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The Positive Dog: A Story About the Power of Positivity
Discover the benefits of being positive.
We all have two dogs inside of us. One dog is positive, happy, optimistic, and hopeful. The other dog is negative, mad, sad, pessimistic, and fearful. These two dogs often fight inside us, but guess who wins the fight? The one you feed the most. So begins the story about a negative mutt named Matt and a big dog named Bubba who teaches him how to feed himself with positivity each day and in the process Matt transforms his own life and the shelter they call home.
The Positive Dog is an inspiring, heartwarming story that not only reveals the strategies and benefits of being positive but also an essential truth for humans: Being positive doesn't just make you better. It makes everyone around you better.
129 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2012
208 people are currently reading
1459 people want to read
About the author
Jon Gordon
156 books693 followersJon Gordon is an American business consultant and author on the topics of leadership, culture, sales, and teamwork.
Jon Gordon's best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous NFL, NBA, and college coaches and teams, Fortune 500 companies, school districts, hospitals and non-profits. He is the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller The Energy Bus, The No Complaining Rule, Training Camp, The Shark and The Goldfish, Soup, The Seed and his latest The Positive Dog. Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Atlanta Falcons, Campbell Soup, Wells Fargo, State Farm, Novartis, Bayer and more.
Jon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a Masters in Teaching from Emory University. He and his training/consulting company are passionate about developing positive leaders, organizations and teams.
When he's not running through airports or speaking, you can find him playing tennis or lacrosse with his wife and two "high energy" children.
You can find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jongordonpage
Jon Gordon's best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous NFL, NBA, and college coaches and teams, Fortune 500 companies, school districts, hospitals and non-profits. He is the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller The Energy Bus, The No Complaining Rule, Training Camp, The Shark and The Goldfish, Soup, The Seed and his latest The Positive Dog. Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Atlanta Falcons, Campbell Soup, Wells Fargo, State Farm, Novartis, Bayer and more.
Jon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a Masters in Teaching from Emory University. He and his training/consulting company are passionate about developing positive leaders, organizations and teams.
When he's not running through airports or speaking, you can find him playing tennis or lacrosse with his wife and two "high energy" children.
You can find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jongordonpage
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
June 1, 2022
I really tried to be open-minded with this little positive poop nugget of a book. I bound and gagged the sarcastic voice in my head while reading it and focused on each piece as it was presented.
These two items captured my attention...
“I get to go to work instead of I have to go.”
“I am hashtag blessed.”
…and destroyed my very last nerve. I even tried to incorporate the first one into my day-to-day interactions and it had the opposite effect. It reminded me of the episode of Seinfeld where Frank Costanza kept saying “serenity now” to deal with his anger. Did.Not.Work.
Why I am giving it two stars (one more than my review makes it sound like it deserves) is because it did reinforce a thought I have been working at for a while. Being a Debbie Downer does directly impact those around you (especially the ones you love the most) and it is worth it to at least try to keep your big pessimistic mouth shut now and then when around others.
These two items captured my attention...
“I get to go to work instead of I have to go.”
“I am hashtag blessed.”
…and destroyed my very last nerve. I even tried to incorporate the first one into my day-to-day interactions and it had the opposite effect. It reminded me of the episode of Seinfeld where Frank Costanza kept saying “serenity now” to deal with his anger. Did.Not.Work.
Why I am giving it two stars (one more than my review makes it sound like it deserves) is because it did reinforce a thought I have been working at for a while. Being a Debbie Downer does directly impact those around you (especially the ones you love the most) and it is worth it to at least try to keep your big pessimistic mouth shut now and then when around others.
March 20, 2015
This was a very simple little parable involving 2 dogs. I thought it was okay. Nothing earth shattering. The way he applied this parable to real life, didn't involve any new info. that most people haven't learned in grade school. What I did like was 2 things. He gave some very pointed ways on how this can be applied to real life. Again it wasn't anything we don't know, but a reminder is always nice. He also listed the positive effects of practicing positivity, and he also listed the top 10 effects of negativity.
February 16, 2021
HELLO FRIENDS I AM BACK
Okay so basically for health we had to research about an illness that runs in our family and I chose anxiety and finished it in like 10 minutes bc y’know. I have anxiety. And the final question was “do you think you benefited from this?” And this bish rlly went “no :) I’ve known this all for years”
Anyways my goal is to make my health teacher hate me bc I’m the best student she’s ever had. I will not half-ass and assignment but rather go way in depth about all the pros and cons of it, all while being very passive aggressive. I’m smarter than the learning guide but she can’t get mad about it bc I’m so damn nice to everyone reminding them to drink water and take care of themselves. I want her to be fuming when she reads over all my assignments and has to give me full marks. I want to slowly ruin her.
My spite of horrible health classes is showing and I don’t even care ✨🔪
——————-
OKAY ARE YALL READY?
I had to read this for health (why did I have to read this for health 😭) and for the sake of the title I’m going to start with the positives.
