This book addresses the paradox that, despite quantifiable advances,
people often struggle to experience positive wellbeing. Kevin Moore
argues that two key insights can help resolve this paradox: first, that
we live in an 'aspirational culture' that has its roots in the agrarian
revolution and now demands constant economic growth, individual
ambition, and self-improvement while promoting change and uncertainty;
and second, that we are persons, and persons are created when cultures
interact with our biology. Accordingly, our wellbeing depends on how
personhood develops through that interaction.
Bringing together wellbeing and personhood research from multiple
disciplines, Moore explains how aspirational cultures are detrimental to
wellbeing because they consistently undermine and disrupt the ordinary
tasks of life that are essential to sustaining our personhood and
wellbeing. He concludes that if we are serious about improving
wellbeing, we have to create a culture not based on aspiration but
which, instead, focuses on supporting persons and personhood.