The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking

The Antidote is a series of journeys among people who share a single, surprising way of thinking about life. What they have in common is a hunch about human psychology: that it’s our constant effort to eliminate the negative that causes us to feel so anxious, insecure, and unhappy. And that there is an alternative “negative path” to happiness and success that involves embracing the things we spend our lives trying to avoid. It is a subversive, galvanizing message, which turns out to have a long and distinguished philosophical lineage ranging from ancient Roman Stoic philosophers to Buddhists. Oliver Burkeman talks to life coaches paid to make their clients’ lives a living hell, and to maverick security experts such as Bruce Schneier, who contends that the changes we’ve made to airport and aircraft security since the 9/11 attacks have actually made us less safe. And then there are the “backwards” business gurus, who suggest not having any goals at all and not planning for a company’s future.

• BrainChains: Your thinking brain explained in simple terms. Full of practical tools, tips and tricks to improve your efficiency, creativity and health. How to cope better with ICT, being always connected, multitasking, email, social media, lack of sleep and stress
• The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future
• The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload
• The Getting Things Done Workbook: 10 Moves to Stress-Free Productivity
• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
• The School of Life: An Emotional Education
• The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right
• Undoing Depression: What Therapy Doesn't Teach You and Medication Can't Give You
• Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality
• Ending the Pursuit of Happiness: A Zen Guide