We re always too busy . . . we try to find happiness through consumption . . . our communities are dying . . . where on earth are we going? We have wealth that would have seemed inconceivable to previous generations, but many people find life in the modern world deeply unsatisfying. Richard Docwra examines this paradox: he looks beneath the surface to explore a number of ways in which our lives and our views are affected by the modern world. He identifies some common causes of our malaise, including our society s obsession with economic growth and our lack of appropriate mental tools to equip us for life in the modern world, the effects of which seep into many unexpected areas of our lives including our stress levels, how we behave with our friends, the sort of people we become, and our ability to make choices. 'Modern Life: As good as it gets?' examines the steps we can take to move towards a better future as a society, and gain more freedom, happiness and fulfilment in our individual lives.

We're always too busy ...we try to find happiness through consumption ...our media are obsessed by celebrity ...our communities are dying ...where on earth are we going? We have wealth that would have seemed inconceivable to previous generations, but many people find their lives deeply unsatisfying. Richard Docwra examines this paradox: he looks beneath the surface to see how we understand, are affected by, and deal with the world in our minds. He identifies some common causes of our malaise: a key one being our society's obsession with profit and economic growth, the effects of which seep into many unexpected areas of our lives-including our stress levels, how we behave with our friends, the sort of people we become, and our ability to make choices. "Modern Life: As Good As It Gets?" examines how people can empower themselves with the necessary intellectual skills so they can lead truly self-determined lives in a complex world, and how we can put people and planet before profit.

Richard Docwra has been involved in the search for social and global change for several years, working with organisations such as Oxfam, CND and Schumacher UK. In 2005 he set up ChangeStar, a mixture of think tank, consultancy and service provider to the not-for-profit sector that uses practical wisdom to seek a more sustainable, just and intellectually coherent world. He lives in Lewes, Sussex.