The Power of Negative Thinking

and how it can be a powerful route to joy, success and satisfaction

By: Oliver Burkeman

Narrated by: Oliver Burkeman

Oliver Burkeman explores the virtues of negativity and shows how it can be a surprisingly powerful route to joy, success and satisfaction

Good points and referencing

So much needed points to debunk the positivity only trend. So much misery is created by the positivity only mindset. Good to be remembered that we are all humans with much larger spectrum of emotions and motivations.

Perfect Follow-up to "Addicted to Busy"

Oliver Burkeman perfectly outlines how positive thinking is likely to backfire. This is a great introduction to Burkeman's perspective. I particularly enjoyed the final chapter on imposture feelings and imposturism.

If this is the first you've heard of Burkeman, you are in for a treat! Once you finish with this, enjoy "The Antidote", "Addicted to Busy", and "Why Are We So Angry?".

Checkout his appearance on the 10% Happier podcast too!

Very useful for those of us motivated by non-happy thoughts

I saw this title and knew it was for me.

I love to daydream of how wonderful it is going to be when… but the nothing happens. I don’t have a need to do the activity because I’ve already felt good. The book nails how that is going on in your head.

Less anyone be concerned: the book does not belittle you or scare you into behaving. Rather it addresses how useful negative emotions can be. In my case for example, I don’t do my taxes until I tell myself how terrified I’m going to be if the government comes and gets me. It works every time!

This book is short because it is amazingly unfluffy. I highly recommend it.

One caveat: a small portion of the audiobook has the actual speakers tell their stories. I couldn’t understand what is either an Irish, Scottish, or Welsh accent very well.

against the usual wisdom

several books later from Burkeman, and I am facing a polar bear, meaning once mentioned, I can't get it out my head. in hindsight, it unraveled all the things, books, seminars, failed routines, and more. finally, a way to be ok with who I am. negative thinking and all. 🙂

Another gem from Oliver Burkeman

There is something about Oliver Burkeman’s choices of topics and the way he creates new pathways in my brain to different ways of looking at negative things, that alleviates my anxiety and overthinking… like enjoying a long chat with an longtime and brilliant friend 🙏🤍 This audiobook was interesting and inspiring.