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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Life is a game," reads as follows:
The first thing I think of when a game (any game) is mentioned, is “fun.” Games are fun. And to think that a game (any game) can be an accurate metaphor for life is mistaken. There are times, it is true, when life is pure fun, but much of life is not — more of life is not fun. It is serious business and not to take it seriously can sometimes be disastrous. It was Thomas L. Holdcroft who said, “Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us.”

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

Do you consider life a game? That’s perfectly fine. Remember what Gordon Shippey said near the beginning of this essay: “In the long run, harnessing the engaging properties of games may become a serious productivity driver.” The real determiner of success for your life is in the quotation by Abraham Lincoln: “In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”

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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

For me it hasn’t been about “boosting brain power,” it is more about “sustaining brain power.” That is, I don’t like the thought of losing anything I have, and if I gain a little by doing things that will sustain what I have, then that is icing on the cake, or a positive byproduct that is greatly appreciated. I try to do more than what it takes to keep my brain active just as I do more than what it takes to keep my body in shape.

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

That is precisely what I have discovered as well. That is, although I enjoy learning new skills (special ballroom dancing steps), having new experiences (cruising to Southeast Asia), and stretching the skills I already have (reading new books or writing new essays such as this one), I have discovered that the more I use the circuits I possess, the stronger they get. That is why I said at the outset of this essay, “ it hasn’t been about ‘boosting brain power,’ it is more about ‘sustaining brain power.’” To me, that is the essential issue, and if I can boost brain power while sustaining brain power, all the more brain power to me!

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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "Dealing with excuses“ reads as follows:
"Two university students had a week of exams coming up. However, they decided to party instead. So, when they went to the exam, they decided to tell the professor that their car had broken down the night before due to a very flat tire and they needed a bit more time to study."

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

You may wonder why the issue of dealing with excuses is even a concern for teachers. I agree with Sandra Goss Lucas and Douglas A. Bernstein, in their book, Teaching Psychology: A Step by Step Guide (Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2005) when they talk about dealing with excuses. They point out: “The way you handle excuses conveys a message to your students about your teaching philosophy, and most particularly about whether you view students as partners or adversaries, the degree to which you trust them, and how you care about them” (p. 137). It can set the tone for an entire term, determine how effective you will be, and, most important of all, govern (or at least influence) how much students are likely to learn.

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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "The 'great' opening paragraph" reads as follows:
It was a delightful, cold, calm, Monday morning, and I had just finished showering after my 3-mile jog. Relaxing music played in the background, and I was sitting at the dining-room table reading the Monday edition of The (Toledo) Blade. Thomas Walton’s op-ed column, “In search of the Great Opening Paragraph,” caught my attention. That’s not surprising since reading the editorial pages and op-ed columns is my favorite part of the newspaper. I spend more time on that section than on any other.

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

In addition to all of this, when I Googled myself (See my essay on “Egosurfing.”) for the purposes of writing an essay about it, I discovered a Chinese website where Walton’s column of January 3, 2011, appeared with a date just one day in advance of when it appeared in The (Toledo) Blade, and I now realize that the whole world is waiting (breathlessly, I’m sure!) for my “great” follow-up novel to my “great opening paragraph”! I’m so excited I’m out of breath!

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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "Egosurfing (I Googled myself)" reads as follows:
I Googled myself recently out of curiosity, but I’m not alone according to Rachael Rettner of LiveScience.com, who wrote an essay, “Most people Google themselves now,” which begins with this paragraph: “If you've Googled yourself recently, you're not alone. The majority of American adults, 57 percent, now keep tabs on their reputations online, using search engines to track information about their Internet identities, according to a report from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project [based on results from telephone interviews of 2,253 individuals in 2009], released today [May 26, 2010]. That's up from 47 percent in 2006" (Rettner, “Most people . . . ,” May 26, 2020). So, I’m not alone; this is what I discovered.

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

One of the surprises (although it shouldn’t have been a surprise had I simply thought more about it!), was the large number of publishers and authors who used my reviews of their books to advertise and sell their books on the Internet. Many of the web sites displayed offered my reviews. Once again, having posted well over a hundred reviews on Amazon.com, this would be an expected outcome, and I am delighted that so many have found my reviews well-written, concise, and flattering enough to reprint them in other contexts. Thank you.

