If you've only read a little bit of philosophy, this is great place to begin. It's written very casually and gently wanders from topic to topic, but lacks structure and rigor. It drops many keen perceptions about contemporary life and selfhood, but the better ones are all from works cited. And uncited-- what really pisses me off is that the great 20th century philosopher Martin Heidegger is never mentioned even though he more than anyone else got people talking about the major themes of this book-- the tension between egoism and authenticity, the plagues of anxiety and boredom, the life-draining force of technological thinking and the need for an appreciation of experience, and so on. So, if you want a serious meditation on these themes, one that reaches far deeper than Elliot does, read Heidegger, his influences, and those he influenced. But if you want a place to start, Elliot is far easier. Or, if you want to reminded of many themes of existentialism with reference to contemporary life, give it a read if you have some extra time.