The book did bring up some good points about positivity and the one (1) thing I might do bc of it is take a gratitude walk. Basically when you go on a walk and think of everything that you’re grateful for, big and small. There was also the plus of the ideas being explained really simply so there weren’t Big Fancy Words For Things *I am struggling to think of any more positive points so we’re just gonna skip to my rant*
So you might think it ironic that the majority of my review on a book about positivity is going to be negative and you’re right. But when did I start caring about stuff like “having a good outlook on things” or “actually doing things for the betterment of self” pshhh that doenst sound like me
First of all: I am in high school. I’m taking a high school health class. Why did my teacher give us a book about a talking dog to read for class-
Does she know anything about high schoolers-
Also how did Bubba (a dog) know this much about positivity. He is a DOG in a SHELTER. And yet when Matt came over he was like “the statistics show that you need a blah blah blah rate of blah.” Sir I have some plot holes you need to fill in 🤨
To the more serious side of my issues:
Nothing in this book talked about mental health. All of the points were like “it’s easy to be positive!!! Whoooo you got this Matt!!” And while it might be true for Nero-typical and mentally well people, a wide percentage of people on the planet don’t fit into those categories. I have ADHD, an anxiety disorder, and depression and I could pretty much relate to none of this book and it just made me feel bad about myself 😎. Like yes, this stuff is important. But it’s really hard for some people and that’s OKAY. Let them know that their feelings and experiences are valid before you start telling them to stop and smell the roses. He had this whole philosophy about “faith over fear” and 1. I am not religious and 2. My brain automatically defaults to the negative! And I know that! But the guy was like “you just have to choose faith that things will be okay! And then it will be!”. I get that he was trying to make things simple to understand but improving your mental health is a lot of work and it hurts when it’s just brushed aside like that.
My final point (did I actually have ANY points in this review tho) that actually hugely effected my listening experience (I read an audiobook): the guy was bringing up all the negative points about being negative and he was like “experiencing those stress hormones all the time slowly kills you! So don’t do that!” And as I mentioned above, I HAVE ANXIETY. AND IM STRESSED ALL THE TIME. So there I was chilling while doing hw and I hear that and my brain immediately goes into panic mode and I get really stressed about being stressed and then I got stressed that I was getting more stressed and the cycle continued until I could calm myself down. LIKE DUDE DONT CASUALLY DROP THAT IN. If someone is willingly listening to this book it’s probably bc they struggling with being positive snd will default to latching onto the negative thing that you just brought up and moved past WHICH IMPLIES DEATH.
This also seemed like it came from someone who’d never been through anything in his life so. I’m angry.
—————————————
Planning to write a rant review tomorrow bc I just spent 30 minutes of dinner complaining about this and I must share my insane ness with the rest of yall
Okay so basically for health we had to research about an illness that runs in our family and I chose anxiety and finished it in like 10 minutes bc y’know. I have anxiety. And the final question was “do you think you benefited from this?” And this bish rlly went “no :) I’ve known this all for years”
Anyways my goal is to make my health teacher hate me bc I’m the best student she’s ever had. I will not half-ass and assignment but rather go way in depth about all the pros and cons of it, all while being very passive aggressive. I’m smarter than the learning guide but she can’t get mad about it bc I’m so damn nice to everyone reminding them to drink water and take care of themselves. I want her to be fuming when she reads over all my assignments and has to give me full marks. I want to slowly ruin her.
My spite of horrible health classes is showing and I don’t even care ✨🔪
——————-
OKAY ARE YALL READY?
I had to read this for health (why did I have to read this for health 😭) and for the sake of the title I’m going to start with the positives.
The book did bring up some good points about positivity and the one (1) thing I might do bc of it is take a gratitude walk. Basically when you go on a walk and think of everything that you’re grateful for, big and small. There was also the plus of the ideas being explained really simply so there weren’t Big Fancy Words For Things *I am struggling to think of any more positive points so we’re just gonna skip to my rant*
So you might think it ironic that the majority of my review on a book about positivity is going to be negative and you’re right. But when did I start caring about stuff like “having a good outlook on things” or “actually doing things for the betterment of self” pshhh that doenst sound like me
First of all: I am in high school. I’m taking a high school health class. Why did my teacher give us a book about a talking dog to read for class-
Does she know anything about high schoolers-
Also how did Bubba (a dog) know this much about positivity. He is a DOG in a SHELTER. And yet when Matt came over he was like “the statistics show that you need a blah blah blah rate of blah.” Sir I have some plot holes you need to fill in 🤨
To the more serious side of my issues:
Nothing in this book talked about mental health. All of the points were like “it’s easy to be positive!!! Whoooo you got this Matt!!” And while it might be true for Nero-typical and mentally well people, a wide percentage of people on the planet don’t fit into those categories. I have ADHD, an anxiety disorder, and depression and I could pretty much relate to none of this book and it just made me feel bad about myself 😎. Like yes, this stuff is important. But it’s really hard for some people and that’s OKAY. Let them know that their feelings and experiences are valid before you start telling them to stop and smell the roses. He had this whole philosophy about “faith over fear” and 1. I am not religious and 2. My brain automatically defaults to the negative! And I know that! But the guy was like “you just have to choose faith that things will be okay! And then it will be!”. I get that he was trying to make things simple to understand but improving your mental health is a lot of work and it hurts when it’s just brushed aside like that.
