The Art of Life

"The Art of Life" is another insightful book by master philosopher and sociologist Zygmunt Bauman. Those who have already read a few of the octogenarian author's brilliant Liquid Modern series of books such as  Liquid Life  and  Liquid Times  or the more recent  Consuming Life  will be familiar with some of the postmodern themes embedded in "The Art of Life"; nevertheless, Mr. Bauman remains essential reading for anyone who wishes to gain a more sophisticated understanding of contemporary society. Here, the author ponders the meaning of the pursuit of happiness in the context of our increasingly dysfunctional consumerist society. The book couldn't be more timely, as Mr. Bauman succeeds yet again in skillfully deconstructing the psyche of the Western world and as recent financial turmoil threatens to unravel the precarious social model of which we have recently grown far too accustomed.Mr. Bauman surveys the idea of happiness throughout human history to find it to be an elusive idea. Mr. Bauman submits that most often, people judge their level of satisfaction through a comparison with others; in today's society, a never-ending game of one-upmanship is expressed through the pursuit and acquisition of money to acquire the status that comes from exclusivity. Mr. Bauman contends that the cult of individualism and materialism throws the middle class into a perpetual state of anxiety and robs society of its ability to solve its problems. Yet, the author finds hope by acknowledging that many people have been able to choose morality and compassion in times of extraordinary stress, citing those who helped Jews to survive in the midst of the Holocaust as a prime example. Mr. Bauman believes that individuals may yet be able to collectively dedicate their lives and society to that which is ethical; this is not unlike the artist who aspires to creating beauty and meaning in a sometimes ugly and chaotic world.It is also worth noting the cover art by Ursus Wehrli, whose graphic is inspired by the iconic image of a middle class businessman made famous by Renee Magritte. The image is multiplied many times over from large to small, suggesting a mass society in which individuals are indistinguishable save for their ability to consume and symbolically grow larger in stature and importance than others. The concept is a perfect complement to help illustrate the book's thoughtful and provocative themes, and commendable for its function as an original piece of art in a book that celebrates humanity's irrepressible capacity for creativity.I highly recommend this discerning, intelligent and humane book to everyone.

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Zygmunt Bauman is best known for his thesis of Liquid Modernity. In this book moves beyond the purely sociological to offer more of a philosophical take and addresses the question of identifying meaning in our lives.Bauman's argument centres around the question of happiness being the leitmotif of modern life and in the process presents a very good, if somewhat repetitious, account of capitalism's reliance on manufacturing desire. To quote the US declaration of Independence (which Bauman does not) life for many is about the pursuit of happiness. However, as the happiness of materialism is illusory - and hence modern life is a pursuit in which the target is never obtained. Happiness, or rather the pursuit of happiness, paradoxically (so the logic goes) constitutes a limit on the pursuance of life and in particular liberty. To be beholden to the golden calf that you hope is just around the corner is a very perverse kind of freedom.Given that happiness does not work the remainder of Bauman's work addresses what, given the constraints of the liquid modern we are to do. In a survey of key philosophers, notably Sartre and Nietzsche, Bauman suggests we are all responsible for our own life trajectories even if that is a submission to the larger forces. The liquid modern idea is one that I find persuasive but extremely depressing - I suspect Bauman has something of a similar response. He is careful to offer an optimistic refrain - the illusion of happiness may be influential but it is not determinative, choices can still be made but these choices are hard and counter-intuitive (for the pursuit of happiness is all-embracing), but nevertheless even a choice to enter the unknown is still a choice, and that's not nothing.

Great as usual but I am a fan of Bauman's work. I am in no way a literary critic but the book is written in a clear, concise style. The message comes across without couching it in unnecessary jargon. A great help in my dissertation.

All time classic arrived on time.