New Book 'Self-Help, Inc,' by NYU’s Micki McGee, Says Americans are Overworked and are Working Themselves to Stay Employable

As Americans look forward to Labor Day weekend, a new book by New York University's Micki McGee argues that Americans are not just overworked, but belabored: constantly at work on themselves to stay not just employed, but employable.

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 3, 2005

As Americans look forward to Labor Day weekend, a new book by New York University's Micki McGee argues that Americans are not just overworked, but belabored: constantly at work on themselves to stay not just employed, but employable.

In "SELF-HELP, INC.: Makeover Culture in American Life" (Oxford University Press, 2005), McGee, a sociologist, shows how the explosion of self-help books and makeover programs over the past thirty years can be tied to declining economic circumstances and decreased job security among working Americans.

"Americans have been looking for answers to their social and economic problems in the self-help aisles of their bookstores rather than looking at their polling places," McGee contends.

The number of self-help books in print has more than doubled in the last thirty years, and there seems to be no end in sight for this trend. But does self-help ever help?

McGee argues that self-help regimens can't succeed because they are suggesting individual and therapeutic solutions for problems that are social and economic in origin. Instead, she shows that self-help culture leads us to endless cycles of work on ourselves.

Labor Day is traditionally a day of rest for American workers, but McGee asks whether or not anxious American workers ever really get a break in this increasingly volatile and competitive economy.

To schedule an interview with Dr. McGee on these matters, please contact François Alacoqu at 212-343-7035.

For more information on "SELF-HELP, INC.," visit http://www.selfhelpinc.com

Contact Name: François Alacoque

Contact Phone: 212-343-7035

Web Address: http://www.selfhelpinc.com

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