My final point (did I actually have ANY points in this review tho) that actually hugely effected my listening experience (I read an audiobook): the guy was bringing up all the negative points about being negative and he was like “experiencing those stress hormones all the time slowly kills you! So don’t do that!” And as I mentioned above, I HAVE ANXIETY. AND IM STRESSED ALL THE TIME. So there I was chilling while doing hw and I hear that and my brain immediately goes into panic mode and I get really stressed about being stressed and then I got stressed that I was getting more stressed and the cycle continued until I could calm myself down. LIKE DUDE DONT CASUALLY DROP THAT IN. If someone is willingly listening to this book it’s probably bc they struggling with being positive snd will default to latching onto the negative thing that you just brought up and moved past WHICH IMPLIES DEATH.
This also seemed like it came from someone who’d never been through anything in his life so. I’m angry.
—————————————
Planning to write a rant review tomorrow bc I just spent 30 minutes of dinner complaining about this and I must share my insane ness with the rest of yall
November 21, 2017
I found it slow and hard to stay engaged with the story. I have read several Jon Gordon books before so i am not unaware of his story style. this one just seemed difficult to follow the point to be made all the time.
March 4, 2024
This is simple nonfiction book on the power of positivity, delivered through a pleasant fictional story about two shelter dogs, Matt & Bubba.
It might seem silly at first, but I thought it was effective delivery. For me, the dog story is more memorable than other methods of conveying the same info.
Regardless of the benefits of positivity and simple strategies to maintain positive habits and incorporate them into your daily life (all good!), if you've ever adopted a dog, you might appreciate the story. It left me misty eyed. (It's a positive book - it has a happy ending.)
Also, this is more than the "Two Wolves" tale, or fakelore (often misattributed as Native American legend), which I was already familiar with. I was skeptical at first, thinking it was just a slight spin on that same story, but I kept reading and I'm glad I did. It's much more.
I ended up liking it a lot!
"It's common sense. Everyone intuitively knows these things, but because of the daily grind of life and the stress and challenges we face, we forget the simple things we know. We forget that simple is powerful. We forget the powerful impact of a simple smile. We forget the transformative effect laughter has on others. We forget the influence our positivity has on the wold. That's why you need to remember that your positivity not only changes the way you feel, but also impacts the actions of others. I'm not overstating this when I say that your positive energy can and does change the world one person at a time."
It might seem silly at first, but I thought it was effective delivery. For me, the dog story is more memorable than other methods of conveying the same info.
Regardless of the benefits of positivity and simple strategies to maintain positive habits and incorporate them into your daily life (all good!), if you've ever adopted a dog, you might appreciate the story. It left me misty eyed. (It's a positive book - it has a happy ending.)
Also, this is more than the "Two Wolves" tale, or fakelore (often misattributed as Native American legend), which I was already familiar with. I was skeptical at first, thinking it was just a slight spin on that same story, but I kept reading and I'm glad I did. It's much more.
I ended up liking it a lot!
"It's common sense. Everyone intuitively knows these things, but because of the daily grind of life and the stress and challenges we face, we forget the simple things we know. We forget that simple is powerful. We forget the powerful impact of a simple smile. We forget the transformative effect laughter has on others. We forget the influence our positivity has on the wold. That's why you need to remember that your positivity not only changes the way you feel, but also impacts the actions of others. I'm not overstating this when I say that your positive energy can and does change the world one person at a time."
Read
May 4, 2025Hard to rate…while I do believe in a lot of what the author is saying about the positive impact of positive thinking, I think it’s a not always that easy to just “be positive” for certain populations of people, such as less privileged groups and also those who struggle with mental health. Some good reminders in here, especially changing the phrase from “I have to” to “I get to” but overall written for a very privileged audience, in my opinion.
August 19, 2015
Billed as a "charming and informative fable", this book was neither. The portion that purports to be a fable was clumsily and clunkily told, and the "informative" part is overly simplistic and trite. Save your time and money, and just google the Native American legend about "which wolf to feed".
September 3, 2025
A lighthearted book with a simple message at its heart: choosing positivity matters. The story is playful and accessible, and tucked inside are reminders about the power of attitude, gratitude, and perspective. It does not try to overwhelm the reader with depth, and that is both its charm and its limitation. The lessons are clear and easy to carry forward, though the presentation leans more toward parable than rich narrative.
I would call this a middle of the road read, pleasant in its simplicity and encouraging in spirit. It may not leave a lasting mark, but it does offer a few moments of clarity and warmth that can brighten an afternoon. For readers new to motivational stories, or those simply in need of a gentle nudge toward optimism, it serves its purpose with friendliness and heart.
I would call this a middle of the road read, pleasant in its simplicity and encouraging in spirit. It may not leave a lasting mark, but it does offer a few moments of clarity and warmth that can brighten an afternoon. For readers new to motivational stories, or those simply in need of a gentle nudge toward optimism, it serves its purpose with friendliness and heart.
April 3, 2024
It's disappointing to read the negative reviews that scorn the simplicity of this book. I suppose that it goes to show that negative people will find a way to criticize something positive no matter what. I loved this short--and yes, simple--book. There is power in simplicity, and it is the simple message of this book that people need to hear. As both a minister and a teacher in a public school, I can tell you that people of all ages need to be reminded to feed the positive dog. They need to be told how to do it. They need to learn how to feed the positive dog in others. It does not come naturally to most people. It is learned behavior. And yes, it has the potential to change a life and even change the world. In school, we emphasize that students should adopt and cultivate a "growth mindset." This book is going to be one of the main tools I use going forward to help my students do that very thing. Thank you, Jon Gordon, for this pointed and powerful parable.
