This book addresses the paradox that despite quantifiable advances people often struggle to
experience positive wellbeing. Kevin Moore argues that two key insights can help resolve this
paradox: first that we live in an ¿aspirational culture¿ that has its roots in the agrarian
revolution and now demands constant economic growth individual ambition and self-improvement
while promoting change and uncertainty and second that we are persons and persons are
created when cultures interact with our biology. Accordingly our wellbeing depends on how
personhood develops through that interaction. Bringing together wellbeing and personhood
research from multiple disciplines Moore explains how aspirational cultures are detrimental to
wellbeing because they consistently undermine and disrupt the ordinary tasks of life that are
essential to sustaining our personhood and wellbeing. He concludes that if we are serious about
improving wellbeing we have to create a culture not based on aspiration but which instead
focuses on supporting persons and personhood.
