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samtd's review
4.0
I may have enjoyed this simply because it validated how I already feel about 'positive thinking,' and shed light on what I have considered my pessimistic, cynical outlook - which maybe isn't all that bad. At the very least, it was a fast read, and a fascinating take on the popular self-help, motivational culture that the likes of Oprah have made popular. I believe some of the methods outlined are helpful and offer a new way of approaching how I think about my world and circumstances.
I'm now going to go consider worst-case scenarios, and embrace my failures.
I'm now going to go consider worst-case scenarios, and embrace my failures.
caseyjoreads's review
4.0
Comfortable reading style. A layperson's tour through forms of negative happiness.
coldinaugust's review
5.0
Excellent book, cheeky writing. Pairs well with [b:Bright-Sided|6452749|Bright-Sided How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America|Barbara Ehrenreich|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312057767s/6452749.jpg|6642954].
drewmiller_'s review
4.0
Stoicism, Buddhism, and negative capability, several different worlds of philosophy, all reflect a realistic, accepting perspective that lead to a benign relationship to one's existence. From Epictetus to Tolle, those who have declined to chase happiness are those that find it. Embrace uncertainty, mortality, and helplessness, and you will truly overcome the trap of desire.
Martha Nussbaum, on philosophical uncertainty: "To be good human, is to have a kind of openness to the world, an ability to trust uncertain things beyond your own control, that can lead you to be shattered in very extreme circumstances for which you were not to blame. That says something very important about the ethical life: that it is based on a trust in the uncertainty, and on a willingness to be exposed. It's based on being more like a plant than a jewel: sometimes rather fragile, but whose very particular beauty is inseparable from that fragility."
Martha Nussbaum, on philosophical uncertainty: "To be good human, is to have a kind of openness to the world, an ability to trust uncertain things beyond your own control, that can lead you to be shattered in very extreme circumstances for which you were not to blame. That says something very important about the ethical life: that it is based on a trust in the uncertainty, and on a willingness to be exposed. It's based on being more like a plant than a jewel: sometimes rather fragile, but whose very particular beauty is inseparable from that fragility."
lauramariani's review against another edition
5.0
An invigorating, atypical “self help” book about the value of Stoicism, mindfulness, catastrophizing, ego-death, and even death-death. Its main thesis is that the aggressive pursuit of happiness is likely to make you pretty miserable, whereas asking “what’s the worst that can happen?” and accepting the fact that most things are out of our control is freeing. I already agreed with the main points but still found valuable advice and greater historical context here.
gardo's review
5.0
I grabbed this because I saw Mark Manson (one of my favourite authors/bloggers) describe it as “an awesome book” in a Twitter thread.
A big chunk of this is stuff I was already pretty familiar with, e.g. from reading about Buddhism and Stoicism, but this book weaves that in with a lot of other ideas in a really compelling way.
It’s a short, excellent read.
A big chunk of this is stuff I was already pretty familiar with, e.g. from reading about Buddhism and Stoicism, but this book weaves that in with a lot of other ideas in a really compelling way.
It’s a short, excellent read.
ktmomma's review against another edition
I had a hard time getting started, but I think I should revisit when I have more time to sit down and read.