‘Because you’re worth it’, proclaims the classic cosmetics ad. ‘Just do it!’ implores the global sports retailer. Everywhere we turn, we are constantly encouraged to experience as much as possible, for as long as possible, in as many ways as possible. FOMO – Fear of Missing Out – has become a central preoccupation in a world fixated on the never-ending pursuit of gratification and self-fulfilment.

But this pursuit can become a treadmill leading nowhere. How can we break out of it? In this refreshing book, bestselling Danish philosopher and psychologist Svend Brinkmann reveals the many virtues of missing out on the constant choices and temptations that dominate our experience-obsessed consumer society. By cultivating self-restraint and celebrating moderation we can develop a more fulfilling way of living that enriches ourselves and our fellow humans and protects the planet we all share – in short, we can discover the joy of missing out.

Svend Brinkmann lived quietly as a professor of psychology at Aalborg University until he published Stand Firm, which became an overnight bestseller and quickly established him as a leading public intellectual and cultural critic. Winner of the prestigious Rosenkjær prize, Svend travels widely to host events and lecture on the key problems of modern life. In 2018 he published the acclaimed Standpoints. He has also appeared in various television documentaries, and presented Danish television’s Live Fast! programmes and the Meaningful Life series on Danish Radio 1.

Foreword

Introduction: Having it all

1. The sustainable society

2. Pursuing the Good

3. The value of moderation

4. Marshmallows and treadmills

5. The joy of missing out