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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "New Year's Jokes," reads as follows: "What greater way to prepare for the New Year than by sharing with my readers, my favorite New Year’s jokes. There is no order here. Some are clearly better than others, but I thought all of them had merit—or they wouldn’t be included. Most give quick and sufficient testimony to what happened to me: When I thought about the evils of drinking in the New Year. I gave up thinking. Let’s begin with a letter to the lord.
    Dear Lord
    So far this year I've done well.
    I haven't gossiped, I haven't lost my temper, I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent. I'm very thankful for that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on I'm probably going to need a lot more help.
    Amen"


Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

"It was Oscar Wilde who said, “Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.” May the new year bring you health, wealth, and prosperity. Of course, that’s the same toast someone made at your wedding, and where did that get you?"

And Then Some News

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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "Christmas ambience," reads as follows: "It’s true, we work at creating a Christmas ambience. It is a warm, delightful, memorable environment that is created not just by one or two special features but with at least five elements that, together, make a difference."


Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

"You can claim that all of this —everything designed to celebrate Christmas — is designed with the express purpose of proclaiming the birth of Jesus, but I would contend otherwise. That may explain some of the etymology of Christmas, but in no way does that need to explain how it has evolved. I believe that everything that is Christmas — all of the ambience and spirit — can be clearly seen and enjoyed without the haze of religion clouding the topic. That is, indeed, the point of this essay: how easy it is to enjoy everything that is Christmas for the sheer joy of the lights, appreciation of the decorations, delight in the music, acknowledge the scents, and take in the special events that mark the annual event."



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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "Self-discipline can change your life in any way you want it to," reads as follows: "During my early years, I heard from my parents about the Puritan work ethic, but every time I heard the phrase it was connected with working hard. Never did I know that it was a Biblically based teaching on the necessity of hard work, perfection, and the goodness of labor.



Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

"If you tend to be undisciplined, use the little discipline you have to build more. The more disciplined you become, the easier life gets. Challenges once impossible will seem like child’s play as you learn new skills, overcome difficulty and hardships, and improve your life. Because we are what we repeatedly do, self-discipline will not be an act, but a habit."


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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "One of the best things to have up your sleeve," reads as follows: "You can hear our table at almost any function we attend as a group. It is the loudest because of the laughter and joy being shared. There were eight of us at the table in a Chinese buffet, and each time there was an outburst of laughter, I looked around to notice that we caught the eye of almost everyone else in the restaurant. After awhile it became accepted and understood: we were having a great deal of fun."

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

"When I gave a speech some years ago I used the phrase, “One of the best things people can have up their sleeves is a funny bone.” That phrase from my speech was discovered and used in an issue of Reader’s Digest and still later, as a result of publication in the Digest it was picked up by Garborg’s (Bloomington, MN) and published in their perpetual calendar, “Cherished Thoughts,” where it appears with my name attached, on April 24th. Having a funny bone up your sleeve is something that can be taught, and if parents were smart, it can be begun early and carried through a lifetime."

And Then Some News

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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "Must-have Christmas presents," reads as follows: "If you are a regular reader of my blog (posted, too, on Facebook) there are several things you know about me (maybe even more!). First, you know that I am a reader of a wide range of non-fiction books, since I have now posted more than 200 book reviews on the blog. Second, you know that I love quotations and aphorisms and thoughts, which I have collected in a book entitled SMOERs -Self Motivation, Optimism, Encourage Rules: Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living, which has a website all of its own."

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

"Some of my fondest Christmas memories can be traced back to those times when I unwrapped books. They are wonderful Christmas presents and they create dual memories — one set of memories when they are opened and another set of memories when they are read. Please think about the books in this essay — especially if you have people on your list who are difficult to please, hard to buy for, or just enjoy good books."

And Then Some News

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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "How long should you hold a grudge?," reads as follows: "Asked how long he holds a grudge, one fellow replied, 'Until hell freezes over.' Another said, it depends on two things: 1) the intent, and 2) the gravity of the situation. Yet another person said, 'If the person is an idiot, I simply consider the source and dismiss both the person and the comment or situation.' And the final person asked, said, 'I turn the other cheek.'”

