Summary

In Chapter 1, "The Happiness Machine," the novel opens in the year 2035, and Pearl, a contentment technician for the Apricity Corporation, is reading the list of things to make her client happy: eat tangerines, work at a desk that receives morning light, and amputate the top third of his right index finger. Her client, at first surprised, acquiesces to the list, citing an acquaintance that had been told to stop contact with his brother, and he did, indeed, seem happier.

Pearl believes in the Apricity machine, has seen it work thousands of times, but knows not everyone needs to believe in it. One client was asked to adopt a religious practice and stormed out of the room. Pearl arrived home deflated from this client, only to find her teenage son not in the apartment where he was supposed to be. Awaiting his arrival, she...