November 22, 2014
I enjoyed listening to this book told using "dogs" as main characters and using lessons between 2 dogs to help gain a more positive and wise insight into how to be grateful for what we have to offer others and gain a positive outcome in the process.
June 9, 2019
An accessible self-help book for young readers. Includes lots of positive psychology advice with references to studies that back up the information. Be kind. Be grateful. Live in the present. Feed the positive dog inside you and you will be happier and make a positive difference in the lives of others. I can imagine this book being a wonderful book study for upper elementary or middle school students to help them see the benefits a positive attitude. I like how the advice is backed up with research from scientific studies. A great example to student writers.
March 24, 2017
"If neither the positive or negative future hasn't happened yet, why not believe in the positive?" Spot on Jon Gordon! Another great read for everyone! Negativity and failures happen to everyone, but our reaction to them is our choice! Every bad thing can be viewed as an opportunity for growth! Every chance to be bitter can really make us better! This quick delightful read can help everyone focus and be grateful for the things we do have, and better because of negativity and circumstances that are out of our control but handled in positive "opportunity for growth" manner!
March 24, 2019
A must read for ALL of us. Short. Simple. To the point. We all have two dogs inside us. A positive dog and a negative dog. Our world could really use all of us feeding our positive dogs. Much more accessible for everyday folks than The Energy Bus (which is much more work-focused).
August 28, 2021
None of the information in this cute little story is new, but it was interesting to hear from the perspective of dogs waiting for new homes in a shelter. It's a quick read, but the pov made me slow down and think about the author's points more than I would otherwise.
October 14, 2019
Really good and easy read! Everyone should take an hour or two and read this book. It's a worthwhile investment in oneself!
January 29, 2025
Love a good Jon Gordon book
March 5, 2018
This is my sort of book! Being positive is just more fun! 🤟
December 10, 2015
I read “The Positive Dog” by Jon Gordon. The book was quite small but had a very big message to it. I finished this book in about 3 days over Thanksgiving break because it was so good. The author does a great job of relating life experiences of humans into a story about two dogs. I though the book was really good because I felt like just about anyone could relate to it. The whole book was about how our society pities ourselves and are constantly feeling sorry for ourselves and one another.
“All our negativity is rooted in fear. Complaining, anger, jealousy, and sadness are ultimately cause by fear that expresses itself in negative ways” (Gordon 43). This quote sums up the book very well. The book is based on two dogs, one is very positive and the other is always having a pity party. The book showed how we need to live every day like its our last and it showed me how to always stay positive. I think this quote shows that our identities can be based on what we make it out to be. We can shape our identities with either negative or positive interactions.
I would recommend this book to anyone from the ages of 20-50. I think that most young adults wouldn’t actually take much from this book. However, if they were to read it I think they could still stay engaged in the book because the story is based on two dogs which children could easily enjoy reading. I think that most older adult could really take away a lot from this book and realize that they are the ones who make they’re days positive or negative. My favorite part of the book was when Bubba and Matt were reunited. Bubba was adopted first about 3 weeks before Matt. Bubba was old and it seemed very unlikely to be adopted by a nice family. But this didn't bring his positivity down, and eventually the day came to go home with a new family. After Matt was adopted as well they were reunited by fate at a dog park. This book showed me that life is what you make it out to be and if you always stay positive, your life will most likely change for the better.
“All our negativity is rooted in fear. Complaining, anger, jealousy, and sadness are ultimately cause by fear that expresses itself in negative ways” (Gordon 43). This quote sums up the book very well. The book is based on two dogs, one is very positive and the other is always having a pity party. The book showed how we need to live every day like its our last and it showed me how to always stay positive. I think this quote shows that our identities can be based on what we make it out to be. We can shape our identities with either negative or positive interactions.
I would recommend this book to anyone from the ages of 20-50. I think that most young adults wouldn’t actually take much from this book. However, if they were to read it I think they could still stay engaged in the book because the story is based on two dogs which children could easily enjoy reading. I think that most older adult could really take away a lot from this book and realize that they are the ones who make they’re days positive or negative. My favorite part of the book was when Bubba and Matt were reunited. Bubba was adopted first about 3 weeks before Matt. Bubba was old and it seemed very unlikely to be adopted by a nice family. But this didn't bring his positivity down, and eventually the day came to go home with a new family. After Matt was adopted as well they were reunited by fate at a dog park. This book showed me that life is what you make it out to be and if you always stay positive, your life will most likely change for the better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2018
This was our 2017-2018 school-wide staff book study. I had a really big problem taking positivity advice from two dogs in a shelter. The language was over simplified and made it sound like a TED talk for elementary students. However, the meat or content of the book was great. Positivity has many health benefits, and you read about them over and over and over again. This would have made a GREAT blog post... I adore Jon Gordon's message but 75 pages of a dog learning how to be positive at a shelter is just not how to do it. The information in the back of the book was great, and I am hoping to build a 11-day challenge for leaders to have their teams do digitally. Overall, I'll give it a 3-star because the content was useful, and I have been able to reference the material in the book in my day-to-day life but I just wish there had been a better way that it was presented rather than two dogs.
