Welcome to the United States of Anxiety Observations from a reforming neurotic

Lancaster (Here I Go Again) humorously considers the role of anxiety in American life in a delightful and perceptive book packed with tips on how to relax. Lancaster uses "Maslow's Hierarchy"--a theory developed by mid-20th-century psychologist Abraham Maslow that identifies critical human needs--as a framework for considering how people's needs (physiological, safety, social, esteem, self-actualization) are being met today. Lives are more stressful than ever, Lancaster writes, adding: "I'd give anything to go back to the innocence and ease of my 1970s childhood, despite growing up in the golden age of serial killers." The author shows how distractions (TV, social media) change one's sense of need and result in stress. The need for shelter, for example, is manipulated by home renovation shows that make one's own home feel inadequate; the need for financial security is impacted by social media platforms that encourage people to gawk at other people's wealth; and the need for friendship has been upended by a desire to get likes rather than to be liked. Lancaster recommends forgetting the noise and focusing on what genuinely makes one happy, such as developing a hobby and accepting oneself, flaws and all. Lancaster is very funny, and her insightful, always entertaining critique may motivate readers to back away from social media, if only a little bit. (Sept.)

The bestselling author looks at why we have become a nation plagued by anxiety. According to a 2018 Gallup Poll, writes Lancaster, most Americans experience stress on a daily basis. In fact, "we are more likely to be stressed out than the residents of almost every country in the world." Overwhelmed by her own skyrocketing anxiety, the author was determined to understand why. Through her research, comparing conditions of today with those of prior generations, she found, unsurprisingly, that one of the main culprits is social media, which "gives us real-time metrics about our popularity, vis-à-vis likes, follows, retweets, et cetera." Eventually, this "leads us to compare everyone's highlight reel to our day-to-day reality, and it's a drain on our mental well-being." Looking at Maslow's hierarchy, she writes that "the abundance of and access to [food], particularly when consumed in the company of others, should be what decreases our collective anxiety." However, due to diets and unhealthy body-image expectations, "we've replaced the stress of not having enough to eat with the need to demonstrate how much better we eat than our peers." Additionally, with the advent of TV shows dedicated to renovations and interior decorating, the "idea of shelter as the most basic need has morphed into a tangible demonstration of our value as people and an important expression of our souls, greatly upping the ante in terms of stress." Thankfully, the book is not all doom and gloom, as the author includes enough humor to keep the pages turning. Despite the constant need to remain plugged in--and to maintain the polished sheen of our online identities--Lancaster explores how social media can also make us feel connected. Armed with wit and insight, she plots a simple, easy-to-follow course to navigate our anxieties and better manage our levels of stress. Though not groundbreaking, this is sound advice we all should heed. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.