The Age of Absurdity cover art

The Age of Absurdity

Why Modern Life Makes It Hard to Be Happy

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Age of Absurdity

By: Michael Foley
Narrated by: John O'Mahony
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £15.12

Buy Now for £15.12

About this listen

The good news is that the great thinkers from history have proposed the same strategies for happiness and fulfilment. The bad news is that these turn out to be the very things most discouraged by contemporary culture. This knotty dilemma is the subject of The Age of Absurdity - a wry and accessible investigation into how the desirable states of well-being and satisfaction are constantly undermined by modern life.

Michael Foley examines the elusive condition of happiness common to philosophy, spiritual teachings and contemporary psychology, then shows how these are becoming increasingly difficult to apply in a world of high expectations. The common challenges of earning a living, maintaining a relationship and ageing are becoming battlegrounds of existential angst and self-loathing in a culture that demands conspicuous consumption, high-octane partnerships and perpetual youth.

In conclusion, rather than denouncing and rejecting the age, Foley presents an entertaining strategy of not just accepting but embracing today's world - finding happiness in its absurdity.

Cover credit: The Caravan Gallery.

©2011 Michael Foley (P)2016 Audible, Ltd Personal Development Personal Success Philosophy Happiness
All stars
Most relevant
Laced with a cynical barb Foley's words are sharp, intelligent and funny. Well read too.

In yer face modern philosophy!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Quite early on in the book Foley makes the perceptive observation that no philosopher ever recommended moaning about the world. Foley would do well to listen to himself.

A very long moan interspersed with occasional wit

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved it. I read the book a few years ago but discovered it anew with this version. Lots of quotable quotes. Tons of insights and just the right amount of wry humour. Michael Foley is the new 'fantasy dinner guest'

Intelligent funny and engaging

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It was ok at first. Some interesting insights, some I’d heard before. Then they started going on about the con of mental health conditions and I switched off.

Anti mental health

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.