I take issue with many of the points in the Washington Post‘s review of Barbara Ehrenreich‘s new book, Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America. I took the liberty of commenting on the points i disagree with.
When Barbara Ehrenreich was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, the sharp-eyed social critic found herself nearly as discomfited by the “pink ribbon culture” surrounding the disease as by the illness itself. Relentlessly upbeat, cloyingly inspirational,
Seems to me that critics of all stripes are under strict orders to avoid any and all feelings of tenderness and genuine human emotion. While many of us are deeply touched and uplifted by, say, the books of Mitch Albom or by inspirational attitudes and quotes, critics make a point to distance themselves emotionally by using words such as “cloying,” “mawkish,” “treacly” and “syrupy.” Such a response says more about the critics than whatever it is they’re criticizing.
the breast cancer world, as Ehrenreich describes it, is a place where anger, fear and depression — all perfectly reasonable responses to a potentially mortal diagnosis — are frowned upon and the cancer itself is lauded as a great opportunity for (more…)
Triumph of the Spirit 