One Nation Under Therapy

How the Helping Culture is Eroding Self-Reliance

De: Christina Hoff Sommers, Sally Satel

Narrado por: Dianna Dorman

Americans have traditionally placed great value on self-reliance and fortitude. Recent decades, however, have seen the rise of a therapeutic ethic that views Americans as emotionally underdeveloped, requiring the ministrations of mental-health professionals to cope with life's vicissitudes. Today, having a book for every ailment, a counselor for every crisis, a lawsuit for every grievance, and a TV show for every problem degrades one's native ability to cope with life's challenges.

Drawing on established science and common sense, the authors reveal how "therapism" and the burgeoning trauma industry have come to pervade our lives. Topical, provocative, and wryly amusing, One Nation Under Therapy demonstrates that "talking about" problems is no substitute for confronting them.

©2005 Christina Hoff Sommers and Sally Satel (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"[Sommers and Satel] review the relevant literature, letting its conclusions speak for themselves...they don't have to apply spin to be convincing....Well-written, well-informed public affairs argumentation." ( Booklist)
"Sommers and Satel's book is a summons to the sensible worry that national enfeeblement must result when 'therapism' replaces the virtues on which the republic was founded: stoicism, self-reliance, and courage." ( Washington Post)

Everyone should read this book, especially if you have kids

This is a terrific book that provides a much needed wake up call to the creeping notion that basic human emotions are pathological and all we really need is therapy. I wish I had bought the hard copy so I could go back and look at all the sentences I would've underlined. If you are at all concerned that we are becoming a nation of people who lack the will to fight and whine far too often, this book is for you. If that previous sentence drives you crazy, it is not.

Now I understand why there are so many snowflakes

An interesting book that touches upon many of the psychological excuses used today in America

highly recommended and more relevant now.

I love this book! It is surprisingly comprehensive and well argued. I recommend it to anyone.

Piercingly Perceptive

Christina Hoff Summers and Sally Satel shed light on a strain of thinking whose volume has steadily been filling the spaces between culture, psychology, politics, philosophy, and activism. This book is commendable to anyone trying to understand the rampant fragility and helplessness plaguing so many young Americans.

If you want another perspective

I was a little reluctant to get this book but glad I did. The book gives a succint analysis of the processes involved in the rise of psychology and helping, with accessible examples that we can all relate to. The central point is that seeking help has become a social necessity when mostly it unnecessary. Well written and well ordered for audio. I like the narrators voice, calming older lady. Generally the book gives a bit of balance and thought to the medicalisation of human emotions. Have a listen if you are sick of being coddled or coddling others.

Why have we never heard of this?

therapy has been so heavily pushed for decades...You have to listen to get another side of a long debated argument.

Fascinating reading and vital knowledge.

This goes in depth into something impacting all of us and our kids that we do not usually get to see into.

Conservative Tripe

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Someone who wants to go back to the good old days with no real analysis of the bad things of those old days.

What was most disappointing about Christina Hoff Sommers and Sally Satel ’s story?

She throws together every conservative complaint about the degeneration of our society even going so far as to argue that self-esteme isn't necessarily a good thing.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

She does have some valid criticisms that are interesting to think about, but the reactionary lens of her evidence is pretty useless.

Any additional comments?

Disclaimer: I only read about a third of the book, but that was enough. I'm neither conservative nor liberal in the modern senses, but this book reminds me why I'm not a conservative.

Worthwhile premise, underwhelming writing

I came into reading this book intrigued by the thesis and I was curious as to what support she would provide. I made it about an hour into the audiobook before I quit. She picks and chooses research that purports to reinforce her argument, but the timeline of the research doesn’t make sense. I could potentially forgive that to see what further arguments she makes, but when I encounter the same old trope that violent movies, music, and games are corrupting the youth, I stopped listening. I don’t understand how anyone can make an genuine argument that those matters are affecting people, while simultaneously stating that humans (specifically teenage girls) haven’t dramatically changed in recent history. Violent forms of entertainment existed long before the 20th century, and human behavior is relatively, evolutionarily set. We have access to tools of mass distribution, which present its own problems, but violent media aren’t having a significantly deleterious effect on our youth, and any author who believes that to be the case isn’t worth engaging with in any kind of honest fashion.

Aged like milk

Some interesting material. However some material aged like milk. For example, we now know about the origin of the opioid epidemic and how it's definitely not just a moral failing by individuals. This was a major pillar of the author's position and the rest just crumbles.