The Positive Power of Negative Thinking: Using Defensive Pessimism to Harness Anxiety and Perform at Your Peak
- ISBN13: 9780465051397
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
A psychologist challenges the tyranny of optimism by claiming that negative thinking is often a far better way to deal with anxiety than striving to stay positive. How often are we urged to “look on the bright side”? From Norman Vincent Peale to the ubiquitous smiley face, optimism has become an essential part of American society. In this long-overdue book, psychologist Julie Norem offers convincing evidence that, for many people, positive thinking is an ineffective strategy–and often an obstacle–for successfully coping with the anxieties and pressures of modern life. Drawing on her own research and many vivid case histories, Norem provides evidence of the powerful benefits of “defensive pessimism,” which has helped millions to manage anxiety and perform their best work…. More >>
The Positive Power of Negative Thinking: Using Defensive Pessimism to Harness Anxiety and Perform at Your Peak
Tags: Anxiety, Defensive, Harness, Negative, Peak, Perform, Pessimism, Positive, Power, Thinking, Using
I did not like this book.
Nothing new or original.
Rating: 2 / 5
This is probably not a great week for me when it comes to books. I read two this week that didn’t wow me. They weren’t bad. But they weren’t great either. This book had some entertaining moments in it, but hardly enough to justify my time.
Rating: 2 / 5
Most Females (or other minority groups) appear to practice the management philosophy of Dr. Norem’s positive negativism, perhaps because typically being followers rather than recognized leaders, they’ve often had to entertain the high probability of failure, due to bias, discrimination or simply histories of it. The idea that optimists occur across the gender gap, the racial gap, or the disability or ethnic minority gap is preposterous. Anyone who struggles with the presumptions of success as heavily concentrated in the domain of the majority is not logical to emotionally invest in that traditional attitude because of the failures they are used to having to absorb. Optimism, itself, is very much rooted in the success history of the past, and to those who are class, gender and identity favored. All of the rest practice to varying degrees the process of positive negativism by conditioning if not by training and experience. Why should it be otherwise?
Rating: 4 / 5
I found it fantastic. I learnt so much about myself and it helped me understand how other relationships were different and why. I didnt even relise so much of what I did. It is a great book.
Rating: 5 / 5
This book is a POORLY WRITTEN version of Dr. Edward De Bono’s research and publications. Dr. Edward de Bono wrote about NEGATIVE thinking in The Six Thinking Hats more than ten years ago, and in several of his books. As a Six Thinking Hats graduate, I believe Norem’s book is an embarrassment to the professional community. This book will NOT harness the negative person to achieve anything more than MORE NEGATIVITY. There is NO RECIPE FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE in Norem’s book. Do not buy this book!
Rating: 1 / 5