Bright sided barbara ehrenreich biography

Media Reviews

BookBrowse Review - Amy Reading
Barbara Ehrenreich is definitely onto something with Bright-Sided, a breezy survey of positive thinking as espoused by those in psychology, business, cancer recovery, mega-churches, and most messianically, self-help books.

Her naturally skeptical mind lances right through the heart of this doctrine to find its central paradoxes. Positive thinkers believe that the world is only going to get better, yet they also discipline themselves to only think positive thoughts in order to help bring that world about, thus admitting a deep anxiety and a need for self-deception about the state of reality.

Ehrenreich is at her best when she argues that positive thinking prevents other emotions necessary for progress and prosperity, such as outrage, empathy, and conviction. She personally embodies this argument in the first chapter, in which takes her readers along for her own ride