BKMT READING GUIDES

Dark,
Unconvincing,
Interesting

2 reviews

The Happy Soul Industry

by Steffan Postaer

Published: 2008-08-01
Paperback : 200 pages

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Introduction

Vernon Night is the CEO of LA's hippest advertising agency. Vernon Night also has issues. His divorce is getting ugly. His Go-To guy is a closet drug addict. He's mad as Hell on a daily basis. His newest client: God. Seems The Lord has some issues as well. Namely, that no one cares about Heaven anymore. In the Hip-Hop age of Internet Porn and Reality TV, who has time for goodness? So now the Creator of us all needs some creative direction of Her own. In this wickedly modern fable about good and evil, God looks for an advertising agency to fix Her brand as America's population looks for its soul.

Editorial Review

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Excerpt

Renowned in countless paintings, etchings, and murals: The Garden of Eden. From every vantage point a perfect landscape. God and David happened upon a small clearing, surrounded by nature's greatest hits. Verdant hills blossomed upward to the north. A majestic waterfall roiled behind them. Limpid pools formed by their feet. Idyllic. ...

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Discussion Questions

1. Given advertising deals in envy, lust and pride does that make it a sinful profession?

2. Do you think advertising makes people want what they don't need? If so is that bad?

3. Do you think organized religion could use “new copy?” Are old texts like the Bible hopelessly antiquated and archaic?

4. Is Vernon a bad man?

5. In the novel, every character has a flaw or character defect, which is in dire need of repair. Talk about some of these. How are they different? How are they similar?

6. Which character(s) (and his or her problems) do you most relate to?

7. Barry is relieved of his drug addiction by divine intervention. How does this resemble modern rehab? Does it?

8. The author seems to think Disney and Humanology (aka Scientology) are cults. Talk about this. Do you agree or disagree? Calling Disney a cult is provocative. What arguments does the author make to support this notion?

9. Did Evelyn surprise you? Did you see that coming? The author foreshadows the event. How? Should he have made it more or less obvious?

10. Redemption is a big theme in the novel. How was each character redeemed? What does redemption mean to you?

Weblinks

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Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

Dear Reader,

After 20 years of writing ad copy (Not Your Father's Oldsmobile, Altoids Curiously Strong Mints), I took my head and hand to fiction. My first book, The Last Generation (http://lastgeneration.net/), a wry look at the apocalypse, received numerous accolades but none more exciting than an option from Touchstone Television and Michael Medavoy. Attached is the article from Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117927068.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1

My second novel, The Happy Soul Industry (http://happysoulindustry.com/) is about a subject I know all too well, the advertising industry as well as something we can only aspire to know, God. The story? God looks for an advertising agency to market heaven. Needless to say, all hell breaks loose!

Already the novel was awarded Honorable Mention at the Hollywood Book Festival and is a finalist for the da Vinci Eye, part of the prestigious Eric Hoffer Book awards.

It's a fun tale about serious stuff. After all, advertising is essentially the business of turning people into consumers. In doing so, advertisers employ all manner of tactics, many of them suspect, involving greed, lust, envy and sloth. In the hip hop age of Facebook, Internet porn and reality TV does anyone have time for goodness? I think you'll be surprised and delighted by the answers. The Happy Soul Industry is truly a modern fable about good and evil.

Please do write me at [email protected] to win one of five signed copies of my newest novel. A lucky winner also gets a signed poster of the book cover's award-winning design! In addition visit my website, http://happysoulindustry.com/ for reviews, videos and a daily blog featuring other takes on goodness in an often-bad world. My own blog, http://godsofadvertising.wordpress.com/ is quite popular in ad land and I invite you to join me there as well. Thank you for your readership. God bless!

“Fun stuff. I can't wait to see the movie. Can I write the screenplay?” John Coveny, Co-Executive Producer/Writer, “The Closer”

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 0 of 2 members.

Member Reviews

Overall rating:

"Interesting premise"by Marissa M. (see profile) 04/12/10

This book seemed interesting at first. However, after what was a good perspective on the current state of god and goodness in our lives, the story itself lacked conviction. I also found the ending to be... (read more)

"The Happy Soul Industry"by Susan L. (see profile) 04/10/10

Those of us who finished the book used the word "creepy" to describe it. Others who could not finish it used the word "creepy" as their reason for not finishing it. The author's final words in his notes... (read more)

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