lizlalettrice 's review for:

The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking by Oliver Burkeman

4.0

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Really good stuff. I picked up this book after receiving a request for it at work and was intrigued based on my skeptical reactions to the cropping-up of more and more positive-thinking seekers in my life. Its just not my thing. Granted, I think a lot of people get a lot out of "positive thinking" but I have problems with a mode of being/thinking that denies/tries to cover up the yin of the yin and yang. This book delves into the psychology of this thinking and why the opposite approach - accepting negativity and learning to be content with it - is the stronger study. I love history and philosophy and cultural studies so I appreciated that, in much of the book, Burkeman discusses varying philosophical and religious movements such as Stoicism, Buddhism, meditation, the study of "death-worshipping" culture, and my personal favorite motto/reminder: "memento mori" and the important lessons we could learn from each. (He also speaks on the common misconceptions of how some of these movements are attributed to what Burkeman calls "the cult of optimism" when they are, in fact, not about positivity, but accepting negativity in your life.) For anyone sick of people's positive affirmations just not cutting it when you're going through bad shit, this is the book for you. And if not, at least you'll end the book understanding this key point - YES, life sucks sometimes... but it could always be worse. And then you die. :)