Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Toxic Positivity summary
Whitney Goodman
Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy
22 mins
Brief summary
Toxic Positivity by Whitney Goodman highlights the harmful effects of overemphasizing positive thinking. It discusses the importance of embracing all emotions, even negative ones, in order to truly heal and grow.
Table of Contents
Toxic Positivity
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
Even with the best of intentions, positivity can become toxic.
Imagine this. You’ve just found out that you’ve lost your job. You’re upset – freaking out, even – and have no idea what to do next.
Maybe a chat with a friend will make you feel better. You want support and validation for the way you’re feeling. Your friend will know just what to say. So you tell them – “I’ve lost my job.” And what does your friend say? “Well, it could be worse. And at least you’ll have lots of spare time now. Think of it as a learning experience!”
Want to see all full key ideas from Toxic Positivity?
Key ideas in Toxic Positivity
Introduction
- 1
Even with the best of intentions, positivity can become toxic.
- 2
When someone is struggling, the last thing they need is pressure to “be positive.”
- 3
Toxic positivity is deeply ingrained in US society.
- 4
Forcing people to be positive actually makes them unhappy.
- 5
Feel your feelings, practice radical acceptance, and stop chasing happiness.
- 6
To dismantle oppressive societal structures, we need to challenge the culture of toxic positivity.
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Toxic Positivity about?
Toxic Positivity (2022) is an eye-opening appraisal of positivity culture in Western society. It outlines the many ways toxic positivity harms individuals and communities, and offers practical suggestions for helping ourselves and others.
Toxic Positivity Review
Toxic Positivity (2021) by Whitney Goodman sheds light on the detrimental effects of overemphasizing positivity. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Exploring the hidden dangers of toxic positivity, the book encourages readers to examine and rethink their approach to emotions and self-care.
- With thought-provoking examples and expert insights, it offers practical tools to navigate difficult emotions authentically and develop resilience.
- Through its candid exploration of society's pressures to be happy all the time, the book breaks the stereotypes and fosters a more balanced perspective.
Who should read Toxic Positivity?
- Happiness-seekers
- People who want to support their loved ones in difficult times
- Anyone who cringes at expressions like “good vibes” and “just think positive”
Categories with Toxic Positivity
Book summaries like Toxic Positivity
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
36 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Toxic Positivity FAQs
What is the main message of Toxic Positivity?
Toxic Positivity explores the harmful effects of excessive positivity and encourages embracing all emotions.
How long does it take to read Toxic Positivity?
The reading time for Toxic Positivity varies but our Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Toxic Positivity a good book? Is it worth reading?
Toxic Positivity is a thought-provoking read, shedding light on the negative aspects of excessive positivity.
Who is the author of Toxic Positivity?
Whitney Goodman is the author of Toxic Positivity.
What to read after Toxic Positivity?
If you're wondering what to read next after Toxic Positivity, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Jerks at Work by Tessa West
- The No Asshole Rule by Robert I. Sutton
- Best Self by Mike Bayer
- The Power of Bad by John Tierney and Roy Baumeister
- How to Lead When You're Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
- Four Seconds by Peter Bregman
- The Nine Types of Leader by James Ashton
- Living In Your Top 1% by Alissa Finerman
- Sell Like A Spy by Jeremy Hurewitz
- The Practicing Stoic by Ward Farnsworth