What could middle-class German supermarket shoppers buying eggs and
impoverished coffee farmers in Guatemala possibly have in common? Both
groups use the market in pursuit of the "good life." But what exactly is
the good life? How do we define wellbeing beyond material standards of
living? While we all may want to live the good life, we differ widely on
just what that entails.
In The Good Life, Edward Fischer examines wellbeing in very different
cultural contexts to uncover shared notions of the good life and how
best to achieve it. With fascinating on-the-ground narratives of
Germans' choices regarding the purchase of eggs and cars, and
Guatemalans' trade in coffee and cocaine, Fischer presents a richly
layered understanding of how aspiration, opportunity, dignity, and
purpose comprise the good life.