50. Sara Martin, "Seligman Laments People's Tendency to Blame Others," APA Monitor, APA Monitor, Oct. 1998. Oct. 1998.

51. Seligman, Authentic Happiness Authentic Happiness, 50.

52. Brad Lemley, "Shiny Happy People: Can You Reach Nirvana with the Aid of Science?" Discover, Discover, Aug. 2006, [http://discovermagazine.com/2006/aug/shinyhappy] http://discovermagazine.com/2006/aug/shinyhappy. Aug. 2006, [http://discovermagazine.com/2006/aug/shinyhappy] http://discovermagazine.com/2006/aug/shinyhappy.

53. D. T. Max, "Happiness 101," New York Times Magazine, New York Times Magazine, Jan. 7, 2007. Jan. 7, 2007.

54. [http://www.flourishingschools.org/programs.htm] http://www.flourishingschools.org/programs.htm.

55. Max, "Happiness 101."

SEVEN. How Positive Thinking Destroyed the Economy 1. Michael A. Fletcher, "1 in 4 Working Families Now Low-Wage, Report Finds," Washington Post, Washington Post, Oct. 15, 2008. Oct. 15, 2008.

2. David Leonhardt, "Larry Summers's Evolution," New York Times, New York Times, June 10, 2007. June 10, 2007.

3. Leslie Bennetts, "The End of Hubris," Portfolio Portfolio, Dec. 2008, [http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/11/19/Greed-and-Doom-on-Wall-Street] http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/11/19/Greed-and-Doom-on-Wall-Street.

4. John Schmitt and Ben Zipperer, "Is the U.S. a Good Model for Reducing Social Exclusion in Europe?," Center for Economic Policy Review Center for Economic Policy Review, Aug. 2006.

5. Carol Graham and Soumya Chattopadhyay, "Gross National Happiness and the Economy," [http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2006/04/b1579981.html] http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2006/04/b1579981.html.

6. Dean Baker, Plunder and Blunder: The Rise and Fall of the Bubble Economy Plunder and Blunder: The Rise and Fall of the Bubble Economy (Sausalito: Polipoint Press, 2009), 3. (Sausalito: Polipoint Press, 2009), 3.

7. Paul Krugman, "Lest We Forget," New York Times New York Times, Nov. 11, 2008.

8. Quoted in Karen A. Cerulo, Never Saw It Coming: Cultural Challenges to Envisioning the World Never Saw It Coming: Cultural Challenges to Envisioning the World (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006), 6162. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006), 6162.

9. Karin Klein, "Wish for a Cake-and Eat It Too," Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, Feb. 13, 2007. Feb. 13, 2007.

10. Joel Osteen, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential (New York: Faith Words, 2004), 78. (New York: Faith Words, 2004), 78.

11. David Van Biema, "Maybe We Should Blame G.o.d for the Subprime Mortgage Mess," Time Time, Oct. 3, 2008.

12. Kevin Phillips, Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism (New York: Viking, 2008) 9295. (New York: Viking, 2008) 9295.

13. Baker, Plunder and Blunder Plunder and Blunder, 97.

14. Stephen S. Roach, "Dying of Consumption," New York Times, New York Times, Nov. 28, 2008; Phillips, Nov. 28, 2008; Phillips, Bad Money Bad Money, 43.

15. Alan Zibel, "Personal Bankruptcy Filings Rise 40%," [http://Washingtonpost.com] Washingtonpost.com, Jan. 4, 2008.

16. Steven Pearlstein, "A Perfect Storm? No, a Failure of Leadership," Washington Post Washington Post, Dec. 12, 2008.

17. Robert J. Samuelson, "The Engine of Mayhem," Newsweek Newsweek, Oct. 13, 2008, [http://www.newsweek.com/id/163743] http://www.newsweek.com/id/163743.

18. Steve Fishman, "Burning Down His House," New York, New York, Dec. 8, 2008. Dec. 8, 2008.

19. Larry King Live Larry King Live, CNN, Nov. 21, 2008.

20. Jenny Anderson and Vikas Bajaj, "Merrill Tries to Temper the Pollyannas in Its Ranks," New York Times New York Times, May 15, 2008.

21. [http://about.countrywide.com/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?rid=515497&pr=yes] http://about.countrywide.com/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?rid=515497&pr=yes.

22. Gretchen Morgenson and Geraldine Fabrikant, "Countrywide's Chief Salesman and Defender," New York Times, New York Times, Nov. 11, 2007. Nov. 11, 2007.

