Müdigkeitsgesellschaft

Byung-Chul Han claims that society has shifted from a disciplinary model of commands to an achievement society where people exploit themselves while believing they are free. This excess of positivity, the constant call to do more, produces neurological illnesses such as depression, attention deficit disorder and burnout, rather than rebellion. Drawing on Foucault, Agamben, Benjamin and others, he also argues for the value of contemplation and boredom.

This short philosophical essay appeals to readers who feel tired by work and self-optimisation and who want a theoretical explanation. It offers a diagnosis instead of a cure, and is dense in places.

Deep; a moderate read.

Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?