The Experience Society - by Svend Brinkmann (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An enlightening look at how our elevation of the sensorial and the subjective has impaired our ability to connect--and how we might build that connection back.

In today's so-called experience society, everything is judged by personal experience, from online shopping to funerals. Value is measured by how satisfying an individual finds their experience, and the experience economy thrives on this desire for entertainment and fulfillment. Yet debates often reach an impasse when reduced to subjective feelings--whether offense is taken or criticisms are dismissed. Svend Brinkmann explores this cultural shift, examining how our reliance on subjective experience limits meaningful discussions and social cohesion. He argues that reclaiming a shared, objective reality is essential for tackling the major issues of our time and for fostering genuine understanding beyond personal perceptions.

Review Quotes

"In this short, insightful book, Brinkmann brings his characteristic perspicacity to bear on our society's tendency to reduce life to experiences. Not content with simply diagnosing the problem, he also offers a way to consider our engagement with the world from a more productive and fully ethical perspective."--Todd May, Nielsen Professor of the Humanities, Warren Wilson College, and author of "Care: Reflections on Who We Are"

About the Author

Svend Brinkmann is professor of psychology at Aalborg University, Denmark. He is the author of many bestselling books on philosophy and psychology including Think: In Defence of a Thoughtful Life. Tam McTurk is director of Citadel Translations and translator of over fifty nonfiction books from Danish to English.