The Mechanism : a book giving a concise but penetrating analysis about human happiness

The book,The Mechanism, describes an important idea which affects the human condition at every level, from personal growth and self fulfilment to the behaviour of nation states in international relations. It indicates the origins of war and terrorism, the causes of crime and drug abuse. It gives new insight into deviant behaviour and damaging relationships. It shows that the human condition, human progress, is subject to an all pervasive, systematically dysfunctional principle which undermines, subverts, the supposedly benevolent mechanisms which mould modernity; as it were a conspiracy with no conspirators. It is an important new political idea because it shows at once the flaws of market fundamentalism and the dangers of socialism; of totalitarianism and democracy. It embodies the common fears of anti-capitalism and McCarthyism; of proponents and opponents of globalisation.
It is an important idea because it provides an immensely flexible tool for problem solving and conflict resolution; a unifying perspective able to find essential common ground between many standpoints and belief systems. It takes issue with the portrayal of human nature as base and self seeking, constrained from evil only by socialisation, and looks to uncover an essential human decency, often stunted or diverted though it may be; the natural morality and nobleness which is inherent in human nature; sometimes distorted, overlaid, or concealed by our own cynicism, perhaps: yet remaining the essential worth in others which validates all of our endeavours.