“
The world
is increasingly designed to depress us. Happiness isn’t
very good for the economy. If we were happy with what we had,
why would we need more? How do you sell an anti-aging
moisturizer? You make someone worry about aging. How do you get
people to vote for a political party? You make them worry about
immigration. How do you get them to buy insurance? By making
them worry about everything. How do you get them to have
plastic surgery? By highlighting their physical flaws. How do
you get them to watch a TV show? By making them worry about
missing out. How do you get them to buy a new smartphone? By
making them feel like they are being left behind. To be calm
becomes a kind of revolutionary act. To be happy with your own
non-upgraded existence. To be comfortable with our messy, human
selves, would not be good for business.
‘Reasons to Stay
Alive’ | Matt Haig