Title
Brightsided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America,New
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A sharpwitted knockdown of America's love affair with positive thinking and an urgent call for a new commitment to realismAmericans are a 'positive' peoplecheerful, optimistic, and upbeat: this is our reputation as well as our selfimage. But more than a temperament, being positive, we are told, is the key to success and prosperity.In this utterly original take on the American frame of mind, Barbara Ehrenreich traces the strange career of our sunny outlook from its origins as a marginal nineteenthcentury healing technique to its enshrinement as a dominant, almost mandatory, cultural attitude. Evangelical megachurches preach the good news that you only have to want something to get it, because God wants to 'prosper' you. The medical profession prescribes positive thinking for its presumed health benefits. Academia has made room for new departments of 'positive psychology' and the 'science of happiness.' Nowhere, though, has brightsiding taken firmer root than within the business community, where, as Ehrenreich shows, the refusal even to consider negative outcomeslike mortgage defaultscontributed directly to the current economic crisis.With the mythbusting powers for which she is acclaimed, Ehrenreich exposes the downside of America's penchant for positive thinking: On a personal level, it leads to selfblame and a morbid preoccupation with stamping out 'negative' thoughts. On a national level, it's brought us an era of irrational optimism resulting in disaster. This is Ehrenreich at her provocative bestpoking holes in conventional wisdom and faux science, and ending with a call for existential clarity and courage.
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'Bright-sided' by Barbara Ehrenreich? A: The main theme of 'Bright-sided' is a critical examination of America's obsession with positive thinking and its detrimental effects on personal and societal levels.
- Q: How many pages does 'Bright-sided' have? A: 'Bright-sided' has a total of 235 pages.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: 'Bright-sided' is available in hardcover binding.
- Q: When was 'Bright-sided' published? A: 'Bright-sided' was published on October 13, 2009.
- Q: Who is the author of 'Bright-sided'? A: The author of 'Bright-sided' is Barbara Ehrenreich.
- Q: What is the condition of the book? A: 'Bright-sided' is sold in new condition.
- Q: What category does 'Bright-sided' fall under? A: 'Bright-sided' falls under the category of Literature & Fiction.
- Q: What are some key points discussed in 'Bright-sided'? A: Some key points include the origins of positive thinking, its role in the economic crisis, and the personal implications such as self-blame and irrational optimism.
- Q: Is there a specific edition of 'Bright-sided'? A: 'Bright-sided' is available in its first edition.
- Q: What can readers expect from the tone of 'Bright-sided'? A: Readers can expect a sharp-witted and provocative tone that challenges conventional wisdom regarding positive thinking.