Rebel Sell author Andrew Potter calls bullshit on the whole concept of authenticity with his latest book, slaughtering many of the most popular sacred cows of the self-righteous in the process. But Potter is a most genial killer, and even those who find themselves among his targets should enjoy engaging with him. Calling on the work of both long-dead philosophers and contemporary commentators, Potter debunks romantic ideas about the superior “authenticity” of earlier societies and illustrates how supposedly “realer” lifestyle options, such as eco-tourism and high-priced organics, are accessible primarily to the privileged. Potter’s implicit defence of modern capitalism isn’t quite so effective, but he delivers his primary thesis—the search for authenticity is inherently contrived and false—in convincing fashion.
This article appears in Apr 15-21, 2010.