The Power of 'Negative' Thinking

by Tony Humphreys

An immensely challenging book-The Irish Times. "A useful self-help book, written by a psychologist and designed to increase self-awareness and a much greater understanding of self"-Irish Independent. An exciting guide for personal healing, growth and development, The Power of Negative Thinking was first published in 1996. It has sold 30,000 copies in its original format and has been translated into twelve foreign-language editions. It is a ground-breaking publication which successfully challenges many of the current ideas in psychology today by making some surprising but convincing claims.

Genres: Self Help, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Psychology, Philosophy

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Dr. Tony Humphreys is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Author and National and International Speaker.

He began his career as a Clinical Psychologist in State Psychiatric and Psychological Services in England and Ireland and since 1990 has been working in private practice in Ireland.

He works with individuals, couples, families, schools, local communities and the business community. He is the Director of three National University of Ireland courses which are run in University College Cork and in an outreach centre in Dublin.

He is Co-Founder of The Irish Association of Relationship Mentors and a Member of Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), IARM.

Reviews

[Baraa · Rating 4 out of 5]

قرأت الكتاب منذ سنتين والكتاب الآن ليس بحوزتي لكي أكتب ملخص دقيق.. لكن باستطاعتي أن أقول بشكل موجز أن الكتاب يعرض وجهة نظر جديدة في تفكير وتصرفات البشر السلبية، بحيث يجعل القارئ يرى التفكير السلبي بطريقة لم يعتد أن يراها فيها: سيفهمها بطريقة مختلفة، سيجعله قادر أن يفهم لما الإنسان عادة يلجأ لأن يتصرف بسلبية.. وعندما يتم الفهم يصل الإنسان إلى الحل..
بقراءتك للكتاب ستدرك ربما للمرة الأولى أن الصفات السلبية التي تحملها، أُوجدها جسمك من أجل أن يحميك: ابتكرها جسمك لأنك كنت بحاجة لها (عوملت بطريقة سيئة من شخص ما)..
الكتاب لا يقدم فقط صورة جديدة لفهم التفكير السلبي، بل يقدم طريقة الحل أيضاً للتخلص من التفكير السلبي..

[دينـا · Rating 5 out of 5]

يتحدث هذا الكتاب عن الافكار السلبية التي تسكن عقول الناس ولكن من ناحية ايجابية !!
فهو على خلاف ما اعتدنا لا يرفض هذه الافكار ، بل يعتبرها اسلوب ذكي يطوره الانسان في سبيل حماية نفسه من تكرار تجاربه السيئه ..
فمثلا ان تعرض احد ما لتجربة هجر في الطفولة من قبل ابويه ، فهو بلا شك سيتبع اسلوبا انطوائيا متحفظا في علااقاته كي يحمي من نفسه من تكرار التجربة ، هذا السلوك يدل على حبه لذاته وسعيه الحثيث لتجنيب نفسه الالم ، ولهذا لا يجب ان نقول للناس لا تفكروا بشكل سلبي ، قبل ان نعرف انهم بهذا الاسلوب يحمون هشاشتهم العاطفية ..ويخبئون لا امانهم الشخصي ،..
تفكيرك السلبي سببه شعور سابق لهذا التفكير ، والشعور سببه مواقف مررت بها ، لا بد من ان تمر بهذه الرحلة العكسية لتقوي امانك العاطفي وبهذا ستتجاوز حتما طريقة التفكير ..
لماذا خمسة نجوم ؟ لأنني شخصيا مررت بكل ما ذكره الكاتب هنا ، ونجحت في تجاوز سلبيتي بعد ان عمّقت ايماني الشخصي بذاتي والذي جاء من الحب اللامشروط الذي منحته لنفسي .. جاء الكتاب بالنسبة لي مثل ملخص تأكيدي على نجاحي في تجاوز مرحلة صعبه ، وعلى انني اصبحت اتعلم من نفسي قبل ان اتعلم من الكتب ..

