Every day we are bombarded with selfies and motivational posts from our smartphone screens – and we ourselves strive to look perfect in the eyes of others. However, dissatisfaction with oneself, the eternal companion of perfectionism, can drive a person to madness and suicide. How has 21st century narcissism changed our lives and what does it consist of? In this book, British journalist Will Storr goes on a long journey to find answers to these questions. The author tries to live in a monastery, interviews startup founders from Silicon Valley who influence the lives of millions of people, delves into the biographies of Sigmund Freud and Ayn Rand, and also exposes the politicians who came up with the idea that high self-esteem is good for us.