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megatsunami's review
4.0
3.5 stars. Enjoyed this book a lot, and its challenge to the logic of positive thinking. I liked the author's journey into several different ventures to explore alternatives. However, parts felt incomplete. The chapter on goals, for example, seemed to be missing some steps in the chain of logic. It might be true that an obsessive focus on goals doesn't automatically lead to results. But does it follow that NOT having goals and just enjoying the process is a good way to organize things?
raychelllibby's review
5.0
Listened on audible: Yes. This. 100%. I thought I was a cynic before reading this: turns out I'm more of a stoic.
bootman's review
5.0
2nd read:
I absolutely love this book, and I’ll continue to read it again and again. This is one of the most helpful books for when I’m in a depressive funk because it’s all about fighting depression with some evidence-based methods. But best of all, it’s written by a normal person. Oliver is an incredible author, and I love all of his books. This book was just what I needed while dealing with my depressive brain. It reminded me about stoic philosophy, the importance of meditation, and not comparing my success to others. I love this book and can’t recommend it enough.
1st read:
AMAZING book. The book I read before this was similar, but it was kind of a bummer. This one did an excellent job showing the positives of negative thinking
I absolutely love this book, and I’ll continue to read it again and again. This is one of the most helpful books for when I’m in a depressive funk because it’s all about fighting depression with some evidence-based methods. But best of all, it’s written by a normal person. Oliver is an incredible author, and I love all of his books. This book was just what I needed while dealing with my depressive brain. It reminded me about stoic philosophy, the importance of meditation, and not comparing my success to others. I love this book and can’t recommend it enough.
1st read:
AMAZING book. The book I read before this was similar, but it was kind of a bummer. This one did an excellent job showing the positives of negative thinking
raulmazilu's review
5.0
I really liked it because it:
- draws heavily on stoic philosophy,
- explains what's wrong with the 'cult of optimism' (e.g., books from motivational speakers with no scientific support), and
- argues in favour of embracing failure not just as a stepping stone towards success, but merely to rid oneself of the stressful struggle towards perfectionism.
Some action points:
1. when stressed out, take a 'Stoic pause': remember that the source of your distress is your judgment about the heavy traffic or the infuriating comment someone made, not the situation itself
2. practice vipassana meditation
3. remind yourself of Albert Ellis' distinction between a very bad outcome and an absolutely terrible one. Most likely, what causes your anxiety now is bad, but it's finitely bad, not a world-ending disaster
4. accept that life is innately uncertain, so live in harmony with this uncertainty. You can no more succeed in achieving perfect security and control than a wave could succeed in leaving the ocean.
- draws heavily on stoic philosophy,
- explains what's wrong with the 'cult of optimism' (e.g., books from motivational speakers with no scientific support), and
- argues in favour of embracing failure not just as a stepping stone towards success, but merely to rid oneself of the stressful struggle towards perfectionism.
Some action points:
1. when stressed out, take a 'Stoic pause': remember that the source of your distress is your judgment about the heavy traffic or the infuriating comment someone made, not the situation itself
2. practice vipassana meditation
3. remind yourself of Albert Ellis' distinction between a very bad outcome and an absolutely terrible one. Most likely, what causes your anxiety now is bad, but it's finitely bad, not a world-ending disaster
4. accept that life is innately uncertain, so live in harmony with this uncertainty. You can no more succeed in achieving perfect security and control than a wave could succeed in leaving the ocean.
dcmr's review
3.0
I appreciate the not-a-selfhelp-book attitude. It's a well-researched book from an accomplished journalist that made me feel better about not feeling better with positive thinking and affirmations.