                                                                                                                                                              Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

"Now, all this information comes a little late for my father-in-law mentioned in the opening examples. There is no doubt he will take his grudges to the grave. But, that makes me wonder. He is 97-years-old! Perhaps holding grudges is the key to longevity."

And Then Some News

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

"Exotic Destinations" book has been released

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

This book is so new that Amazon has not added the front cover yet!

Richard L. Weaver II has just released his new travel book Exotic Destinations... And Then Some! Share in Richard “Dick” Weaver’s experiences as he guides you through preparation for camping as well as taking cruises. Insights from South East Asia from a seasoned traveler who started in his teens with a trip around world. Dr. Weaver offers stories and tips from the Caribbean, Europe, Mediterranean, Australia, and Hawaii. To help prepare you for adventure get... Exotic Destinations... And Then Some!

The new book is available now at Amazon.com: Exotic Destinations... And Then Some! by Richard L. Weaver II

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "The need for patience," reads as follows: "When I instructed students in how to prepare for job interviews, I told them to turn a negative into a desired positive. For example, when asked the question (as interviewees often are), what would you say is your biggest negative trait? I told them to use their impatience positively. That is, interviewees could say, 'I am an impatient person. I have trouble waiting in line. I have difficulty waiting for results to come in. I don’t like wasting time. I prefer solving a problem myself rather than waiting for it to be solved by others.'”

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

"Of the eleven steps above for achieving patience, I have found that number seven, “reminding yourself that things take time,” is (at least for me) the most important one. I am, indeed, an impatient person, and I am often giving myself internal messages to calm me down: 'I do not need to be in a hurry,' 'I have the time,' 'Everyone does not operate at the same speed as I do,' and Cato the Elder’s phrase, 'Patience is the greatest of all virtues.' It also helps to know, as Saint Augustine said, 'Patience is the companion of wisdom.'"

And Then Some News

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "The value of the journal," reads as follows: "When I was typing into my computer the handwritten essays I wrote on our Southeast Asia cruise, the experience brought back all the wonderful memories of our trip. To reinforce and accentuate the notes I took, my wife received hard copies of the 400 digital pictures she took, and combined with my notes, the brochures, and ship information, we have a fairly complete representation of our trip."

                                                                                                                                                              Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

"Whether it is reflecting and understanding, motivation, an emotional outlet, tracking progress, a mental activity, responsibility, or all of these combined, I find writing a journal to be enormously satisfying — a major contribution to my health and well-being — and, for those who have never tried it, I highly recommend it."

And Then Some News

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "The storms of life," reads as follows: "I remember vividly the circumstances surrounding my father’s death just about 16 years ago. I remember divorces, retirement, and dealing with my wife’s mother’s death. These are some of “the storms of life” that have affected my life. Fortunately, in all the cases, I seemed to have (a judgment I am making in retrospect) the resources necessary to face and survive the storms. It is only in retrospect now that I am able to look back and analyze how I survived."

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

Thinking at your best may mean seeking professional medical, psychological, financial, legal, or spiritual help when you realize they may be your best resource. When you are in doubt, you should never endanger yourself by relying only on yourself and neglecting such experts. In these cases, too, it is important to remember that it is how you go about choosing the experts and how you use what they have to offer that counts.

And Then Some News

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "The true meaning of birthdays: Developing a receptivity to and capacity for wisdom," reads as follows: "As I was getting dressed for church, the call came in on my cell phone, and when I answered, a chorus of youthful, cheerful, and well-prompted singers broke into their rendition of “Happy Birthday” to grandpa. What a great way to begin the day — actually, any day — but particularly this one.

That alone could be the true meaning of birthdays, and this would be a very short essay!"

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

The true meaning of birthdays is the growth, development, and change we experience as we acquire the history and knowledge that wisdom requires. Wisdom doesn’t automatically come with age, but with determination, persistence, patience, and observation we can make good use of the history and knowledge we acquire and thus develop a receptivity to and capacity for wisdom.

And Then Some News

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "When the day is done," reads as follows: "It doesn’t take that much to convince me that I’ve had a successful day. One day I repaired a hole in the side of my daughter’s house. Although it was only 3-inches by 3-inches by 1 1/2-inches deep, it took a couple of hours to cut a block of wood to fit into the hole, shape a piece of aluminum flashing to cover the wood piece and more of the rotting wood, screw the flashing to the wood behind one of her gutters with treated screws so they wouldn’t rust, and then seal the area with silicon to protect it from further water penetration."

