Bright-Sided

Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America (2009) by Barbara Ehrenreich. From "Smile or Die: The Bright Side of Cancer" to "God Wants You to Be Rich," Ehrenreich effectively skewers the bogus positive thinking movement, which purports to believe that just through the power of thought, we can change the world around us. Ever feel sad, only to be told that it's your fault for not thinking positive? Then you will enjoy this book, which explores the historical roots of the positive thinking movement, and shows how they derive from the American past rooted in Calvinism. This is an extremely well-researched book, with footnotes and everything, but it's not a difficult read. I found it refreshing. Grade: A-