Misfortune and Fame: 10 Reasons You Don’t Want to be Rich (or Famous)

Paul Berton takes aim at the waste and excess of consumer culture with a lively and satire-laced exposé of the rich, famous and totally miserable.

There is little argument that having enough money to meet your needs is important. But beyond that, what makes us happy? Is a lot of money the answer? Is a glamorous life actually glamorous? Must we have thousands of followers on social media, only to have the internet rabble criticize us at every turn? Amid all the fun and frivolity, there is inevitable misery and madness. A double-edged sword. A poisoned chalice. That’s what this book is about: In ten punchy chapters full of anecdotes about the miseries and misfortunes of the affluent, Berton offers readers ten reasons NOT to wish for fame or fortune.

Paul Berton’s previous book about consumerism, Shopomania (2022), was described as “a must-read primer for understanding how our thirst for acquiring and showcasing things has exacted heavy tolls on our psychology, on our society, and on the environment. Cataloguing the symptoms of our shopaholic culture, Berton shares wisdom about breaking the shackles imposed by our possessions.” (Mark Cleveland, PhD, professor and Dancap Chair in Consumer Behavior, University of Western Ontario.)

“The seven deadly sins are re-assessed in Paul Berton’s clever and comical take on how lovesick we are with power, money and the greatest of aphrodisiacs...fame.”

“Paul Berton’s hilariously eye-opening book will make you think twice about the wealth and celebrity we’re encouraged to pursue. Being rich and famous is both delightful and terrible, and the greater the excess, the greater the distress. Sharp and engaging, Misfortune and Fame reminds us to be careful what we wish for.”

“An antidote for envy. Funny, fascinating, forcefully written and at times unsettling. You will never look at fame and fortune the same way again.”