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

For me, it is as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote in the final four lines of his famous poem, “The Day is Done”:
                                     And the night shall be filled with music

                                     And the cares, that infest the day,

                                     Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,

                                     And as silently steal away.

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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "Lake Superior (Gitchigoomie)," reads as follows: "Our confusion was not whether or not we wanted to take this trip around the north side of Lake Superior, it was, rather, which way to go. We could start from the east and proceed west and then farther west through Canada, or we could travel west first (north through Michigan, then west through Wisconsin and Minnesota) then east along the north side of Lake Superior. The latter was our choice."

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

What was interesting after our two weeks in Canada is that when we crossed the border into Maine, the skies cleared, there was no more rain, and with the exception of a single thunderstorm and heavy rain, we had clear skies and no more rain for the remaining two weeks of our vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, and Woodstock, Vermont.

And Then Some News

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "Well-defined routines," reads as follows: "We (my wife and myself) have often asked ourselves what it is that draws people to camping. We’ve done no surveys, however, we think (for some) it is a sense of adventure, finding a more “inexpensive” way to see the world, “change,” and, perhaps, a safer way to travel (as opposed to staying in motels). The reason we even ask this question is that camping — especially if people regularly move from one campground to another — is not easy. It takes work. We have discovered, however, that with well-established, well-defined routines, it takes some of the work out of the process. Maybe the word “thinking” can be substituted for the word “work” in this context."

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

Now, these are some of our routines that make traveling in a fifth-wheel enjoyable. I am certain others have different sets of routines, but it seems clear that well-defined routines make the whole process easier and more efficient — especially considering the fact that traveling requires a good bit of work. In trying to answer the question, what draws people to this form of camping (or even, what draws them back to it year-after-year!), there have to be a number or routines that help reduce the stresses and strains of this form of travel. These are some of ours.

And Then Some News

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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the fourth anniversary essay, "What qualifies me to write essays---The bricks and mortar of my edifice," reads as follows: "I am not a mover and shaker, a politician, captain of industry, government official, or on the social registry. I am not the director of a prestigious firm, the favorite son of the community, or on the board of directors of a business, board of education of a local school district, or on any board of trustees. I am not an adviser to the local parish priest, church ministers, rabbi, or mullah, and my name is not synonymous with power, influence, and accomplishment. So, why would anyone want to know my opinion on the issues of the day or accept any advice, suggestions, or direction I would choose to give? Because I have asked myself this question, let me share with you how I have come to justify it — and, believe me, I have struggled with it before."

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

It is the family of teachers into which I was born, my own academic credentials, my career as a teacher, my writing and publications, my reading and viewing, my experience, history, and background, as well as my own family that surrounds me with love and affection that form the bricks and mortar of the edifice known as me. It may not seem like much, but it’s certainly a great deal more than the credentials of many people who give advice, and whether or not it truly qualifies me to give advice, the foundation is there, and I make use of it often.

And Then Some News

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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first two paragraphs of the essay, "Self-concept is the single, most-important component that offers clear distinctions between good communicators and poor communicators," read as follows: "In my experience, those communicators whom I most admired, or those whom I considered most effective, all had strong self-concepts—at least, strong self-concepts from what I could determine. Although there is no study to affirm the following conclusion, in all of my years of teaching speech-communication, I can report a direct, positive correlation between students with a strong self-concept and success in the basic course.

"Why is a strong self-concept necessary to have healthy, satisfying, ongoing interactions with others? "

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

To gain a positive self-concept is a continual, ongoing activity, but the benefits are worth it. Through belonging, competency, and feelings of worth, we can clearly and accurately delineate our likes and dislikes, make preferences, observe with a critical eye, and polish awkward pieces of ourselves. When we feel confident in our judgments and feelings, we begin to trust our interpretation of reality. As we learn to trust our interpretation of reality, our self-concept improves. After all, it is the single, most-important component that offers a clear distinction between good communicators and poor communicators.

