The Age of Absurdity: Why Modern Life makes it Hard to be Happy (Paperback) by Michael Foley

from GerardMDoyle

This is a sharp, witty, highly intelligent and really quite brilliant book. Foley reminds us that our yearning for authenticity is not found only in novelty--a new place, a new lover, a new job: "More effective is to see the familiar with new eyes . . . to smash the crust of habit and see life an...

from Opinionated

I found myself agreeing with almost all of Mr Foley's points about the absurdity of modern life and guilty of a high proportion of the delusions he condemns. But the thought that really struck me and stayed with me was that transcedence can only be achieved long term by application with a high de...

from 7sistersapphist

For someone who easily quotes Spinoza, Kierkegaard, Cicero, and a host of others, Foley shows a startlingly poor grasp of human nature and history. Human beings are no more lazy, vapid, irresponsible, or plain ol' stupid than we ever were. Nor did we ever fail to make elaborate excuses for our be...

from Suva

Foley's research and writing style stops this from being a run-of-the-mill 'grumpy old man' diatribe against the modern world. He tackles its problems and inconsistencies with a philosophical and spiritual (with a small s) approach. There were a few times where I felt he contradicted himself (he ...

from awssu

This made me laugh and it made me think. What more can you ask of a book?