[Ypatios Varelas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Εξαιρετικό βιβλίο σχετικά με το πώς οι αρνητικές σκέψεις και τα αρνητικά συναισθήματα στην ουσία δεν είναι αρνητικά αλλά προστατευτικά, ποια είναι τα βασικά προβλήματα που κρύβονται πίσω από αυτά και μας κάνουν να τα χρειαζόμαστε, πώς σκέψεις, συναισθήματα, συμπεριφορές και σωματικά συμπτώματα εξυπηρετούν τις ανάγκες ψυχικής προστασίας μας και ποια είναι η ενδεδειγμένη πορεία απαλλαγής (θεραπείας) από αυτά.
Αν και δεν συμφωνώ 100% με όλα όσα παραθέτει ο συγγραφέας, ωστόσο συμφωνώ απόλυτα με τη λογική και τον τρόπο αντιμετώπισης, κόντρα στην αμερικανοτραφή κουλτούρα της αναγκαστικής θετικής σκέψης αλλά και της λανθασμένης λογικής παρέμβασης πολλών ψυχοθεραπευτών.
Αφαιρώ ένα αστέρι από τα πέντε στη βαθμολογία γιατί ο συγγραφέας υπερτονίζει την αξία της θεραπευτικής σχέσης (είναι βασικός παράγοντας αλλά εξίσου σημαντικές είναι και οι τεχνικές σύμφωνα με τις γνώσεις και την πείρα μου). Επίσης, και αυτό είναι σημαντικό, διότι ενώ κατακρίνει ουσιαστικά τις αναπλαισιώσεις που κάνουν οι γνωσιακοί ψυχοθεραπευτές παραθέτει ο ίδιος μία μεγάλη συλλογή αναπλαισιώσεων με κύρια αυτήν για τους γονείς (που είναι η βασικήπηγή προβλημάτωνκαι ψυχικών τραυμάτων για τους περισσότερεους), ότι "έκαναν ό,τι καλύτερο μπορούσαν". Παρηγορητικό, ρυθμιστικό, αλλά όχι θεραπευτικό! Αν μία τέτοια σκέψη έρθει ως αποτέλεσμα βαθιάς και ουσιαστικής αποφόρτισης και αποτραυματισμού (που μπορεί να γίνει μόνο με ειδικές τεχνικές όπως π.χ. το EFT ή το EMDR και ΟΧΙ γνωσιακά, έστω και ψυχοδυναμικά), τότε είναι καλό, αλλίως είναι "κουκούλωμα".
Κατά τα άλλα το βιβλίο είναι πολύτιμο για όλους όσους έχουν πρόβλημα αρητικών σκέψεων, συναισθημάτων, συμπεριφορών, σωματοποιήσεων (ψυχοσωματικών ζητημάτων) αλλά και για όλους τους θεραπευτές που ασχολούνται με τέτοια θέματα.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a proponent of the power of positive thinking, this book "The Power of Negative Thinking" caught my eye while browsing for a holiday read and has reminded me of Dr.Phil McGraw's saying that no matter how flat you make a pancake it's still got two sides.

This book has given me a totally different perspective to negative thinking and how we use creative and ingenious ways to protect ourselves from further hurt, humiliation and rejection. The interpersonal interactions and defence mechanisms evident in my ABE classroom become all the clearer as a result. It also reminds me that creating safety is the essential first step which lets us move beyond our protective walls and towards a greater level of personal fulfilment.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A nice, but short little listen that was certainly more like a podcast than a book. A lot of excellent ideas that just weren’t properly flushed out. And perhaps one or two tangents that didn’t really stay on topic, which is okay, because they were still interesting. I still have plans to read his book The Antidote, and I’m sure it says a lot of similar things but with a lot more substance.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like listening to a podcast or putting on a YouTube video in the background, which is actually my favourite way of listening to things. Didn't get anything particularly new from this, but I'm excited to read more of Burkeman's work!