And Then Some News

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "Focusing on the negative: And it is contagious!," reads as follows: ""Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us,” said the comic-strip character, Calvin. "The chief obstacle to the progress of the human race is the human race,” Don Marquis is quoted as saying. "A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices,” said William James. Doesn’t it seem sometimes like everyone’s complaining? Everyone is negative. All you hear about is difficulty, failure, and disaster? Those with whom you converse all share the negative news they see on television or read on the Internet or in the newspaper?"

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

'"As long as [you] are aware of [your] own negative attitude and are willing to adopt a more positive attitude towards life, change can and will occur. Once [you] realize that a negative attitude is the biggest obstacle to [your] happiness, [you] can make a conscious choice to help [yourself]. There will be obstacles and setbacks on the road to personal change but [you] must remain focused on the bigger picture: [your] success and happiness.' This is the tenth item in an essay, 'Ten Ways to Overcome a Negative Attitude,' by Thich Nhat Hanh, at the web site, InTek Online. There are no guarantees, of course, but this is a solid, productive, and potentially rewarding way to change both negative thinking and a negative attitude. The great thing is you can begin at once—and it is contagious!"

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noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first two paragraphs of the essay, "Aphorisms to live by," (I could have called it "Motivation by Quotation!") read as follows: "There is no rhyme or reason for the order of aphorisms in this essay. The single criteria I used for selecting the aphorisms is that they touched me in some way. My addition in each paragraph is designed to explain the value of the aphorism to me—or the lesson I learned. The paragraphs are not connected, and there is no relationship between the various choices. Each paragraph stands alone.

People need to learn when to abandon pursuit, give up the race, and turn their attention to other matters. It was Norman Thomas who said, 'I am not a champion of lost causes, but of causes not yet won.'"

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

And your challenge to grow, develop, and change can take place at any time in your life. “You are never too old,” said George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), “to be what you might have been.” H. L. Mencken said, “You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth.” Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Aim above the mark to hit the mark.” And, to end on a light note, it was W. C. Fields who said, “Start every day off with a smile and get it over with.” This essay is now “over with.”

And Then Some News

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "Living a Balanced Life," reads as follows: "In 1964 (46 years ago), I was inspired, encouraged, even energized by a book by M. C. Richards entitled, Centering: In Pottery, Poetry, and the Person (Wesleyan University Press, 1962, 1964). The book is philosophical in nature, and it was Richards’ theme as much as her language (writing style) that roused and stirred me. 'Centering is the image I use,' Richards writes, 'for the process of balance which will enable us to step along that thread feeling it not as a thread but a sphere. It will, it is hoped,' she continues, 'help us to walk through extremes with an incorruptible instinct for wholeness, finding our way continuous, self-completing' (p. 6)."

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

If you chose to live a balanced life, and you decided that the elements listed above were even some of those for which you wanted to strive, then the book, You Rules!, includes a wide range of useful and immediate recommendations for beginning at once on such a project! Indeed, You Rules! will help each of us to, as M. C. Richards says, “walk through extremes with an incorruptible instinct for wholeness.”

And Then Some News

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "Bright-Sided," reads as follows: "Not very often do I make an essay into a book review, but it happens occasionally. I reviewed the book, Bright-sided: How the relentless promotion of positive thinking has undermined America (Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt and Company, 2009), for our BookClubandthensome.com web site, and I had no intention of using it for an essay until I read this in a column by John Swartzberg, M.D., Chair of the editorial board for the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, “As Barbara Ehrenreich points out in her new book, Bright-Sided, women with breast cancer are often assaulted with the idea that negative thinking brought on their cancer and that positive thinking will cure it” (p. 3, January, 2010). Suddenly, his reference to the book gave it new attention and credibility, and I thought readers of my essays might like to hear more about her book. It is a wonderful book full of insights."

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

My attention to Ehrenreich’s book was drawn to Chapter 6, “Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness,” simply because I have cited Martin Seligman a number of times in my books and articles, and I own his book, Learned Optimism. I knew that “academics tended to dismiss the ideas of his successors as pop cultural ephemera and the stuff of cheap hucksterism” (p. 147). How the new positive psychology became mainstream, the benefits it offered to nonacademic motivational speakers, coaches, and self-help entrepreneurs, the influence positive psychologists have had in the corporate world and on therapy, and the interview Ehrenreich had with him are fascinating revelations that, by themselves, make this book worth reading.

And Then Some News