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

5.0

I loved, loved, loved this book. I may be a little prejudiced because it came into my life at the right time to strike a chord with me, but I found it incredibly helpful. In contrast to a lot of pop psychology books, it's written by a reporter rather than a researcher, so it felt more objective. The central thesis is that life is more fulfilling and satisfying when you embrace (or at least tolerate) the bad as well as the good, and he spends each chapter examining that idea from the perspective of a different tradition. Religion, philosophy, meditation, and psychology are all incorporated, and it felt like he did a very convincing job proving his thesis. The book was also written in an enjoyable, sometimes witty tone. I borrowed it from the library, but I want to buy it and underline the heck out of it.

Highly, highly recommended.