Happiness TM (edition 2002)

Full of irony and dry humour. In portraying what would happen if a truly successful self-help book was ever published, Ferguson points out many of the idiosyncrasies of books, publishing, consumerism, and life in general. The story is set in the US, but the humour is very Canadian. Tongue in cheek yet truthful all the way. Some good philosophy, too (and some not so good philosophy). A beach read. ( )

"If anyone wrote a self-help book that actually worked, we'd all be in trouble". This comment by a book publicist allegedly prompted Will Ferguson to write Happiness™, a satire of the self-help industry and of publishing in general. Happiness™ is the story of such a book, one that works so well that it instantly makes all its readers happy... and thus brings the whole Western economy to screeching halt, said economy being notoriously entirely dependent on a constant supply of unsatiated desires. The result is a thoroughly enjoyable read, full of dark humor and inconvenient truths about the publishing industry, and a testament to what makes life enjoyable: guilty pleasures, unhealthy food and unrequited yearning. ( )

I enjoyed this read about an editor who accidentally publishes a book that almost brings about the end of the world.

Edwin de Valu is a mid-level editor working on the self-help desk. When confronted by his boss looking to replace their in jail best selling author he decides to use a book from the slush pile. It's a self-help book that reads like it has been written by computer, a book that basically boils down all the self-help books into one, easy to read, mass. A book that takes hold of the nation, makes Pangeric Press (where Edwin works) very wealthy and works.

Yes a self-help book that actually works for almost everyone, one of the people it doesn't work for is Edwin himself, so he finds himself trying to bring the ordinary world back. Hunting down the author is a start.

It has some serious swipes at the publishing industry and at self-help books, there are occasions where it falters but it had me giggling regularly throughout. ( )

Happiness TM is like taking Coupland's social commentary & apocalyptic ideas, mixing it with Adams' brand of "oh look at me taking the piss out of my self importance", factor in Vonnegut's optimistic negativity & mix with a double shot of Thank You For Smoking, only replace a tobacco insider with an editor... I can go on forever like this but all this requires a frame of reference.

The idea is brilliant, I cannot think of a better apocalypse for a satire than mass-happiness. Cynical yet uplifting, corny yet unexpected, having the sort of narrative causality that will slaughter common sense & with a good dose of bite-sized pop wisdom that begs to be quoted. Consider:

"The two most important phrases in the human language are "If only" and "Maybe someday". Our past mistakes and our unrequited longings. The things we regret and the things we yearn for. That's what makes us who we are."

There is much to be enjoyed in this book if you don't let that sometimes ingratiating tone get to you.

Oh. Also not recommended if you are any of these categories : hippies, capitalists, Buddhists, people who are in love with the concept of Heaven. Sorry. ( )

I got this book not knowing what to expect. I was just looking for something new to read. I hadn't heard of the book or the novelist before. I was pleasantly surprised. "Happiness" is a funny parody of the publishing industry--more specifically self help industry. While I didn't laugh out loud while reading this book, I did find myself feeling amused much of the time. ( )