Pink's Purpose

Pink's amused humor reveals that Americans have forgotten how incredible their abundance is and are seeking meaning and creativity. For example, Pink describes the incredible environment of his local mall, but discovers that "what's so remarkable about Potomac Yards is how utterly unremarkable it is." (pg. 32) By comparing his childhood shopping experiences to modern ones, Pink shows that abundance in America has increased since the 1970s. This paradox explains how Americans overlook the extravagance of the normal objects in their lives because they are commonplace. However, this prosperity has not made Americans that much happier. Pink says "while living standards have risen steadily, personal, family, and life satisfaction haven't budged." (pg. 35) He is not suggesting that Americans are not happy, only that material possessions have not made Americans any happier than they were previously. Basically, Americans are looking past their material possessions to search for meaning and internal satisfaction. Pink's ideas lend themselves to suggest that American society is moving into an age where material possessions and technology are not as important as seeking purpose and self-satisfaction.