why simple things are difficult: an alternative look at society

This intriguing and unconventional book is for all those who experience the frustrations and flaws of our supposedly affluent, efficient, caring modern society.

Using humour, anecdotes, real examples and occasional rants, this clear and candid book explores the authors growing frustrations with modern life and our society, where even the simplest things (like taps) are getting more difficult and complicated. With over 30 years of technical engineering experience spent questioning, comparing, contrasting, finding inconsistencies, making links between cause and effect, learning, and trying to understand what is wrong, his analytical outlook and view of society is perhaps different from many people. Here, these analytical skills, observations, humour and opinions, create a candid, witty, thoughtful and unconventional view of our society and its flaws.

Each chapter challenges conventional ideas on the things we take for granted, including language, feedback, technology, business, finance and democracy, raising thought-provoking questions that you are encouraged to judge and consider for yourself. It looks at how society influences our behaviour, and the direction in which society is heading, before finally venturing into an alternative version of society that operates without tax, profit or political parties.

This truly unique blend of humour, sociology and philosophy (along with a bit of engineering) provides a rare opportunity to see our society from a very different perspective, generating many ideas and questions for you to ponder and judge for yourself.

This might be the most unusual book you read this year, but it may also change the way you view our society. It will also help to contribute to care charities for the homeless, aged and ill, as the author is donating all the profits from the sale of the book to these charities.