Is Life Getting Better?
I think this is one of the defining questions of our times. The answer may seem obvious, or the question so broad as to be meaningless. But there are good reasons why we should take it seriously.
Welcome To Richard Eckersley
This site provides free access to my writing for scientific journals, specialist magazines and popular media. My book, Well & Good, can also be downloaded free from the site.
My work explores questions such as:
How do we define and measure human progress and development?
What are the relationships between economic growth, a high quality of life and a healthy environment?
How is modern Western culture affecting our health and happiness?
Are young people taking the prize or paying the price of progress?
How do we see the future of humanity?
Well & Good
In the 1970s, I spent two years travelling overseas, through Africa, Western and
Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union and Asia. Like many long-term travellers, I found
that the most difficult cultural adjustment I had to make was on my return home....
My initial celebration of the material richness and comfort of the Western way of
life soon gave way to a growing apprehension about its emotional harshness, social
distances and spiritual desiccation.’
- From Well & Good, p. 43
I wanted to massively thank you for all your time and support you have provides to aid me with my MA dissertation…. it meant a great deal, thank you.
I came across your article “Troubled Youth: an island of misery in an ocean of happiness, or the tip of an iceberg of suffering” whilst I was doing a lit review. What a lovely piece of writing. Thanks for your work.
Many thanks for your wonderful book, “Well and Good”, which I have had for many years and to which I constantly turn. Your understanding of young peoples’ issues are still relevant to their issues today.
Recent Media Articles
We need a no-holds-barred attack on corporate power to meet global threats
Ill health, perhaps especially mental ill health, is generally seen as a personal issue, requiring diagnosis and treatment. But at the population level, mental health problems have a profound message for our societies and their futures. We need to pay it more heed.
The COVID pandemic has highlighted young people’s psychological vulnerability. This essay explores why being young is getting worse, why there is no quick fix, and what this means for society. (The essay is also listed under ‘Scientific papers’. Shorter versions have also been published and are available under ‘Media’ articles.)
Recent Scientific Papers
The COVID pandemic has highlighted young people’s psychological vulnerability. This essay explores why being young is getting worse, why there is no quick fix, and what this means for society.
How do we know what is true? To survive this crucial century, we need to solve the problem of truth. That may be our biggest single challenge.
We all know our society faces existential crisis. Rethinking our cultural values might just help us survive it.