August 21, 2018
Thoạt nhìn thì cuốn sách có vẻ phù hợp với mấy bạn nhỏ cấp 1, cấp 2.. để có 1 nền tảng tư duy tích cực hơn trong tương lai. Nhưng vì nó khá ngắn, chỉ khoảng 140 trang nên mình có ngồi 1 tiếng nghiêm túc đọc và nhận ra 1 điều là bấy lâu nay đang để những suy nghĩ tiêu cực bó buộc bản thân như thế nào.
Chắc là sẽ có nhiều cuốn sách mang tính nghiên cứu về tư duy tích cực cao hơn cuốn sách này, nhưng với lối hành văn đơn giản, là 1 loạt đoạn hội thoại giữa 2 chú chó với nhau thì việc lĩnh hội kiến thức trở nên đơn giản hơn và thú vị hơn cho mỗi người.
Để từ đó nhìn mọi việc một góc nhìn tươi sáng hơn, và luôn là cơ hội để sống 1 cuộc sống thú vị, tích cực.
Chắc là sẽ có nhiều cuốn sách mang tính nghiên cứu về tư duy tích cực cao hơn cuốn sách này, nhưng với lối hành văn đơn giản, là 1 loạt đoạn hội thoại giữa 2 chú chó với nhau thì việc lĩnh hội kiến thức trở nên đơn giản hơn và thú vị hơn cho mỗi người.
Để từ đó nhìn mọi việc một góc nhìn tươi sáng hơn, và luôn là cơ hội để sống 1 cuộc sống thú vị, tích cực.
January 1, 2018
This book uses the dog as a way of transforming a negative mindset into a positive one. It’s a great reminder and includes easy steps you can take to become a more positive person. It’s a simple, quick, and enjoyable read. From an educator’s perspective, I would love to see this become mandated reading for students. Also, from a positive dog trainer’s perspective, I liked that it reinforces the importance of positive thinking and kindness in life practices.
April 9, 2024
My middle schooler read this book with his school. He recommended it. It’s a simple, short and easy book on being positive from a dogs point of view. I’ve read other more in detailed books on positivity, but this was still a nice reminder of the little things we know but sometimes forget. It’s a great book for younger readers, preteens or teens. My son isn’t very fond of reading but he told me he enjoyed this book.
December 19, 2017
Not to be "Negative" here...but the book is pretty simplistic. That is not saying you can't be simplistic and be positive. I guess the avid reader and cynical side of me is looking for something more substantial. Possible good book to discuss in a work meeting (which it was assigned in my case). However to seek it out oneself, there are probably much better choices.
December 31, 2024
Sebuah buku tentang pikiran positif dengan segala manfaatnya yang dikisahkan dalam sebuah parabel antara 2 ekor anjing, Matt dan Bubba, yang tinggal di tempat penampungan.
Matt adalah anjing yang sudah lama ingin diadopsi, tapi sikapnya negatif. Dia pemarah dan putus asa karena hari demi hari tidak ada keluarga yang mau menerimanya. Hal ini membuatnya terus menggonggong, mengakibatkan dirinya dianggap seram dan semakin dijauhi oleh keluarga yang ingin mengadopsi. Hal ini menjadi semacam lingkaran setan yang membuatnya semakin bersikap negatif.
Bubba adalah seekor anjing tua yang belum lama ini masuk ke penampungan karena tempat tinggalnya terbakar habis. Sifatnya positif dan dia melihat masalah yang Matt miliki dan menuntun anjing muda itu ke sikap dan cara berpkir yang lebih baik.
Bukunya adalah usaha penulis untuk meyakinkan pembaca agar memulai cara hidup yang secara sadar mengemukakan pemikiran positif. Ada serangkaian penelitan yang (secara singkat) ditunjukkan mengenai manfaat pikiran positif dan bahaya hidup dalam pemikiran negatif.
Walau buku ini tampak sebagai bacaan psikologi pop sehari-hari, tapi saya rasa lebih cocok untuk diterapkan dalam dunia pemasaran atau jual-beli, karena tidak semua yang dipaparkan tepat dalam menggambarkan kondisi manusia sehari-hari.
Matt, dalam cerita ini, adalah seorang pemasar yang sedang "menjual" produknya (dirinya sendiri) kepada "calon pembeli" (keluarga pengadopsi potensial). Misi akhirnya jelas dengan masalah dan strategi perbaikan yang jelas juga. Sebenarnya hal ini juga telah ditulis pada bagian pendahuluan yang menyebutkan bahwa strategi dalam buku ini telah meningkatkan pendapatan penjualan, memotivasi penjual, meningkatkan kinerja tim (hal. xiii), dsb.
Dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, mengabaikan dan berusaha membuat si anjing negatif mati kelaparan justru adalah strategi yang kurang tepat. Umumnya si anjing negatif ini adalah anjing yang terluka dan membutuhkan perhatian. Menekan emosi negatif dalam jangka panjang justru berbahaya. Memakai perumpamaan di buku ini, si anjing negatif yang kelaparan bukannya menjadi lemah, tapi justru bisa menjadi lebih ganas dan siap menggigit siapa saja karena dia tidak mendapatkan pertolongan yang tepat.
Secara keseluruhan, The Positive Dog adalah buku tentang cara berpikir positif dan penerapannya dalam hidup. Buku yang strategi berpikirnya cocok untuk diterapkan pada bidang pemasaran dan jual-beli.
Matt adalah anjing yang sudah lama ingin diadopsi, tapi sikapnya negatif. Dia pemarah dan putus asa karena hari demi hari tidak ada keluarga yang mau menerimanya. Hal ini membuatnya terus menggonggong, mengakibatkan dirinya dianggap seram dan semakin dijauhi oleh keluarga yang ingin mengadopsi. Hal ini menjadi semacam lingkaran setan yang membuatnya semakin bersikap negatif.
Bubba adalah seekor anjing tua yang belum lama ini masuk ke penampungan karena tempat tinggalnya terbakar habis. Sifatnya positif dan dia melihat masalah yang Matt miliki dan menuntun anjing muda itu ke sikap dan cara berpkir yang lebih baik.
Kamu lihat, kita semua memiliki 2 ekor anjing dalam diri kita. Anjing pertama positif, gembira, optimis, dan penuh pengharapan. Anjing satunya negatif, pemarah, sedih, pesimis, dan penuh ketakutan. (hal. 5)
Bukunya adalah usaha penulis untuk meyakinkan pembaca agar memulai cara hidup yang secara sadar mengemukakan pemikiran positif. Ada serangkaian penelitan yang (secara singkat) ditunjukkan mengenai manfaat pikiran positif dan bahaya hidup dalam pemikiran negatif.
Walau buku ini tampak sebagai bacaan psikologi pop sehari-hari, tapi saya rasa lebih cocok untuk diterapkan dalam dunia pemasaran atau jual-beli, karena tidak semua yang dipaparkan tepat dalam menggambarkan kondisi manusia sehari-hari.
[...] "kamu harus memberi makan anjing positif dalam dirimu dan membiarkan anjing yang negatif kelaparan. [...]. Kamu menjadi anjing yang kamu beri makan, jadi berilah makan anjing yang positif dan masalah terbesarmu akan memberi jalan pada berkat yang besar dan masa depan yang lebih cerah." (hal. 5-6)
Matt, dalam cerita ini, adalah seorang pemasar yang sedang "menjual" produknya (dirinya sendiri) kepada "calon pembeli" (keluarga pengadopsi potensial). Misi akhirnya jelas dengan masalah dan strategi perbaikan yang jelas juga. Sebenarnya hal ini juga telah ditulis pada bagian pendahuluan yang menyebutkan bahwa strategi dalam buku ini telah meningkatkan pendapatan penjualan, memotivasi penjual, meningkatkan kinerja tim (hal. xiii), dsb.
Dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, mengabaikan dan berusaha membuat si anjing negatif mati kelaparan justru adalah strategi yang kurang tepat. Umumnya si anjing negatif ini adalah anjing yang terluka dan membutuhkan perhatian. Menekan emosi negatif dalam jangka panjang justru berbahaya. Memakai perumpamaan di buku ini, si anjing negatif yang kelaparan bukannya menjadi lemah, tapi justru bisa menjadi lebih ganas dan siap menggigit siapa saja karena dia tidak mendapatkan pertolongan yang tepat.
Secara keseluruhan, The Positive Dog adalah buku tentang cara berpikir positif dan penerapannya dalam hidup. Buku yang strategi berpikirnya cocok untuk diterapkan pada bidang pemasaran dan jual-beli.
August 1, 2019
I'm not sure how this book ended up in my Kindle library, but I like dogs and I like being positive, so that might explain something.
It's a super short read, less than 100 pages with a few illustrations tossed in, so you'll be done before you know it.
It's a good reminder to have a positive approach to life, but the idea of delivering this message through the tale of two dogs in a shelter is better than its execution. The core message is "Be positive and your whole life will be wonderful," and it just felt too simple and fairy tale to me. Life gets more complicated than this, and while a positive attitude is key, for sure, people need to add a lot in order for things to work out so well.
But that aside, I did appreciate the main message, and we certainly can all improve at having a positive view of life. I also appreciated the nods to research that support the main ideas and the practical steps to being more positive on a daily basis. To be honest, the ideas are ones you'll see bandied about in the common literature on the topic, so there isn't a lot of new ground covered here. But again, being positive is a habit requiring practice, so the reminders aren't necessarily wasted.
I did find one idea very helpful, novel, and thought-provoking: "The story you tell yourself defines the life you live and the actions you take." The main idea behind this is that we all tell ourselves the story of our lives as we live it, and that story has a genre, like horror or adventure or love. In many ways, this story correlates with the positivity and negativity that we approach our lives with. I appreciated this one, as I realized that I had some negative soundtracks running about certain aspects of my life, and these were making it more likely that negative outcomes would happen. This is something that I can work on, and I'm grateful to the book for pointing it out.
It's a super short read, less than 100 pages with a few illustrations tossed in, so you'll be done before you know it.
