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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    The Negative Impact of Positive Thinking

    Since the 19th Century, it's been an article of American faith that positive thinking can lead to better health, prosperity and success. In recent years, that idea has been turned into a "minor industry." But has too much positive thinking made us blind to the realities of disease, economic insecurity and the prospect of failure?

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Since the 19th Century, it's been an article of American faith that positive thinking can lead to better health, prosperity and success. In recent years, that idea has been turned into a "minor industry." But has too much positive thinking made us blind to the realities of disease, economic insecurity and the prospect of failure? "The official belief that things are good and going to get better" helped cause September 11, miscalculations about Iraq and the current financial disaster. That's according to a new book that calls positive thinking a form of "mass delusion." We talk with author Barbara Ehrenreich and others.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    The Negative Impact of Positive Thinking
    1. 0:00NATO Supports a New Strategy for Afghanistan
    2. 7:44The Negative Impact of Positive ThinkingYou’re reading this
    3. 42:51How Did the Pilots Miss Their Landing in Minneapolis?
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Frances Anderton

      architecture critic and author

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Barbara Ehrenreich

      author, 'Bright-sided'

    • KCRW placeholder

      John Assaraf

      life coach and motivational speaker

    • KCRW placeholder

      Adam Michaelson

      former Senior VP of Marketing, Countrywide Mortgage

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    The Negative Impact of Positive Thinking
    1. 0:00NATO Supports a New Strategy for Afghanistan
    2. 7:44The Negative Impact of Positive ThinkingYou’re reading this
    3. 42:51How Did the Pilots Miss Their Landing in Minneapolis?
    Back to To the Point