23. Adam Michaelson, The Foreclosure of America: The Inside Story of the Rise and Fall of Countrywide Home Loans, the Mortgage Crisis, and the Default of the American Dream The Foreclosure of America: The Inside Story of the Rise and Fall of Countrywide Home Loans, the Mortgage Crisis, and the Default of the American Dream (New York: Berkley, 2009), 260, 205, 261. (New York: Berkley, 2009), 260, 205, 261.

24. Michael Lewis, "The End of Wall Street's Boom," [http://Portfolio.com] Portfolio.com, Dec. 2008.

25. Fishman, "Burning Down His House."

26. Jo Becker, Sheryl Gay s...o...b..rg, and Stephen Labaton, "White House Philosophy Stoked Mortgage Bonfire," New York Times, New York Times, Dec. 21, 2008. Dec. 21, 2008.

27. Julia Hobsbawm, "The Joy of Coaching," May 24, 2007, [http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/business/31040/the-joy-of-coaching.thtml] http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/business/31040/the-joy-of-coaching.thtml.

28. Baker, Plunder and Blunder Plunder and Blunder, 16; Eduardo Porter, "More Than Ever, It Pays to Be the Top Executive," New York Times, New York Times, May 25, 2007. May 25, 2007.

29. Robert Frank, Richistan: A Journey through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich Richistan: A Journey through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich (New York: Crown, 2007), 16. (New York: Crown, 2007), 16.

30. David Lazarus, "Wretched Excess Rides High in Many Executive Suites," San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 29, 2002. Dec. 29, 2002.

31. [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/jack-welch-neutron-jack-flattens-the-bleeding-hearts748440.html] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/jack-welch-neutron-jack-flattens-the-bleeding-hearts748440.html.

32. Fishman, "Burning Down His House."

33. Ibid.

34. Eric Dezenhall and John Weber, Damage Control: How to Get the Upper Hand When Your Business Is under Attack Damage Control: How to Get the Upper Hand When Your Business Is under Attack (New York: Portfolio, 2007), 188. (New York: Portfolio, 2007), 188.

35. Roger Lowenstein, "Triple-A Failure," New York Times Magazine New York Times Magazine, April 27, 2008.

36. [http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/10/23/greenspan/#] http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/10/23/greenspan/#.

37. Paul Vitello, "An Evangelical Article of Faith: Bad Times Draw Bigger Crowds," New York Times, New York Times, Dec. 14, 2008. Dec. 14, 2008.

38. Larry King Live Larry King Live, CNN, Dec. 8, 2008; "When the Economy Gives You Lemons," Marketplace Marketplace, American Public Media, Nov. 26, 2007.

39. Uri Friedman, "Sales Down, So Firms Boost Morale," Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, Aug. 22, 2008, [http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0822/p03s01-usec.html] http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0822/p03s01-usec.html. Aug. 22, 2008, [http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0822/p03s01-usec.html] http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0822/p03s01-usec.html.

40. Patricia Leigh Brown, "Even if You Can't Buy It, Happiness Is Big Business," New York Times, New York Times, Nov. 27, 2008. Nov. 27, 2008.

41. Jodie Tillman, "If You're Unhappy and Know It, Shut Up," St. Petersburg Times St. Petersburg Times, Jan. 29, 2008.

42. Cindy Krischer Goodman, "How to Survive the Economic Crisis: Be Positive, Proactive," Miami Herald Miami Herald, Oct. 28, 2008.

43. Eli Davidson, "How to Get through the Recession with Less Depression," Sept. 25, 2008, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eli-davidson/how-to-get-through-the-re_b_128971.html] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eli-davidson/how-to-get-through-the-re_b_128971.html.

44. "Tony Robbins, Life Coach, Gives Suggestions for Dealing with Our Shaky Economy," Today Today, MSNBC, Oct. 13, 2008.

45. Dennis Byrne, "Facts You Just Can't Believe In," Dec. 30, 2008, [http://www.chicago-tribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-oped1230byrnedec30] www.chicago-tribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-oped1230byrnedec30,0,787857.story.

EIGHT. Postscript on PostPositive Thinking 1. Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee, "On Faith: Are You Satisfied with Where You Are Now in Your Life?," Washington Post, Washington Post, May 22, 2007, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/05/18/DI2007051801202.html?tid=informbox] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/05/18/DI2007051801202.html?tid=informbox. May 22, 2007, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/05/18/DI2007051801202.html?tid=informbox] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/05/18/DI2007051801202.html?tid=informbox.

2. Julie K. Norem, The Positive Power of Negative Thinking: Using Defensive Pessimism to Harness Anxiety and Perform at Your Peak The Positive Power of Negative Thinking: Using Defensive Pessimism to Harness Anxiety and Perform at Your Peak (New York: Basic, 2001). (New York: Basic, 2001).

