The American Dream was founded on the belief that anyone dedicated to thrift and hard work could create opportunities and achieve a better life. Now that dream has been reduced to a hyper quantified desire for fancier clothes, sleeker cars, and larger homes. As our standard of living has climbed over the past forty years, our self-reported "happiness levels" have flat lined. We've somehow lost our way, but it's not too late to find it again.

Our guest this week will be shedding much-needed light on the science of spending. He uncovers why we spend money we don't have, in search of happiness we cannot buy. Dr. James Roberts empowers us to make smart changes, improve self-control, and curtail spending. The American Dream is still ours for the taking, and Dr. Roberts gives us hope and identifies the power we each hold to redefine the pursuit of happiness.

Dr. Roberts is a well known author with approximately 75 articles published in the academic literature. He is currently the Ben H. Williams Professor of Marketing at Baylor University in Waco, Texas where he has been a faculty member since 1991. His research regularly appears in many of the top marketing and psychology journals and has received two "Paper of the Year" awards.

A primary focus of Dr. Roberts' work over the last 10-15 years has been the psychology of consumer behavior. He is somewhat of an anomaly among marketing scholars in that his research is largely focused on the "Dark Side" of consumerism and marketing. Current research efforts focus on the topics of materialism, compulsive buying, credit card abuse, and self-control. His book, Shiny Objects, takes a careful and amusing look at how our love of material possessions impacts our happiness and what we can do to find true happiness in a culture awash in material possession love.

Dr. Roberts' book, Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don't Have in Search of Happiness We Can't Buy, can be found on http://www.amazon.com/Shiny-Objects-Spend-Search-Happiness/dp/0062093606

CHECK OUT OUR GIFTS FOR OUR FANS...NEW to Harvesting Happiness! It's our way of saying thanks for your support of our show. Click the link to get the details on this week's giveaway http://on.fb.me/v4XRx9

Nothing gives Happiness like a FREE gift!

 http://harvestinghappiness.com/free-ebook/

Find your Happiness with Lisa Cypers Kamen every Wednesday at 9 am PST/12 pm EST on Toginet.com!   For more information, visit Lisa's websites, www.hh4heroes.org,  www.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com , andwww.harvestinghappiness.com

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