Bright-sided

Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America
As I was driving the long commute from one side of town to the other, I happened to catch Barbara Ehrenreich on NPR. Like me, you’re probably most familiar with Barbara from her earlier works, including Nickel and Dimed in America and Bait and Switch to name a few.

For those of you unfamiliar, Nickel and Dimed explored the working class- those earning around minimum wage. In Bait and Switch, she donned the persona of a laid-off white-collar worker, her goal to get a new job in a set amount of time. Personally I enjoyed Nickel and Dimed a touch more, perhaps because Bait and Switch hit a tad to close to home for my comfort.

I tuned in mid-sentence. Barbara was explaining how the idea for the book came to her during her recent battles with Breast Cancer. She was bombarded with what she describes, as the "optimistic-side of cancer." Urged by inspirational phrases, forcibly cheerful people, and coerced by the medical profession and a support system that almost required positivity at all times, Barbara shared how she was never able to deal with her negative emotions, most particularly anger.

In her book, she claims “Americans are a “positive” people—cheerful, optimistic, and upbeat: this is our reputation as well as our self-image. But more than a temperament, being positive, we are told, is the key to success and prosperity.” She uses her experience with cancer, the church and business to support her thesis.

What could be wrong with a little positive thinking?

Nothing if positive (wishful) thinking doesn’t get in the way of rational decision-making. Barbara makes the case- we, the American people, have taken positive thinking too far- to the point we are willing to stick our heads (collective and individual) in the sand to avoid anything and anyone with even a whiff of negativity.

In listening to the interview, I was most struck by how stringently opposed the audience was to Barbara’s message, (surprisingly) including the interviewer herself. As though the mere hint of cynicism would somehow impact the riches of their lives. I chuckled as I listened to the book, mind flashing back to the radio audience's reaction. For they reacted as Barbara predicted- making her argument for her.

We, the American people, cling to positive thinking as a life preserver, a shield against chaos. In hopes perhaps, positive thinking affords us a minutia of control, real or perceived.

As a self-proclaimed realist, I have to admit I was in a better frame of mind to embrace Barbara’s message than most. Life has kicked me around once too often to ever be an Optimist. Conversely there are too many beautiful moments in existence to ever commit to Pessimism. Instead I count myself amongst the Realists. Life is what it is. One cannot deal with something they are not first prepared to acknowledge and face head on. 

If nothing else, Bright-sided serves as a nice counter to the plethora of positive thinking books clogging the business and self-help shelves of any bookstore.

1 comments:

Carin Siegfried said...

Hm, I wasn't all that impressed with Nickel and Dimed because I thought she only did 90% of her "experiment", so while this book sounded intriguing, I hadn't considered reading it. You're making me reconsider though. (My review of Nickel and Dimed is here: http://carolinebookbinder.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-favorite-reads-nickel-and-dimed.html)

 

Labels

fiction non-fiction chick-lit romance Charlaine Harris whatever Lisa Lutz giveaways Laurell K. Hamilton Augusten Burroughs Book Blogger Hop Christopher Moore Gail Carriger Jacqueline Sheehan Janet Evanovich Jen Lancaster Karen White Patrick Wensick S. G. Browne Tawni O'Dell mystery Alan Moore Alice Sebold Amanda Mccall and Ben Schwartz Andes Hruby Anne Rice Aurelie Sheehan's Ayelet Waldman Barbara Ehrenreich Barbara O'Neal Bill Bryson Brian Rowe Caprice Crane Cathie Linz Cathy Lamb Christopher Hudson Chuck Palahniuk Cider Mill Press Dalia Jurgensen Danielle Steel Daryl Gregory Darynda Jones David Hayward David Sedaris Deborah Coonts Deirdre Martin Denise Hunter Diane Mott Davidso Eileen Rendahl Emma McLaughlin Nicola Kraus Erynn Mangum Gary Morgenstein Gavin McInnes Gregory Maguire Harmony Dust Holly Shumas Isabel Sharpe JD Robb James Levin Jane Hamilton Janelle Brown Jasper Fforde Jeaniene Frost Jill Smolinski Jodi Picoult Jonathan Tropper Joshilyn Jackson Jules Asner Julia London Julie James Julie Kenner Karen Joy Fowler Karen Templeton Katarina Mazetti Kelley Armstrong Ken Denmead Kimberly Frost Kris Radish Kristan Higgins Larissa Ione Laurie Notaro Liane Moriarty Linda Thomas-Sundstrom Lis Wiehl Lolly Winston Lynn Harris Lynne Cox Marisha Pessl Mark Rayner Matt Beaumont Matt Mikalatos Meg Cabot Nicholas Sparks Nicole Young R. Emmett Tyrrell J Rant Rhonda Pollero Rita Herron Robyn Carr Sarah Strohmeyer Seanan McGuire Shannon T Boodram Sharon Krum Sophie Gunn Stephanie Meyer Stephen King Steve O'Brien Stewart O'Nan Susan Elizabeth Phillips Susan Hubbard Susan Isaacs Tony Hendra Tori Carrington Tracey Bateman Turk Pipkin Victoria Laurie Wendy Wax Willie Nelson award

Followers

Stay off the Ladder

Disclaimer

This website is for entertainment purposes only. I am not an attorney, doctor, physicist, or elevator repairman. Don't take my word for anything!

Please seek out a licensed professional. Opinions expressed on this website do not reflect the opinions of anyone other than Zoe, unless otherwise noted.

Sample of books may be given to Zoe Right for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on zoereads.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

Copyright © Zoe Reads 2010 - 2017. All rights reserved.

Please do not take any of my (Zoe Right) text without my express permission. Want to use something? Ask me. I'll probably say yes. I'm nice that way.