Two most important things about life in the 21st century have to be - Time and Weight
They are a measure of success almost. You are still living in the stone ages or in the 'barbaric' East unless
a) you always look/sound busy with no time to chitchat
b) and are concerned about your weight

Its no wonder that the most 'expensive improvements' have been about managing both.
-All of the technological advances now are to organize your time. Imagine yourself, if you will, at the hip drinking hole in your neighbourhood and using this line "You are hot. Can I have your number to save it on my TGTST (Tiny-Gadget-Thats-Smarter-Than-Me) while using it to pay for your drink and listening to the 'Slate' news interspersed with the 1000 songs that I have saved on it?" and see if it works. Face it people, no amount of microchips will help you get organized or be on-time or reach orgasm. Okay scratch the last one.
-Much if not all of the non-fiction books on the other hand are for 'weight loss'. There is a plethora of tips/guidance/scientifically proven methods to follow-
...Low carb, no carb, high protein, high fat, low fat, fatfree, 7day, 30 day, 60 day, life style change, high intensity, yoga, free weights, aerobic training, pilates, positive hypnosis, sorcery, hodoo....list goes on
And you know what? I've done about 95% of them all. As have every women I know and some men too.
Weight loss plans are like religions to me.
Each one boasting its own virtues and the evils of the others.
Each promising a lifetime of happiness and dreams come true.
For a while, you believe them.
They seem to work.
You feel happy enough to slip out on a few 'regiments' and commit a few minor 'lunch-outs' sins
Eventually you slip far back into the atheist phase of 'screw you all..I'm just gonna be happy as a fat person.'
Then trouble arrives in the form of a cute intern at work, a slimmer old/new friend, a upcoming wedding and you are ready for penance.
You'll do anything to buy yourself a 'thinner you all in 7 days' and purgatory i.e. the latest plan on the news, is looking pretty good with all the revisions and flexible meal ideas.
So you convert.
You gleefully spread the word around while knowing deep down in your heart that sin is staring at you across the isle in a box of chocolate transfats and oh does it ever taste sweet.

Moral of the day: The only way to be really successful and civilized is if you can sell your 'weight loss' idea for a million bucks and lean back with all the 'saved time' from not having to work and play 'push this stone around' game on your newly purchased organizational gadget.