Stop Smiling, Start Kvetching: A 5-Step Guide to Creative Complaining: Amazon.ca: Barbara Held: Books

Product Description

Are you sick of being told "Smile-look on the bright side"? Do you feel guilty when you admit you're having a bad day?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are a victim of the "don't worry, be happy" mentality that is pervading America. Dr. Held, convinced that having to smile through life's problems only adds insult to injury, is here to tell you that you have the right, the need, to kvetch! As she walks you through the five steps of creative kvetching, Dr. Held will show you that the right kind of complaining can help you to feel better and attract others to you instead of driving them away. So get ready to take off your smiley face and be liberated from the "tyranny of the positive attitude."

About the Author

A professor of psychology at Bowdoin College in Maine, Barbara Held, Ph.D. introduced the American Psychological Association to The (Overlooked) Virtues of Negativity in a well-received symposium.

Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
A few years ago my friend Fred (not his real name) came over for a visit. Read the first page

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Concordance

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

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10 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Creative Complaining, July 10 2004

By

M. LaJoue (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stop Smiling, Start Kvetching: A 5-Step Guide to Creative Complaining (Paperback)

The idea of creative complaining is helpful for those of us who were raised with a taboo against expressing negative emotions -- no matter how genuine or appropriate. With humor and warmth, the author provides significant help. Recommended.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Meh... This book was physically painfull to read..., April 9 2004

By

Cassi (Illinois, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stop Smiling, Start Kvetching: A 5-Step Guide to Creative Complaining (Paperback)

As a strong pessimist and cynic, I figured that this book would be perfect for a person like me. I'm not alone you know! Anyways, I began reading this book with excitement, hoping it could provide guidance it advertises.

Unfortunately, I found myself almost pounding my head against the wall by mid-book. I think I might freak out if I ever hear the word 'kvetch' again. In the book, the word 'kvetch' is used so often, it is much too repetitive. Also, the definition of the word takes up entirely too much of the book.

The writer also almost seems like she's contradicting what she says. She says, make sure you dont drive your audience away. Okay lady, with all the kvetching of yours taking up the book, you chased ME away. I failed to find anything helpful or useful in this book.

The writer almost seems like she had a good idea for a book, but could not quite fill it out. A thin, quick read, but very tedious and repetitive without much guidance. I would not recommend this book.

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5.0 out of 5 stars New to Kvetching ?, Jan 17 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Stop Smiling, Start Kvetching: A 5-Step Guide to Creative Complaining (Paperback)

For me, "kvetching" was a novel concept -- not just a new word, but a new idea. A Great Idea. If you were raised to be nice Nice NICE, as I was, you probably need some negative energy liberation. I guess I'm what psychologists call a 'defensive pessimist' -- but reading this book about Kvetching might inspire me to get in touch with 'the positive power of negative thinking.' No more smiley faces for me, I'm ready to (try to) get real. Excellent book for getting in touch with authentic human emotion. I recommend it.

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