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introvertedbear's review
5.0
This book is fantastic. A few of these things I had already sussed out for myself as a teenager; existential depression will do that to a person. I was the teenager who was afraid to sleep at night because I was terrified I wouldn't wake up in the morning.
I really appreciate the structure of the book and how the author brought everything together. It's given me a lot to think about, and I also now have more books on my to read list.
I don't think his short description of Santa Muerte did the saint full justification. It's a much older religion than he mentioned. I realize this is a bit funny coming from me, someone who does not believe in Santa Muerte, but I believe the history of religion is important for understanding human nature and behavior.
My other huge complaint is that there is no bibliography. I understand that this is a book geared toward general readers, but the author did a lot of research for it and mentions tons of written works in the book. There should have been a bibliography or at least a further reading section so that readers can more readily find the books that he's mentioned.
I am probably one of the least happiest people I know (Besides my dad. He is much, much worse), and my coworkers frequently don't understand my emotional reactions. I think happiness is overrated, and that it means nothing without a significant understanding of the other emotions in the human spectrum as well. I'm happy to have read a book that I can relate to, and I'm thankful for the author's work and research that he put into this. I feel more relaxed and at ease with my rejection of the cult of optimism. I suppose at this point I must admit that I love this book because it confirms my biases.
I really appreciate the structure of the book and how the author brought everything together. It's given me a lot to think about, and I also now have more books on my to read list.
I don't think his short description of Santa Muerte did the saint full justification. It's a much older religion than he mentioned. I realize this is a bit funny coming from me, someone who does not believe in Santa Muerte, but I believe the history of religion is important for understanding human nature and behavior.
My other huge complaint is that there is no bibliography. I understand that this is a book geared toward general readers, but the author did a lot of research for it and mentions tons of written works in the book. There should have been a bibliography or at least a further reading section so that readers can more readily find the books that he's mentioned.
I am probably one of the least happiest people I know (Besides my dad. He is much, much worse), and my coworkers frequently don't understand my emotional reactions. I think happiness is overrated, and that it means nothing without a significant understanding of the other emotions in the human spectrum as well. I'm happy to have read a book that I can relate to, and I'm thankful for the author's work and research that he put into this. I feel more relaxed and at ease with my rejection of the cult of optimism. I suppose at this point I must admit that I love this book because it confirms my biases.
knitter22's review against another edition
5.0
I used to do the lab. work for a local group of oncologists, and one evening I heard someone crying in the waiting room. The rest of the staff had left and the doctors were doing rounds, so I went to see what was going on. I found a patient sitting there, crying quietly. She had been in remission twice, but had recently relapsed. She said she needed to talk to one of the doctors because she didn't know what she was doing wrong. When we talked further, she said she had been using some visualization tapes, where you are directed to imagine that lasers or your vigilante white cells are killing your tumor. She had also been using some “positive thinking for cancer patients” tapes where you are told to repeat, “I am healthy” and “I am cancer-free.” She was incredibly upset, not so much by the cancer, but because she felt that her inability to cure herself with positive thinking meant that she was doing something wrong and it was her fault. For me, that moment confirmed that positive thinking, used in the wrong circumstances and for the wrong reasons, can do more harm than good. The Antidote explores that interesting idea.
Oliver Burkeman is not out to bash positive thinking, but rather to explore “the negative path”, the idea that the more we search for happiness and security, the less we achieve them. This is done through chapters on Stoicism, the ways goals can be counterproductive or destructive, insecurity, the non-attachment of Zen Buddhism, failure, and our fear of death. He presents ideas about what might make our lives less unhappy, but this isn't in the typical self-help form of strict rules or a program to be blindly followed.
The conclusions Burkeman seems to come to are to embrace insecurity, and stop searching for happiness and quick fixes. Rather than thinking about everything in a positive way, it is much better to see things realistically, accurately, and truthfully. That is a philosophy I wholeheartedly agree with.
Oliver Burkeman is not out to bash positive thinking, but rather to explore “the negative path”, the idea that the more we search for happiness and security, the less we achieve them. This is done through chapters on Stoicism, the ways goals can be counterproductive or destructive, insecurity, the non-attachment of Zen Buddhism, failure, and our fear of death. He presents ideas about what might make our lives less unhappy, but this isn't in the typical self-help form of strict rules or a program to be blindly followed.
The conclusions Burkeman seems to come to are to embrace insecurity, and stop searching for happiness and quick fixes. Rather than thinking about everything in a positive way, it is much better to see things realistically, accurately, and truthfully. That is a philosophy I wholeheartedly agree with.
catriona_geddes's review
4.0
Really makes you question a lot of the self-help and positivity messages that exist today. Thoroughly enjoyed it and hopefully I gained something from it.
caribouffant's review against another edition
5.0
Trying to think about death, trying to observe that thinking.
m4ryk4te's review against another edition
4.5
I enjoyed this book! I started reading it in the midst of a depressive episode, some chapters REALLY spoke to me, especially the chapters about sense of self and insecurity. This book got me thinking about uncertainty's role in my life and I found myself constantly relating Oliver Burkeman's words back to my own experience. I frequently journaled about what I was reading and brought it up in therapy. I do recommend!
pehall's review against another edition
5.0
Superbly and sagely written. A real antidote of all the positive mumbo jumbo that creeps in everywhere. I will be taking a more stoical view of life.
bogdan_'s review against another edition
5.0
Having been exposed to the ideas of "Law of Attraction" and certain other New Age philosophies, I've always felt that something just about them just didn't sit right with me. This book shines a light on exactly what. Burkeman examines various philosophies and attitudes with regards to the concept of happiness. He points out, with some back-up from scientific studies on happiness, that this obsession with positive thinking and avoidance of confrontation with the negative, potentially does more harm than good. He covers stoicism, Buddhism, teachings of Eckhart Tolle, scientific research, as well as insights into other cultures and their stance on happiness and death.
Now, he does not advocate for the disregard of positive thinking. He is making a point that negative thinking is not inherently bad, and may even be useful if applied in conscious manner. He makes a point in that one should accept and understand that as a human being it is only natural to experience the whole range of the emotional spectrum. If you become aware of, and understand negativity as a function in our psyche you will be better equipped to deal with it and even use it as a fuel for inner tranquillity.
Now, embrace the uncertainty and chaos of life, for seeking perfect security is the modern society's fool's errand.
Now, he does not advocate for the disregard of positive thinking. He is making a point that negative thinking is not inherently bad, and may even be useful if applied in conscious manner. He makes a point in that one should accept and understand that as a human being it is only natural to experience the whole range of the emotional spectrum. If you become aware of, and understand negativity as a function in our psyche you will be better equipped to deal with it and even use it as a fuel for inner tranquillity.
Now, embrace the uncertainty and chaos of life, for seeking perfect security is the modern society's fool's errand.