Smile or Die: How Positive Thinking Fooled America & The World

Barbara Ehrenreich

About 10 years ago, I read a book by Barbara Ehrenreich, called: 'Nickel & Dimed'. In it, Ehrenreich attempted to live as a minimum wage worker in America - in a number of different jobs, to see how feasible it was to survive on it (after all - that's the purpose of a minimum wage, to be a living wage, right?). Of course, it was practically impossible - but her method of approach and her style of writing - sympathetic, calm and even ultimately made her investigation and her arguments all the more compelling. As she primarily exists in America and most of her writing is based there, I hadn't really heard of her since. Turns out, she's written a total of 16 books - mostly about questioning commonly accepted wisdom and beliefs - my kind of writer then. 

Anyway, Smile or Die is about the idea that being positive is not actually of any huge benefit to your life. Actually, its about more than that - it's about a 'culture of positivity' that replaces the rational questioning of things, with blind faith, smoke &  mirrors and misdirection. 

Reading the initial first few chapters, it struck me that this was going to be an exceptionally grumpy and mean spirited book. After all, what was wrong with adopting a positive outlook? Surely with all other things being equal, a positive outlook is better than a negative one? Of course, Ehrenreich isn't talking about replacing positivity with negativity - rather she would prefer to replace it with rationalism - ask questions, seek out the answers and if you feel like being pissed off at the end - then be pissed off.

The real targets of her book are those who have made a large amount of money from telling us all we should be positive - and implying that the bad things in our life are the result of our negative thoughts. She skewers these targets chapter by chapter - starting with the pseudo medical "heal yourself through positive thoughts" field populated by people like Deepak Chopra. There is one heartbreaking piece from a woman dying of cancer who had written to Chopra - Chopra suggests she had failed over overcome her cancer because of 'toxic thoughts'.

After that - she goes for the corporate cheerleaders, who are hired to run seminars like "why getting fired is really an opportunity for success" (I'm paraphrasing) - people like Tony Robbins. Ehrenreich argues that in an era when job security and meaning have disappeared, companies turn to 'positive speakers' to make their employees/ex-employees feel that any mishaps in their life and career are down to their negativity. Don't question things, dont be a moaner - just smile, agree, be positive and accept your reduced salary, security and rights. This would all be ok if by being super positive and using positive visual imagery was a successful way of climbing the corporate ladder - but as we know the difference between a CEO's salary and the average workman has only widened in the last 20 years. Less and less people are getting to the top - those at the top are getting proportionately richer - and the poor are being told it's their fault and to be thankful for what they've got.

The last area Ehrenreich really goes for was an area that is sort of new to me - a sort of "positive thinking Christianity". In America, churches that espouse positive Christianity - are becoming more an more popular. These churches don't deal with issues raised in the bible, or matters of morality - instead they talk about how Jesus wants you to be rich, and how by praying and "showing your faith" (donating money), you will have that Lexus, you will get that promotion, as long as you don't allow negativity into your life. These Churches often don't have crucifixes or any significant Christian imagery, instead they have waterfalls, globes and other neutral symbols. While not being hugely popular in Europe (yet), my time in Nigeria showed me that this form of Christianity is probably the dominant form there. I was invited to a New Year 'claiming' ceremony where people were encouraged to urge the Lord to send them a Jeep Cherokee or whatever. These people had so little money, and were being told that if they gave that money to the church, and used positive reinforcement, that surely wealth and riches would be theirs. The Pastors leave the churches in a fleet of Jeeps. If that's not exploitative, I dont know what is.

The final important distinction Ehrenreich is keen to make is the difference between 'positivity' and happiness. Being happy and having meaning and a sense of control in your life are the things that will genuinely help you - they can stave off mental illness, increase life span, reduce recovery times from illness and so on. Pretending to be positive and happy when you're not really that way will end up making you worse.

Good book - just not a bundle of chuckles!

Tiny Sunbirds Far Away - Christie Watson

Tiny Sunbirds Far Away by Christie Watson

Back to fiction for me then. I was drawn to this book mostly because it's set entirely in Nigeria, and is (nearly) entirely about Nigerians, but is written by an English woman. Though Christie Watson is married to a Nigerian, she has never lived there full time. As someone who spent 5 years there, I was curious to see how she managed - would her voice be as authentic as say Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or Helon Habila? Should it matter either way? As it happens, in terms of authenticity, I thought she did stunningly well - but I would love to know the opinion of some Nigerians, to see what they think.

The story itself is of a family - living in relative comfort and security in Lagos, until a paternal indiscretion sees the mother and 2 children: Ezikiel and Blessing moving back to the mothers home town near Warri - in the oil-plagued & trouble wracked Nigerian Delta.

The story itself is narrated through the eyes of 12 year old blessing - the baby of the family. This is a clever device, as like most 12 year olds, Blessing doesn't fully observe or comprehend everything that is around her - meaning that we, the reader are left to figure things out and are kept guessing. We share Blessing's indignation at her family's drop in status, and her horror at their loss of plush living conditions, in return for basic village life and all that it brings.

Blessings new family are a peculiar bunch to her: a headstrong grandfather who has delusions of grandeur about his status and abilities - who has alienated the village around him by his conversion to Islam; a grouchy plain-speaking grandmother, a driver who has so many children, they are impossible to count, and a second wife for his Grandfather - a loud bushgirl called Celestine.

Her surroundings are peculiar too - a village blighted by oil, both metaphorically and physically. A combination of old superstitions and modern guerilla warfare. This is the thing the book handles best - it would be easy to marvel at the magic and mysticism of traditional life and beliefs - Watson clearly has a lot of time for the traditional Nigerian way of life - but she is also aware of the harsh realities her protagnosts face and isn't afraid to talk about Environmental polution, female genital mutilation, and the huge gender inequalities that still exist in modern day Nigeria.

As the book goes on, and Blessing gets more comfortable in her environment, we get to see the other characters fleshed out more - and have sympathy or at least empathy for everyone involved. The one issue I would have with the book is the ending - something that always seems to be an issue for me with books. This one has mulptiple endings - as if Watson either didn't want to let go of the book, or didn't know how to. I could kind of see the ending coming a fair bit in advance (or one of the endings), which took a little tension away for me - but a particular scene towards the end, involving all the women of the village made up for the otherwise scrappy aspect to the last 50 pages.

I may have made the book sound like a tough, or a bleak read, but it isn't. It's full of humour, well written characters. I would say there is nothing particularly original in here, but if you enjoyed Half of a Yellow Sun or Purple Hibiscus, then this would be right up your street.