It's a good reminder to have a positive approach to life, but the idea of delivering this message through the tale of two dogs in a shelter is better than its execution. The core message is "Be positive and your whole life will be wonderful," and it just felt too simple and fairy tale to me. Life gets more complicated than this, and while a positive attitude is key, for sure, people need to add a lot in order for things to work out so well.
But that aside, I did appreciate the main message, and we certainly can all improve at having a positive view of life. I also appreciated the nods to research that support the main ideas and the practical steps to being more positive on a daily basis. To be honest, the ideas are ones you'll see bandied about in the common literature on the topic, so there isn't a lot of new ground covered here. But again, being positive is a habit requiring practice, so the reminders aren't necessarily wasted.
I did find one idea very helpful, novel, and thought-provoking: "The story you tell yourself defines the life you live and the actions you take." The main idea behind this is that we all tell ourselves the story of our lives as we live it, and that story has a genre, like horror or adventure or love. In many ways, this story correlates with the positivity and negativity that we approach our lives with. I appreciated this one, as I realized that I had some negative soundtracks running about certain aspects of my life, and these were making it more likely that negative outcomes would happen. This is something that I can work on, and I'm grateful to the book for pointing it out.
January 15, 2023
This book was recommended to me by a librarian.
“The world needs you to speak into the hearts of others and say, I believe in you. If you have the desire then you also have the power to make it happen. Keep working hard. You’re improving and getting better. Keep it up. Great things are coming your way. We’ve hit a lot of obstacles but we’ll overcome. Even if you fail, it will lead to something even better. You’re learning and growing.”
It’s interesting that this book has so many more positive ratings at Amazon than here in GoodReads. It is a quick lesson with an uplifting message and non-threatening example of how to implement actions to change from a pessimistic outlook to an optimistic one. The eleven step action plan is reasonable and beneficial. The author gives plenty of tools to help implement the steps at his website and at www.feedthedogcom.
Key point: “You can become more positive and improve the direction and quality of your life.”
Action steps
1/ Take a Thank You Walk
2/ A Day of Gratitude
3/ More Smiles and Laughter
4/ Celebrate your Success of the Day
5/ Spend time with Positive People
6/ Share the Gift of Kindness
7/ Smell the Roses - be in nature
8/ Take Out Your Telescope - create a big picture vision of future
9/ Make a Gratitude Visit
10/ Lose Yourself in the Moment - be fully present
11/ Be a Coach - focus on what someone is doing right
Pray daily.
He also suggests a a few ways to starve the negative dog
-turn off the news
-don’t participate in gossip
-turn complaints into solutions
-identify negative stories you tell yourself and replace with positive ones
-see negative people as teachers who help you become more positive
-choose positive words rather than negative ones
“The world needs you to speak into the hearts of others and say, I believe in you. If you have the desire then you also have the power to make it happen. Keep working hard. You’re improving and getting better. Keep it up. Great things are coming your way. We’ve hit a lot of obstacles but we’ll overcome. Even if you fail, it will lead to something even better. You’re learning and growing.”
It’s interesting that this book has so many more positive ratings at Amazon than here in GoodReads. It is a quick lesson with an uplifting message and non-threatening example of how to implement actions to change from a pessimistic outlook to an optimistic one. The eleven step action plan is reasonable and beneficial. The author gives plenty of tools to help implement the steps at his website and at www.feedthedogcom.
Key point: “You can become more positive and improve the direction and quality of your life.”
Action steps
1/ Take a Thank You Walk
2/ A Day of Gratitude
3/ More Smiles and Laughter
4/ Celebrate your Success of the Day
5/ Spend time with Positive People
6/ Share the Gift of Kindness
7/ Smell the Roses - be in nature
8/ Take Out Your Telescope - create a big picture vision of future
9/ Make a Gratitude Visit
10/ Lose Yourself in the Moment - be fully present
11/ Be a Coach - focus on what someone is doing right
Pray daily.
He also suggests a a few ways to starve the negative dog
-turn off the news
-don’t participate in gossip
-turn complaints into solutions
-identify negative stories you tell yourself and replace with positive ones
-see negative people as teachers who help you become more positive
-choose positive words rather than negative ones
July 29, 2019
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
Nothing new here - except the presentation concept. Idea is supposed to be 2 dogs "talking" to one another. It was certainly unique in that way. Not bad, once you get past the dog thing. It's good to be reminded of these time worn ideas. I really didn't expect, nor did I appreciate, the religious piece. This should have been mentioned in the reviews/previews-I would not have bought the book. That, in my opinion, is a very personal issue. One does not have to pray to have a positive life or to be positive person.
Have you listened to any of Jon Gordon’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Gordon's performance was average, at best. I have never listened to a book that was read by it's author that was above average. There is a reason that authors hire actors to read their books! It brings them to life and makes them more interesting. One thing that was especially weird was hearing Gordon's voice as the main characters/dogs, then hearing the exact same voice in the recap at the end of the book. It definitely didn't jive.
Did The Positive Dog inspire you to do anything?
To think about being more positive. Which, I think, any "refresher" book on positivity would have accomplished. Still, it's always good to hear it again.
