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knitter22's review against another edition
3.0
Bright-Sided is a book that details how pervasive positive thinking has become in American culture, but I'm not sure that it is undermining America (I blame certain politicians, Congress, and the Supreme Court for that.) I do agree with Ehrenreich's premise that we are confronted with relentless positive thinking which can do real harm in some situations, and this is made clear in the opening chapter where she writes about everything she is confronted with as a cancer patient. Cancer patients need and deserve to feel happy and hopeful but I don't think commercializing and infantilizing them will help with a serious disease.
The biggest problem I had with this book is that much of it feels redundant. Ehrenreich has written some excellent articles on the subject for Mother Jones and The New Yorker, and this book would have been better if the pertinent information had been edited down to a magazine article.
"To me, the most disturbing product, though, was the breast cancer teddy bears. I have identified four distinct lines, or species, of these creatures, including “Carol,” the Remembrance Bear; “Hope,” the Breast Cancer Research Bear; the “Susan Bear,” named for Nancy Brinkler’s deceased sister Susan; and the new Nick and Nora Wish Upon a Star Bear, available, along with the Susan Bear, at the Komen Foundation website’s “marketplace.”
The biggest problem I had with this book is that much of it feels redundant. Ehrenreich has written some excellent articles on the subject for Mother Jones and The New Yorker, and this book would have been better if the pertinent information had been edited down to a magazine article.
jrobles76's review against another edition
5.0
I've read 4 of Ehrenreich's books and I think I can officially say that she is my favorite non-fiction/muckrakey author. She writes with a specific point of view, but she backs up her assertions with good research and facts, not "facts". This book takes on the Power of Positive Thinking movement that has been a part of American Culture for decades. If you don't think positive thinking hurts America, just read the second to last chapter on how optimism caused our current recession. If you've ever been called a pessimist for being realistic, this book is for you. This is like the Anti-Secret.
thejdizzler's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointing book filled with anecdotes, ad-hominem and harmful tidbits like "watching the news is your civic duty". I have no doubt that positivism is not a beneficial social movement, but the author could have made the argument much more succinctly in an article rather than this book.
jsisco's review against another edition
4.0
The problem with this book is that Ehrenreich goes a bit off the rails in the middle. The first chapter on cancer and the last chapter on the economy are both incredibly articulate and powerful, but the middle of the book drags with a lack of cohesion and a seriously weak argument for WHY positive thinking is the worst thing ever.
Overall, though, the introduction, first chapter, and last chapter are strong enough that I would recommend this to most people I know. America is full of stupid people, and a lot of those stupid people genuinely think that positive thinking trumps everything. Realism will always be more important and more successful than blind optimism, and I like to think we can thank Ehrenreich for trumpeting that fact.
Overall, though, the introduction, first chapter, and last chapter are strong enough that I would recommend this to most people I know. America is full of stupid people, and a lot of those stupid people genuinely think that positive thinking trumps everything. Realism will always be more important and more successful than blind optimism, and I like to think we can thank Ehrenreich for trumpeting that fact.
rameysaurus's review against another edition
3.0
While I enjoyed this book in many ways, I couldn't help but feel that the author had gone into the topic with her mind already made up, and then done "research" specifically geared to prove her point. I also agree with other reviewers in that it was much longer than it needed to be, and in some instances focused so strongly on driving home her point that it crossed out of the territory of evidence and more into the territory of sheer pettiness.
I also think that (as with many of her books), it is painfully clear that she is writing from the perspective of an upperclass white woman, but presenting her ideas and views as universal. I would have loved to have seen some aspect of race and/or class analysis in this topic, as I do not think that many groups of Americans see the world so rosily as the opening presumes. I would recommend this book to others, but to be taken with a hefty dash - as opposed to a grain - of salt.
I also think that (as with many of her books), it is painfully clear that she is writing from the perspective of an upperclass white woman, but presenting her ideas and views as universal. I would have loved to have seen some aspect of race and/or class analysis in this topic, as I do not think that many groups of Americans see the world so rosily as the opening presumes. I would recommend this book to others, but to be taken with a hefty dash - as opposed to a grain - of salt.
rbogue's review against another edition
One of the most frustrating and hurtful things that can tell someone who is suffering is that it’s their fault. Bad things happen to good people, and it has nothing to do with their faith, their character, or anything other than the randomness of life. Barbara Ehrenreich starts Bright-sided: How Positive Thinking Is Undermining America with her story about how people expected her to disconnect from reality for the service of just being happy.
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aliwinzeler's review against another edition
4.0
An insightful critique of positivism in American culture, exposing the hype and myth of Joel Osteen and motivational speakers. While her expose is self-serving (it appeals to a wide audience of cynics and misanthropes), she does present a clear argument for realism as an ideology. I come away from this book extremely skeptical of the self-help genre, Oprah's picks, and the self-fulfilling prophecies of positive thinking.
rebelbelle13's review against another edition
4.0
In a sea of authors, preachers, life coaches and other speakers who are pushing the benefits of positive thinking, it's quite refreshing to find a voice who says otherwise. Ehrenrich doesn't pull any punches as she describes how positive thinking and manifestation of wanted or 'deserved' items or lifestyles has permeated the United States at almost every level of life. She cites study after study that proves that positive thinking, happy outlooks and general all-around positivity alone doesn't change your life circumstances, your actual happiness or your prospects. She also points out that people who act like they are happy all the time need to either self-hypnotize or continually brainwash themselves into constant positivity. They really believe that if they aren't positive, good things won't happen to them, which is quite ridiculous.
When Ehrenrich wrote Bright-Sided, the term 'toxic positivity' didn't exist- but had she written this book today, she most certainly would have included it. She encourages people to, instead of pretending that life is full of rainbows and unicorns, to see life as it really is- to consider downsides and potential failings with a clear, unbiased mind instead of forcing yourself to see everything as a glass half (or completely) full. Moderation in everything is key, even in the case of positivity.
When Ehrenrich wrote Bright-Sided, the term 'toxic positivity' didn't exist- but had she written this book today, she most certainly would have included it. She encourages people to, instead of pretending that life is full of rainbows and unicorns, to see life as it really is- to consider downsides and potential failings with a clear, unbiased mind instead of forcing yourself to see everything as a glass half (or completely) full. Moderation in everything is key, even in the case of positivity.