How the Author of ‘The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking’ Oliver Burkeman Writes: Part Two

In the second half of this file, The Guardian writer, psychology journalist, and author of the critically acclaimed book The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking, Oliver Burkeman, dropped by the program to talk to me about the writer’s journey, turning a weekly column into a book, and rethinking positive thinking. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today!Oliver writes about social psychology, self-help culture, productivity, and the science of happiness for his columns in both The Guardian (based in Brooklyn, New York), and Psychologies magazine. He has also interviewed a laundry list of celebrities ranging from Al Gore to Jerry Seinfeld. In his critically acclaimed book, The Antidote (2012), the author went undercover into the heart of the “happiness industrial complex” to explore why our relentless pursuit of happiness and success often leaves us feeling the opposite. The author looked to academics, psychologists, Buddhists, business consultants, philosophers, and many others in a unique search for an “… alternative path to happiness and success that involves embracing failure, pessimism, insecurity, and uncertainty – the very things we spend our lives trying to avoid.” The Los Angeles Times said of the book, “Burkeman’s tour of the ‘negative path’ to happiness makes for a deeply insightful and entertaining book.” If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half you can find it right here. In Part Two of this file Oliver Burkeman and I discuss:

Modest goal setting and how to be productive when you’re depressed

The fallacies of overcoming ‘resistance’

How to interview Jerry Seinfeld

Why you need to just do a little writing every day

The Show Notes

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How the Author of ‘The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking’ Oliver Burkeman Writes: Part One

OliverBurkeman.com

The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking – Oliver Burkeman

This column will change your life – Oliver Burkeman investigates routes to mental wellbeing for The Guardian

Why time management is ruining our lives – Oliver Burkeman

Oliver Burkeman for Psychologies magazine

DropVox – Record Voice Memos to Dropbox

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Jerry Seinfeld on how to be funny without sex and swearing – Oliver Burkeman

Oliver Burkeman on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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