Self-Improvement

Více o knize

We are immersed in a billion-dollar self-improvement industry, yet despite apps, workshops, and life hacks, happiness remains elusive. This obsession with perfecting ourselves has led to restlessness, anxiety, and desperation—essentially, we are improving ourselves to death. The roots of self-improvement culture lie in philosophical classics, perfectionist religions, and capitalism, but today’s landscape is shaped by technology. Artificial intelligence, social media, and big data not only inform but also measure and potentially alter our identities. This exploration reveals how self-improvement culture became toxic and emphasizes the need for a new understanding of self and a mission for social change to escape its grasp. The author examines the historical ideas that contributed to this culture, critiques technology’s role, and identifies unexpected pathways out of the self-improvement trap. Digital detoxes and ancient wisdom seem inadequate; transformation of our social and technological environments is essential. The author proposes "narrative technologies" to help us construct better stories about ourselves, while also stressing that there are no shortcuts to the philosophical journey of self-discovery or the commitment to fostering a good life and society.