America the Anxious

A British journalist experiences culture shock upon discovering America's unhappiness crisis—and investigates the causes behind it.

Named One of the 40 Best Books by the New York Post

A New York Times Editor's Choice Pick

“Ruth Whippman is my new favorite cultural critic . . . a shrewd, hilarious analysis.” —Adam Grant, New York Times–bestselling author

After she packed up her British worldview (that most things were basically rubbish) and moved to America, journalist and documentary filmmaker Ruth Whippman found herself perplexed by the American obsession with one topic above all others: happiness. Despite the fact that Americans spend more time and money in search of happiness than any other nation on earth, research shows that the United States is one of the least contented, most anxious countries in the developed world. Stoked by a multi-billion dollar “happiness industrial complex” intent on selling the promise of bliss, America appeared to be driving itself crazy in pursuit of contentment.

So Ruth set out to get to the bottom of this contradiction, embarking on an uproarious pilgrimage to investigate how this national obsession infiltrates all areas of life, from religion to parenting, the workplace to academia. She attends a controversial self-help course that promises total transformation, where she learns all her problems are all her own fault; visits a “happiness city” in the Nevada desert and explores why it has one of the highest suicide rates in America; delves into the darker truths behind the influential academic “positive psychology movement”; and ventures to Utah to spend time with the Mormons, officially America's happiest people.

In America the Anxious, Ruth shares her rigorously researched yet universal answer—absolutely free of charge.