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned/the content of this book made me feel…

…that whether we’re working 60 hour weeks or lying on the sofa feeling weak and confused by life, all of us will often catch ourselves in a question of uncomfortable reflection at some point

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and it inspired me to read further into stoicism. I definetly believe being a Stoic is a great way to live life.

[Mahmoud elhofy · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتاب جميل وبسيط جدا
الكتاب كله بيتكلم عن فكره واحده وهيا ان الواحد يفكر بطريقه ايجابيه افضل من التفكير السلبي..
وبيجيب امثله واسقاطات كتير علي حاجات ف حياتنا حاجات كتير منها مستني فعلا...

في حاجه اتعلمتها و هيا ان الواحد مفروض يكون مسامح في حياته مواقف واشخاص علشان يعرف يفكر بايجيابيه و يتخطي كل الامه

[Madii Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't get to finish this book as it belonged to somebody I was staying with, but as far as I read I would give it five stars! at first I was skeptical as it is such a different view on the typical self help books, but the more I read it the more I resonated with it. I think it really makes you consider the way we think. not recommended to people who are quick to judge a book!

[Stephen Theaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver Burkeman always seems so wise and sensible on Twitter and in his Guardian columns, so I got this from Audible and it didn't disappoint. Worrying about whether you can do things better and fretting about what could go wrong can be very useful, properly channelled.

[Nadya Ichinomiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite short, about 2 hours. seems like this was more like 4 or 5 podcasts linked together.

Not terrible, I just much preferred and found much more valuable his more thoughtful and comprehensive book, Four Thousand Weeks.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is short and worth listening to. It touches on a number of Stoic concepts and goes into more depth on impostor syndrome (and includes an interview with Amanda Palmer!) than anything I've come across before.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book changed my life when i was in the sixth grade.

this isn't actually what i read, but it has the same title.

[Siofra Ferriter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this I had no belief self help books could be useful and this completely changed that view. Really practical, readable and educational. Fantastic resource alongside therapy

[Yael Isakov · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun audiobook.
I enjoyed the positive outlook on negative thinking.
It will definitely make me more forgiving of the over-thinkers in my life.
Additionally that piece on imposter syndrome is so relatable. The best providers I know are always trying learn from others.
Favorite quote: “At the birth of liberalism we’ve replaced G-d with other people and we’ve become a slave to public opinion. “

[AJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short audio program that uses interviews to explore the topics of Stoicism, imposter feelings (not syndrome!), and others that may not be new to listeners but are worth hearing again regardless.

[Bh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Concise. Like a podcast less like a book. Talks about how sometimes when you think positively it can lead to less desirable outcomes as one becomes less motivated to do certain actions. Trying to avoid negative thinking is not good too like not thinking about death etc.

[Brian Gowthorpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought provoking read, touching on “impostor syndrome” and the snake oil of positive thinking gurus. Negative thinking aids risk assessment and can head off problems. Amanda Palmer featured and was very entertaining.

[Angtburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to know plateaus and enough are enough

[Gareth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(audiobook)

[Rob Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, makes a couple of good points, the conversational style was quite good at exploring positive and negative thinking, not particularly ground breaking but still quite good.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking multipart BBC audio series. Covers much of the same ground as his books. Burkeman interviews several experts, including a doctor and a rock star.

[KWat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative, entertaining, relatable.

[Dina ElMaamoun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Underwhelming. I expected more, and the content is recycled at best. But it was a fun quick listen while I did chores.

[GT]

I like the ideas in the book, but you can probably skip it if you have read many books from this author.

[DP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short. Unique take.

[Radostina Tsvetkova · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Anyone who totally knows what they’re doing is not to be trusted.”

[Lenon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very nice series of mini audio essays on productivity, happiness, and success, in the complete opposite manner to what mainstream motivational literature serves.

[Otto · Rating 3 out of 5]

so interesting to hear that humans prioritize negativity as a means to survived and it can be harnessed