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  • The Antidote

  • Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking
  • By: Oliver Burkeman
  • Narrated by: Oliver Burkeman
  • Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (251 ratings)

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The Antidote cover art

The Antidote

By: Oliver Burkeman
Narrated by: Oliver Burkeman
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

What if ‘positive thinking’ and relentless optimism aren’t the solution to the happiness dilemma, but part of the problem?

Oliver Burkeman turns decades of self-help advice on its head and paradoxically forces us to rethink our attitudes towards failure, uncertainty and death. It’s our constant efforts to avoid negative thinking that cause us to feel anxious, insecure and unhappy. What if happiness can be found embracing the things we spend our lives trying to escape? Wise, practical and funny, The Antidote is a thought-provoking, counter-intuitive and ultimately uplifting read, celebrating the power of negative thinking.

©2019 Oliver Burkeman (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Burkeman has written some of the most truthful and useful words on happiness to be published in recent years." (Guardian)

What listeners say about The Antidote

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Extraordinary

This book left me with plenty of food for thought after each and every paragraph.

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Makes sense!

In this barmy world, I think maybe I see sense written here. Well worth reading.

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Amazing

Bursting with wisdom and thoughtful reflections. I will now buy the physical book and read again. Well -read too.

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Brilliant

Everyone should listen to this! So thought provoking. It definitely is something that I will keep coming back to and re-reading (well, re-listening) again and again.

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Excellent

Excellent writing. Some really interesting and important ideas presented clearly and with a good deal of humour.

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Challenges standard thinking

Challenges many standard ways of thinking about how to achieve happiness. Great narration as always by the author.

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Engaging, original & highly enjoyable

Unlike so many books that lay claim to helping reframe the conundrum of how to live a more meaningful existence, this book actually manages to nail it. Very well researched, written and read and highly practical. Worth the time & money.

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uplifting in an unusual way

This book, like all of Oliver's writing makes you stop and think carefully about your life and left me less certain and much more hopeful.

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Excellent

Bought the book twice and now listened to the book. Might listen to it again.

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fantastic book

really enjoyed this book, very well written, funny, thought provoking. would highly recommend for anyone not just those who are fed up with self help positivity!

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