of non-consumption sweeps the country: First the tobacco and alcohol industries crumble, then fast food empires follow suit, then its just a matter of time before everything comes screeching to a halt. An economic standstill (yet with a populace filled with Happiness(TM))
Yeah, super far-fetched, I know, but you're not likely to confuse this satire for anything deep and meaningful. Yet, among the guffaws, there's just enough truth sprinkled throughout to give one pause: No, a Self-Help book isn't going to bring the country to its knees, but it's creepy fun imagining the scenario Ferguson (firmly tongue-in-cheek) lays out. And, if nothing else, this book is a hilarious alternative to fellow Canadian Margaret Atwood's clunky, similarly-themed dystopian novel, The Heart Goes Last. My sense of humor is a bit twisted, but you know, I'll gladly chortle my way through Ferguson's wry Happiness(TM) than endure Atwood's shlocky Possibilibots any day.
Details Books As Happiness
| Original Title: | Generica |
| ISBN: | 006052510X (ISBN13: 9780060525101) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Characters: | Edwin de Valu |
| Literary Awards: | Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal (2002), Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize Nominee for Comic Fiction (2002), Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction (2002) |
Rating Regarding Books Happiness
Ratings: 3.79 From 3116 Users | 279 ReviewsCriticize Regarding Books Happiness
What would happen if someone wrote a self-help book that actually worked? ... The collapse of society, that's what. Ferguson sets about exposing and mocking the pretensions of writers; the ruthlessness of publishers; the idleness and incompetence of editors; the folly of the wider world. Within the first chapter, you'll already have a sense of his sardonic approach, one which he maintains through most of the book. You can tell, though, that Ferguson is good-natured about the whole thing. He isCrazy, stupid, funny book. I hella enjoyed Ferguson's sarcastic sense of humor and ridiculous story. A commentary on our plastic culture and crappy books. There was a portion of the book that lost a little steam so I couldn't give it 5 starts but besides that it was a great read. I'd love to burn one down with this guy.
He suddenly felt weary, weary beyond words. This morning he had been happy. Cranky, bitter and weighed down with life, but otherwise generally happy. He had been in a groove, or at least a very comfortable rut. His life, such as it was, fit together. But ever since this morning, ever since that manuscript landed on his desk, it was as though everything had begun to unravel. The end of the wharf and the deep waters beckoned A quintessential editor finds a self-help book on his desk one morning
Started off very snarky and funny, loved the satire on writers and publishers, but fell off toward the end when it was all plot.
Hate overly buzzed-out-on-bliss New Agers constantly trying to choke you with Depak Chopra and Conversations with God? Tired of colon clensings, mediums, crystal chakra aligning, "only thing positive", doped out on wheat-grass leisure class America?Me too.Read this book. It's hilarious, it's realistic (in the most outrageously allegorical way), it's snappy and ugly, it's pissed off and dejected, it's decadent and insecure. It's hellbent on showing that real life is grand and spectacular, even if
Wry and funny and quite frankly just bloody marvelous. Perfect for anyone involved in any way in the creating, marketing and selling of books. And bang on commentary on the self help book market! It is absolute perfection.Thoroughly enjoyed the Caveat Emptor, the alternate ending (which quite frankly will be truly appreciated by most Canadians - well except for maybe those from Quebec). Ok and got a kick about the line with Stephen King in Bett's Bookstore (which I have been to)Favorite Quotes
4.5 starsAs much as I enjoy quirky satire, few books have consistently made me laugh--and think--like Will Ferguson's 2001 unexpected (albeit a wee bit dated) delight Happiness(TM), a book that hilariously yet poignantly eviscerates Americans' consumerist bent and the pursuit of happiness at any cost. He focuses his sights on the publishing world: specifically the Random Houses and HarperCollinses and Simon & Schusters responsible for churning out Self-Help books (everything from fad diet
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