Nothing new here - except the presentation concept. Idea is supposed to be 2 dogs "talking" to one another. It was certainly unique in that way. Not bad, once you get past the dog thing. It's good to be reminded of these time worn ideas. I really didn't expect, nor did I appreciate, the religious piece. This should have been mentioned in the reviews/previews-I would not have bought the book. That, in my opinion, is a very personal issue. One does not have to pray to have a positive life or to be positive person.
Have you listened to any of Jon Gordon’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Gordon's performance was average, at best. I have never listened to a book that was read by it's author that was above average. There is a reason that authors hire actors to read their books! It brings them to life and makes them more interesting. One thing that was especially weird was hearing Gordon's voice as the main characters/dogs, then hearing the exact same voice in the recap at the end of the book. It definitely didn't jive.
Did The Positive Dog inspire you to do anything?
To think about being more positive. Which, I think, any "refresher" book on positivity would have accomplished. Still, it's always good to hear it again.
December 2, 2023
A short, sweet and simple read about how to practice being more positive. I love the illustration and way he approaches sharing science through storytelling. This is a good family read or quick boost / reminder of the benefits of practicing gratefulness, mindfulness, and positivity.
My biggest qualm is that the author never credits the original source / context that likely inspired this work - the ancient wisdom from a well-known Native American story A Tale of Two Wolves:
One evening, a Cherokee elder was teaching his grandson about life.
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. This battle that goes on between the two wolves is inside us all.
One wolf is Evil. He is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”
He continued, “The other is Good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?”
Wisely, the grandfather simply smiled and replied, “The one you feed.”
Overall, worth the read and a great family book to keep as it reaches all developmental levels.
My biggest qualm is that the author never credits the original source / context that likely inspired this work - the ancient wisdom from a well-known Native American story A Tale of Two Wolves:
One evening, a Cherokee elder was teaching his grandson about life.
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. This battle that goes on between the two wolves is inside us all.
One wolf is Evil. He is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”
He continued, “The other is Good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?”
Wisely, the grandfather simply smiled and replied, “The one you feed.”
Overall, worth the read and a great family book to keep as it reaches all developmental levels.
May 9, 2017
This was a ninety minute listen on Audible. Hardly counts as a book, but who's counting?
Any reader of the occasional self-help book, will eventually, over time, find a book like this to be mostly rehashed material and common sense. That doesn't mean it lacks value. For one, resolve, motivation, attitude, and inspiration are all very perishable - and even a fairly simple book like this can help refresh that from time to time.
Also, if I can find one take-away thought that will stick with me from a short book like this, then my time was well used. In this book, there was a powerful thought. Never saying "I have to..." but instead saying "I get to...". That simple change of phrase injects a level of gratitude into any task or duty that might seem like an obligation rather than the opportunity and privilege that it probably is. I get to do the dishes (because we had a good meal to eat). I get to take my son to soccer (because I am fortunate to have children and a life that allows for recreation and opportunity and the means to afford both). And so on. It is a powerful point and an easy phrasing change. Thanks Mr. Gordon for the reminder.
Any reader of the occasional self-help book, will eventually, over time, find a book like this to be mostly rehashed material and common sense. That doesn't mean it lacks value. For one, resolve, motivation, attitude, and inspiration are all very perishable - and even a fairly simple book like this can help refresh that from time to time.
Also, if I can find one take-away thought that will stick with me from a short book like this, then my time was well used. In this book, there was a powerful thought. Never saying "I have to..." but instead saying "I get to...". That simple change of phrase injects a level of gratitude into any task or duty that might seem like an obligation rather than the opportunity and privilege that it probably is. I get to do the dishes (because we had a good meal to eat). I get to take my son to soccer (because I am fortunate to have children and a life that allows for recreation and opportunity and the means to afford both). And so on. It is a powerful point and an easy phrasing change. Thanks Mr. Gordon for the reminder.
January 9, 2019
A very cute take on being positive in your every day life. Bubba is particularly a favorite, a wise older mentor instilling some life advice to a youngster at a hard time. The books starts out very engaging with loveable characters and an interesting take on positivity in a negative situation.
The book does draw on at some points and the metaphor gets a little dull, almost forcing together a cute storyline with some hard-researched facts. The blend is not as successful as it could be, but it seems like a forced joining more than a pleasantly synched juxtaposition.
It did become a little hard to follow at time and was minimally engaging past the initial draw. The first part of the book makes you want to read it, but after you put it down and pick it up again, there can be little motivation to continue. It starts of strong, but gets slightly harder to follow as you keep reading. If you push through, the ending makes I well worth it.
Overall, a very cute and quick read for anybody looking to "feed the positive dog" in their life.
The book does draw on at some points and the metaphor gets a little dull, almost forcing together a cute storyline with some hard-researched facts. The blend is not as successful as it could be, but it seems like a forced joining more than a pleasantly synched juxtaposition.
It did become a little hard to follow at time and was minimally engaging past the initial draw. The first part of the book makes you want to read it, but after you put it down and pick it up again, there can be little motivation to continue. It starts of strong, but gets slightly harder to follow as you keep reading. If you push through, the ending makes I well worth it.
Overall, a very cute and quick read for anybody looking to "feed the positive dog" in their life.
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