3. Atul Gawande, "The Power of Negative Thinking," New York Times, New York Times, May 1, 2007. May 1, 2007.

4. Ryszard Kapuscinski, Shah of Shahs Shah of Shahs (New York: Vintage, 1992), 89. (New York: Vintage, 1992), 89.

5. Dubravka Ugresic, Thank You for Not Reading Thank You for Not Reading (Chicago: Dalkey Archive, 2003), 86. (Chicago: Dalkey Archive, 2003), 86.

6. Pekka Pesonen, "Utopias to Norms: From Cla.s.sicism to Socialist Realism," [http://www.slav.helsinki.fi/studies/huttunen/mosaiikki/retro/en/centre-periphery/pp2_eng.htm] http://www.slav.helsinki.fi/studies/huttunen/mosaiikki/retro/en/centre-periphery/pp2_eng.htm.

7. Ugresic, Thank You Thank You, 86.

8. John Marks Templeton, The Templeton Plan: 21 Steps to Personal Success and Real Happiness The Templeton Plan: 21 Steps to Personal Success and Real Happiness (West Conshohocken: Templeton Foundation, 1997), 118. (West Conshohocken: Templeton Foundation, 1997), 118.

9. Carlin Flora, "The Pursuit of Happiness," [http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto4738.html&fromMod=emailed] http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto4738.html&fromMod=emailed.

10. Donald Meyer, The Positive Thinkers: Popular Religious Psychology from Mary Baker Eddy to Norman Vincent Peale and Ronald Reagan ( The Positive Thinkers: Popular Religious Psychology from Mary Baker Eddy to Norman Vincent Peale and Ronald Reagan (Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 1998), 393.

11. Victoria Moore, "Promising You Can Have Anything Just by Thinking about It, It's No Surprise The Secret The Secret Has Become the Fastest-Selling Self-Help Book Ever," Has Become the Fastest-Selling Self-Help Book Ever," Daily Mail Daily Mail (London), April 26, 2007. (London), April 26, 2007.

12. "Psychologist Produces the First-Ever 'World Map of Happiness,' " Science-Daily Science-Daily, Nov. 14, 2006, [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061113093726.htm] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061113093726.htm.

13. David Leonhardt, "Money Doesn't Buy Happiness. Well, on Second Thought. . ." New York Times New York Times, April 16, 2008.

14. Fernanda Santos, "Are New Yorkers Happy? Some More Than Others," New York Times New York Times, March 8, 2009.

Acknowledgments

Book writing can be a lonely business, but in this case I was able to pull together a little support group of people who were also challenging the prevailing positive-thinking consensus: Barbara Held, Jim Coyne, Micki McGee, Heather Love, Richard P. Sloan, and, most recently, Karen Cerulo. We conferred at length by phone, e-mail, and at our jolly annual "negative lunches," and I thank them all for sharing their ideas and keeping me up to date-especially Barbara Held and Jim Coyne, who took the time to read and comment on chapter draft s.

If he had lived long enough, historian Donald Meyer would have been a perfect addition to this group. I returned to his brilliant book The Positive Thinkers: popular Religious Psychology from Mary Baker Eddy to Norman Vincent Peale and Ronald Reagan The Positive Thinkers: popular Religious Psychology from Mary Baker Eddy to Norman Vincent Peale and Ronald Reagan again and again while working on mine. again and again while working on mine.

Others who were dragooned into reading and commenting on chapters include Bob Richardson, Ben Ehrenreich, Robert Orsi, Steve Eisman, Gary Long, and the delightful Eric Dezenhall. I also thank the many people who took time to talk or correspond with me along the way, including Catherine Albanese, Rosa Brooks, James Champy, David Collins, Aine Donovan, Marla Frederick, Carol Graham, Jonathan Haidt, Arlie Hochschild, Robert Jackall, Janet McIntosh, Helen Meldrum, Tom Morris, Nomi Prins, Ashley Pinnington, Vickie Sullivan, Howard Tennen, and Neil Weinstein. Sanho Tree and Tim Townsend shared their research on the Templeton Foundation with me; Diane Alexander provided invaluable a.s.sistance at many stages in the process.

Kris Dahl was more than the agent for this book; she was a source of important contacts and insights. Much thanks to Riva Hocherman for her insightful suggestions and to Roslyn Schloss for her expert copyediting. And there's no adequate way to thank my editor, Sara Bershtel, whose humanism and laserlike logic inform every line of this book.