📚 BOOK CLUB: HAPPINESS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T STAND POSITIVE THINKING - BURKMAN

Update:

Due to the planned tube strike on Sunday the 7th, and the advice to complete journeys before 18.00, the start time has been changed from 14:00 to 13:00.

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📚 In our 6th Book Club, we are discussing “The antidote: happiness for people who can’t stand positive thinking” by Oliver Burkeman.

Burkeman explores the idea that true contentment may come not from trying to be constantly positive, but from embracing uncertainty, failure, insecurity, and even pessimism. Drawing from philosophy, psychology, and personal experience, he questions the assumptions behind self-help culture and positive thinking.

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION POINTS:

• Burkeman adovocates for accepting uncertainty. He cites Stoics who find tranquility through accepting and visualisation the worst case scenarios.
• Is this not a lack of ambition and wouldn't this lead to complacency?
• Burkeman argues that most self-help books promise control, happiness, and constant improvement — but they often create more anxiety by reinforcing the idea that you’re never good enough as you are.
• Do self-help books help us grow, or do they trap us in a loop of never being satisfied?
• Burkerman has another book “Four Thousand Week” in which he says
  “Nobody in the history of humanity has ever achieved ‘work– life balance’, whatever that might be, and you certainly won’t get there by copying the ‘six things successful people do before 7 a.m’.”
• Why do traditional time management techniques often leave us feeling more anxious? Can accepting our limitations lead to more meaning?

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Prior to meeting, please read/engage in the summaries of the book to ensure a fruitful discussion:

• Buy the book from Amazon or listen to the audiobook
• “The antidote: happiness for people who can’t stand positive thinking” by Oliver Burkeman - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Antidote-Happiness-People-Positive-Thinking-ebook/
• Four Thousand Weeks” by Oliver Burkeman (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Time-How-ebook)
• Download the PDF book for free.
• Four Thousand Weeks” by Oliver Burkeman - https://pdfroom.com/books/four-thousand-weeks/ZOgZj0Oagkb
• A summary of “The Antidote” book will be shared closer to the event date
• Watch some of the online content about the books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKxzszeIPkE

GROUND RULES:
This is a nice gentle, but thought-provoking, discussion.
It's a judgement-free zone where people can air their thoughts on particular issues, and find out about other people's similar and different perspectives.
So bring your best opinions and ideas. Everyone is welcome.

LOCATION:
We will meet in the 1st floor area of Coffee Island Edgware Road.
There's plenty of space 🛋️, and coffee ☕, tea ☕ cold drinks, and snacks are available.

NEAREST STATIONS:
Edgware Road [Circle, Hammersmith City, District Line] (1 min walk)
Edgware Road [Bakerloo Line] (1 min walk)
Paddington [Bakerloo, Hammersmith, Circle and Elizabeth Line] (7 mins walk)
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ACCESSIBILITY:
This venue has step free access.

FOOD AND SOCIAL AFTERWARDS:
Most of us usually go for food afterwards, so feel free to factor in time after for dinner 🍛🍟🍝🍣🍜🍗🍔