Barbara Ehrenreich

She tends to grate on my nerves. In Nickel and Dimed I really thought she was ao black and white on things and at times I felt she pushed things in her situation to fit the point she wanted to make.

With the caveat that I have not read the book, I think it is problematic to refer to people who believe in positive thinking as being happy about things. Being a member of the church where "The Power of Positive Thinking" was written, what I hear much more of is along the lines of "You can choose how you look at things." or "Life can be extemely hard and there is no doubt suffering, but it does not have to defeat or define you." I think the constantly "cheery" people are not really getting the message.

if men with prostate cancer got blue stuffed bears

Actually, not a bad idea, as far as it goes. But also not a substitute for realism and substance.

With the caveat that I have not read the book, I think it is problematic to refer to people who believe in positive thinking as being happy about things.

She does point out that "positive thinking" doesn't necessarily lead to being happy about things, because if you try "positive thinking" and you don't get what you want (e.g. your cancer doesn't go away) then it's all your fault. So to employ positive thinking is to constantly examine your thoughts and feelings in an attempt to purge any negative thoughts.

I enjoy a nice long bath with a cat sitting on the rim of the tub, staring at me with a concerned "You know you're surrounded by water, right, Mom? And this is something you wanted to do? Let me tap it, just to make sure--ooh, yeah, that's water, all right."

Being a member of the church where "The Power of Positive Thinking" was written, what I hear much more of is along the lines of "You can choose how you look at things." or "Life can be extemely hard and there is no doubt suffering, but it does not have to defeat or define you." I think the constantly "cheery" people are not really getting the message.

And then there's the corruption into The Secret and that stuff, where what you think actually makes things happen, and I think that's a real problem. I can't say it for 100% certain, but I am pretty damn sure no one ever got cancer (or cured) because of their attitude.

I haven't read the Ehrenreich book either...

because if you try "positive thinking" and you don't get what you want (e.g. your cancer doesn't go away) then it's all your fault.

yeah., I am pretty positive (see what I did there) Norman Vincent Peale and Wayne Dyer would never say that.

The Secret is a twisted money making thing, on the same level as "be a good Christian and get rich" ministers.

With the caveat that I have not read the book, I think it is problematic to refer to people who believe in positive thinking as being happy about things.

She's talking about positive thinking in the sense of "I believe $10,000 will appear in my bank account" and the "if you believe it, you receive it" concept. She kind of conflates Norman Vincent Peale, Dale Carnegie and abundance theology, which are very different.

The Secret is a twisted money making thing, on the same level as "be a good Christian and get rich" ministers.

Yeah, absolutely. But even more dangerous, I think.

Talking about the "Power of Positive Thinking" always makes me flash on Chief Inspector Dreyfus. Ah, the power of childhood moviegoing experiences.

She kind of conflates Norman Vincent Peale, Dale Carnegie and abundance theology, which are very different.

Yes, very different. Should not be discussed together except to draw distinctions between what different groups consider "positive thinking". Fists of righteous indignation.