{"product_id":"9781350030695","title":"How to be a Failure and Still Live Well : A Philosophy","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eHow to be a Failure and Still Live Well\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Beverley Clack\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn consumer economies, success has increasingly been defined in terms of material attainment and the achievement of status. This model of 'the good life' and its formulas for success ignore the haunting possibility that one may not succeed and as a result be deemed 'a failure'. \u003ci\u003eHow to be a Failure and Still Live Well \u003c\/i\u003eexplores that often neglected theme of failure, not just as the opposite of achievement, but also, and more importantly, how it has been conflated with loss: that which haunts all transient, mortal human experience. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUnderstanding loss as a form of failure affects our ability to cope with the everyday losses that permeate existence as a result of the natural processes of ageing, death, and decay. Engaging with loss and thinking about what it inevitability means for our lives and commitments, allows different values to emerge than those connected to success as attainment. Relationships, spontaneity, and generosity are explored as qualities that arise from taking seriously our vulnerability and that form the basis for richer accounts of what it might mean to 'live well'.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Nothing succeeds like success?  Perhaps not. \u003ci\u003eHow to be a Failure and Still Live Well\u003c\/i\u003e is a powerful rejection of the language of 'success' that dominates contemporary neo-liberal culture.  Blending philosophy and personal experience Beverley Clack gives a moving defense of the necessity of loss and failure in building relationships, identity and a meaningful life.  This splendid book gives us a picture of the kind of fuller existence we can aspire to as individuals who choose our own response to tragedy and as members of a community that does not rely on false optimism or selfish calculation to bind itself together.” —\u003ci\u003eJoshua Foa Dienstag, Professor of Political Science \u0026amp; Law, University of California, Los Angeles, USA\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Thought-provoking and compelling, Bev Clack takes us into the heart of failure and loss, with personal depth and engaging philosophical and theological insights. Clack raises profoundly important questions and offers no easy answers - but helps the reader to engage more deeply with life, aided by failure and loss.” —\u003ci\u003eAlistair Ross, Associate Professor of Psychotherapy, Oxford University, UK\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“With characteristic wisdom, insight, humanity and wit, Clack shows us how dwelling with our failures can make genuine flourishing possible. This is philosophy at its best – philosophy that contributes to the shared human endeavour of living a good life, engaging deftly with psychology, politics, theology, feminist theory, literature and art.” —\u003ci\u003eAnastasia Scrutton, Associate Professor in Philosophy and Religion, University of Leeds, UK\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The threat of failure is ever-present, but hardly ever openly examined. This thoughtful, honest and often moving book examines why so many of us are haunted by failure. Its erudite and detailed diagnosis of the reasons for widespread feelings of failure across modern societies makes for both fascinating and inspiring reading.” —\u003ci\u003eAnneliese Dodds, MP, House of Commons, UK\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“With characteristic wisdom, insight, humanity and wit, Clack shows us how dwelling with our failures can make genuine flourishing possible. This is philosophy at its best – philosophy that contributes to the shared human endeavour of living a good life, engaging deftly with psychology, politics, theology, feminist theory, literature and art.” —\u003ci\u003eDr Anastasia Scrutton, Associate Professor in Philosophy and Religion, University of Leeds, UK\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781350030695\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40656669049038,"sku":"9781350030695","price":25.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_12cc07c4-7a1e-43df-b826-1aad754cd34f.jpg?v=1639452534","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781350030695","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}