Interesting Book Presentation

[Roberta]

I'm not sure if you've seen the RSA Animate. If not check them out at
http://www.thersa.org/. Really interesting and visual way of sharing information. I've watched Daniel Pink's Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us and Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America, both of which I was planning to read.

Be sure to watch the animated presentations. The videos are good but not as striking. Here's a direct link to an animated presentation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOP2V_...

[Dorothy]

Roberta wrote: "I'm not sure if you've seen the RSA Animate. If not check them out at
http://www.thersa.org/. Really interesting and visual way of sharing information. I've watched Daniel Pink's [book:Drive:..."

Many thanks for this Roberta...it is brilliant.

[[deleted user]]

The site looks interesting.

Listening to the news media, it is hard to believe that there is a relentless promotion of positive thinking. Newspapers are not much better. I agree that some self help books go overboard, but a moderate amount of positive thinking, in my view can be helpful.

W.A.C. Bennett, our premier for twenty years was a believer in positive thinking. He mentally prepared himself on a routine basis by thinking positively. I can't think of a world worse than politics for negative confrontation and thoughts. It's a blood sport.

[Roberta]

I think that .Bright-sided: How Positive Thinking Is Undermining Americais focusing more on the blind Candide style of positive thinking, "this is the best of all possible worlds", which I find can limit engagement in community change and growth. I believe Erhenreich is writing about being realistic about those things that need to be addressed rather than blindly believing they will fix themselves. At least, that's how I read it.

For me optimism and a sense of possibilitiy are key values, along with curiousity and connection. I do find however, an almost blaming attitude for misfortunes, such as when poor or homeless people are told to get a job, straighten up, think positive and similar kinds of attitudes.