Everything Now By Steve Mckevitt

In the essay “Everything Now” Signs of Life in the USA: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers, author Steve McKevitt blames our unhappiness on having everything we need and want, given to us now. While his writing is compelling, he changes his main point as his conclusion doesn’t match his introduction. He uses “want versus need” (145) as a main point, but doesn’t agree what needs or wants are, and uses a psychological theory that is criticized for being simplistic and incomplete. McKevitt’s use of humor later in the essay doesn’t fit with the subject of the article and comes across almost satirical. Ultimately, this essay is ineffective because the author’s main point is inconsistent and poorly conveyed. McKevitt starts the essay explaining how we are now living in a time of instant, 24/7 access to almost anything we want. Our needs are met and now our economy focuses on getting what we want as fast as possible. He then asks “…why aren’t we happier or, at the very least, worrying less and enjoying life more?” (144). The author

This is a theory in psychology from 1943 that lists our needs in a hierarchal format and says that the needs of the most basic level must be fulfilled before higher needs are desired. You must meet all your biological and physiological needs before you are concerned about your relationship or esteem needs. Psychologists have criticized this theory throughout the years, for example, Saul McLeod says in his essay explaining Maslow’s Theory, “Personal opinion is always prone to bias, which reduces the validity of any data obtained. Therefore Maslow 's operational definition of self-actualization must not be blindly accepted as scientific fact” (Simple Psychology). Using a theory that has not been rigorously proven weakens the author’s argument. Most readers, however, are not familiar with the theory or it’s controversy, and would take it at face