Smile or Die.

General Academics Religion and Philosophy
1

Recently read, “Smile or Die: How Positive Thinking Fooled America & The World” by Barbara Ehrenreich (it was motivated by her battle with breast cancer, during which you’re always expected to be the model of positiveness). She traces the roots of the cult of positive thinking to the 1800s in America as a reaction to Calvinism, & makes a compelling case for this philosophy (instead of critical thinking) playing a major role in the global economic meltdown - i.e. important decisions made based on not allowing any constructive debate or issues raised that could be construed as being negative.

She also deconstructs & demolishes books like “The Secret”.

At the same time I was reading Sam Harris’ first 2 books, after having reread “The God Delusion” & RD’s new evolution textbook … there seemed to be some reasonances.

Anyone else here aware of this book? It was first published in 2009. I was intrigued by reading a book review, so later ordered it from Kalahari. Currently on loan to a friend.

www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jan/10/smile-or-die-barbara-ehrenreich.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Ehrenreich.

2

Hmmm… interesting. It sounds very similar to Steve Salerno’s “Sham: How the Self-Help Movement Made America Helpless”. (Salerno, if I recall, has been interviewed on many of the ‘major’ skeptical podcasts).

I also came across a Bloggingheads discussion involving Ehrenreich: http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/23478 (which I haven’t watched).

3

Both Salerno & Ehrenreich’s books well worth reading. There’s a cool animation of Ehrenreich’s book here:
RSA Animate - Smile or Die