Table Of Content

Cover Page: iii Title Page Page: iii Copyright Page: iv Acknowledgements Page: vi Introduction: Life in the Fast Lane Page: 1 Mobility versus stability Page: 4 Finding your feet Page: 8 Notes Page: 14 1 Cut out the navel-gazing Page: 15 Gut feelings Page: 17 Find yourself or learn to live with yourself? Page: 20 The paradox machine Page: 23 What can I do? Page: 26 Notes Page: 29 2 Focus on the negative in your life Page: 30 The tyranny of the positive Page: 31 Positive psychology Page: 33 The positive, acknowledging, appreciative leader Page: 35 Blaming the victim Page: 37 Kvetching Page: 38 Getting on with life Page: 40 What can I do? Page: 41 Notes Page: 44 3 Put on your No hat Page: 45 So what is the Yes hat – and why do people wear it? Page: 47 The ethics of doubt in the risk society Page: 51 What can I do? Page: 56 Notes Page: 58 4 Suppress your feelings Page: 59 The emotional culture Page: 61 The consequences of the emotional culture Page: 66 What can I do? Page: 70 Notes Page: 72 5 Sack your coach Page: 73 The coachification of life Page: 74 The dangers of coaching Page: 77 Coaching and friendship Page: 80 What can I do? Page: 82 Notes Page: 85 6 Read a novel – not a self-help book or biography Page: 86 The big literary genres of the day Page: 88 The novel as a technology of the self Page: 91 Literature without illusions Page: 94 What can I do? Page: 98 Notes Page: 100 7 Dwell on the past Page: 101 The personal significance of the past Page: 105 What can I do? Page: 109 Some final thoughts Page: 113 Notes Page: 116 Appendix: Stoicism Page: 117 Greek Stoicism Page: 118 Roman Stoicism Page: 124 Notes Page: 129 End User License Agreement Page: 138

Description:

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 coexist peacefully with others. By encouraging us to stand firm and get a foothold in life, this vibrant anti-self-help guide offers a compelling alternative to life coaching, positive thinking and the need always to say 'yes!'