Interview with Jay Slosar, author of The Culture of Excess

Jay Slosar, Ph.D., is the author of a provocative new book The Culture of Excess: How Americans Lost Self-Control and Why We Need to Redefine Success (ABC-CLIO, LLC, November 2009). For the past quarter-century he has run a successful private practice as a licensed psychologist and has provided direct clinical and consulting services in a variety of diverse settings. Currently, Dr. Slosar is also an adjunct assistant professor at Chapman University in Orange County, California. He also provides forensic evaluations from court referrals, specializing in evaluating teenagers.

Dr. Slosar has worked and consulted for many companies and organizations, including: Health and Human Services Group, Young Life Enrichment Program, Family Solutions, Western Youth Services, Villa Millard Facility, and the Dawson Education Foundation. The services provided included: counseling, psychological evaluations, program design, staff training, and conflict resolution.

He also has served as the administrative clinician for a federal contract in the delivery of an employee assistance program for federal law enforcement employees and their families. Over six years, he was responsible for all clinical and administrative needs for an $8 million federal contract which included providing training/education workshops in the areas of stress management, trauma response, supervisory management, domestic violence, and workplace violence. He co-directed the critical incident response services for operational and non-operational traumas. He has completed certification in critical incident response training from the American Red Cross and the National Organization for Victim’s Assistance.

Dr. Slosar has written and published professional materials and articles, including a staff training manual for residential treatment services. He has also presented a paper at the FBI Quantico training facility on perfectionism and its relationship to suicide in law enforcement personnel.

Since 1985 he has taught in both the psychology department and the health services department at Chapman University as an adjunct assistant associate professor.

He was the president of the Orange County Psychological Association in 2004 and is a past board member of the California Coalition of Ethical Mental Health Care, a San Francisco-based group that promotes the ethics and integrity of mental health-care delivery services. Dr. Slosar was on the board of directors for the California Psychological Association in 2006 and 2007. He is also a Board Member of the California Association of Psychology Providers (CAPP).

Dr. Slosar received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California, earned his Master’s Degree from Wichita State University, and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Jacksonville University. He resides in Newport Beach, California. For more information, please consult www.cultureofexcess.com.

Welcome to Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion, Jay ! Can we begin by having you tell us what The Culture of Excess is about and why you wrote it?

The book provides a psychological explanation of how we as a nation grapple with self-control and how we can develop a new and healthier generation. I point out that our fast-and-loose approach to money is actually a symptom of a more widespread pattern of excessive behavior. We live in a culture where the drive to succeed and the fear of missing out manifests not only in self-entitled corporate fraud, but in everything from sharp rises in obesity and cosmetic medical procedures to equally troubling increases in eating disorders, panic attacks, and outbreaks of uncontrollable rage. The underlying psychological factor focused upon that leads to declining self-control and excess is the increasing levels of cultural narcissism. The cultural factors that contribute are the speed of technology, technology coupled with media, and extreme capitalism.

I wrote the book as I noticed changes in patients in my private practice that parallel changes in our culture. The premise is that culture trumps personality, and that these powerful cultural factors are changing the way we develop.

The Culture of Excess is a non-fiction book. Why did you choose this genre to write? Did you choose it or did it choose you?

I am a Psychologist, so this genre was most comfortable and easiest. The content is what I am passionate about and which I enjoy. It is not work, but is enjoyable to me. I have been thinking and discussing these issues for ten years.

In regards to promotion, what have you been doing to promote your book online?

E Mails to everyone I know, Linked In, Facebook and blogging. Used a press release issued through the web. Developed a web page.

Of all the promotional items (bookmarks, press kits, etc…) you have used to promote your book, which one was used most effectively?

My personal contact with all groups/organizations and professionals I have been involved with. In other words – your network. This is also where the internet is so helpful and expedient.

Do you feel that the Internet has opened doors for authors who never dreamed they’d ever see a publishing contract and how has it influenced you in regards to your own publishing journey?

Yes it opens doors but I think mostly for PR and marketing. You still have to have something timely, substantial and interesting. For me, the struggle was getting a contract from a publisher. I did not want to just use the internet or a self published work. You can put something out and say you are published, but it still may not attract much attention.

If you were in the middle of Manhattan and you wanted to call attention to your book, what would you do and what would you say?

I would announce the Title—the title has always led people to respond affirmatively. After that, its an easy sell, to explain the factors and rationale for the book.

If you could trade places with any author just for a day, who would it be and why?

Probably Richard Florida, as he has developed such an incredible authoritative network of professionals and sources for data integration.

Lastly, how do you determine your book’s success?

This is my first book, so I view it as a platform. I want to make the platform as solid as possible for a second book that would have an agent and a major publisher.

Thank you for coming, Jay! Can you tell us where everyone can pick up a copy of The Culture of Excess?

Yes through my website at www.cultureofexcess.com and Amazon and Barnes Noble.com or directly from the publisher at http://www.abc-clio.com/products/overview.aspx?productid=112245