I was very surprised that I ended up giving this book five stars, especially since there were a couple of sections I skimmed, but overall it was both fun and insightful.

While not denying the physical/chemical realities of addiction and disease, never stooping to preachiness or being holiner-than-thou, Askt makes a strong case for the lack of self control as one of the deadliest conditions of modern life.

His hero is Odysseus, who - being both self-aware and cognizant of the threats in his environment during the trip home from Troy - managed to enjoy the delights that presented themselves without falling prey to them.

Akst discusses the banking crash, Freud and Maslow, the Puritans and the 1960's, consumerism, social controls (and the lack thereof), all with an entertaining, breezy style that still delivers a convincing case for developing better self awareness, better self control and -- consequently -- a better, healthier life. ( )

Way too detailed and covers a lot I already knew. Nothing insightful for me. Okay book but felt it a waste of time. ( )

An excellent examination of self-control, with very interesting background on this issue from a philosphical, psychological and economical perspective. Written so that it is fun to read. ( )

If you have not heard of Daniel Akst, you’re likely to become a huge fan after reading We Have Met the Enemy: Self-Control in an Age of Excess.

The “enemy” in We Have Met the Enemy is us and our lack of self-control in a world that is full of temptations. While our ancestors had to exercise their willpower to stay away from a few certain bad habits, our bad habit possibilities have vastly multiplied. We have access to cheap and widely available unhealthy foods, riveting TV shows that keep us glued to the couches, and prior to the economic meltdown, loads of unsecured credit that had us spending money into oblivion. And our bad habits are not just bad economically speaking, they are also deadly. As Akst puts it, “we do ourselves in … slowly and prosaically, jumping to a premature death in a sea of batter-fried shrimp, booze, and bad television, which we watch instead of exercising.”

Akst traces self-control from the Ancient Greeks, to British Victorians to Freud and so on, interspersing opinions on the issue from a variety of individuals who had something to say about the topic. However, We Have Met the Enemy is by no means a finger-pointing diatribe against our excesses. Instead, Akst strives to define the reasons behind the low-supply of self control in today’s age, and cite the social, cultural, religious and other constraints that can help us “behave”.

Akst’s brutally honest exploration of our self-control, or the lack thereof, is as disturbing as it is hilarious. And that is where his genius lies – in his ability to discuss a serious topic with the wit that will have you laughing out loud. We Have Met the Enemy is the first book in a long time that had me pulling out a highlighter in an effort to remember especially cheeky lines and bring them up in conversations later. ( )