Ebook: Stand firm: resisting the self-improvement craze

Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Acknowledgements; Introduction: Life in the Fast Lane; Mobility versus stability; Finding your feet; Notes; 1 Cut out the navel-gazing; Gut feelings; Find yourself or learn to live with yourself?; The paradox machine; What can I do?; Notes; 2 Focus on the negative in your life; The tyranny of the positive; Positive psychology; The positive, acknowledging, appreciative leader; Blaming the victim; Kvetching; Getting on with life; What can I do?; Notes; 3 Put on your No hat; So what is the Yes hat -- and why do people wear it?; The ethics of doubt in the risk society.;"The pace of modern life is accelerating. To keep up, we must keep on moving and adapting - constantly striving for greater happiness and success. Or so we are told. But the demands of life in the fast lane come at a price: stress, fatigue and depression are at an all-time high while our social interactions have become increasingly self-serving and opportunistic. How can we resist today's obsession with introspection and self-improvement? In this witty and bestselling book, Danish philosopher and psychologist Svend Brinkmann argues that we must not be afraid to reject the self-help mantra and "stand firm". The secret to a happier life lies not in finding your inner-self but in coming to terms with yourself in order to co-exist peacefully with others. By encouraging us to stand firm and get a foothold in life, this insightful anti-self-help guide offers a sobering and realistic alternative to life-coaching, positive thinking and the need always to say?yes!?"--