The latest ringtone, the trendiest brand clothes, and intimate knowledge about Germany's newest superstar create self-confidence. Mass media dictate what is liked. Friendships are often defined by material values. Individuals increasingly find themselves lonely, while children tyrannize their parents. Is this a psychological profile of a sick ego society? Many people appear exhausted from performance pressure, breathlessly chasing after consumption, and searching for new values. Christopher Dotzler questions how prosperity could lead to such excesses. And where can social work effectively intervene to promote a redefinition? He references classic authors like Erich Fromm as well as current bestsellers by Michael Winterhoff. The book serves as a plea for a departure into a more modest, sustainable, and humane 21st century.