Book Post: The Art of War for Writers by James Scott Bell

[catness]

Title: The Art of War for Writers: Fiction Writing Strategies, Tactics, and Exercises
Author: James Scott Bell
Number of pages: 272
Genre: non-fiction
Book Number/Goal: 8/50
My Rating: 2/5

Review: The book is loosely inspired by the classic Chinese military treatise "The Art of War". The author tries to adopt and customize Sun Tzu's advice so it can be applied to the field of writing.

Almost half of the book deals with the ways to get published, which is currently not my concern. The rest reads like a motivational/cheerleading speech intended to get you in the mood. Most of the practical suggestions are either sketchy or well-known/trivial. I bought the book only because I was curious how the author manages to pull off the analogy with the war strategy, but it doesn't sound authentic and any close to the original.

Good for boosting your morale and for some quick tips, but not much else.

Book post: Smile or Die by Barbara Ehrenreich

[catness]

Title: Smile or Die: How Positive Thinking Fooled America and the World
Author: Barbara Ehrenreich
Number of pages: 256
Genre: non-fiction
Book Number/Goal: 9/50
My Rating: 4/5

Review: The book exposes the cult of positive thinking enforced on people by the modern society. The author describes her experience with cancer support groups where the patients are expected to appear cheerful and optimistic, to the extent of considering cancer a gift and an opportunity for spiritual growth, otherwise they are berated and blamed for being responsible for their problems. The attitude of blaming the victim goes far and wide. (For example, Rhonda Byrne, the author of infamous "Secret", allegedly claimed that tsunamis and other natural disasters only happen to those who are "on the same frequency as the event".)

The author draws a parallel between the condemnation of "negativity" by relentless optimists and the condemnation of sin by Calvinists. It appears that positive thinking is elevated to the rank of religion, together with the accompanying magical thinking (the law of attraction etc) which is supposed to solve all the problems without resorting to realistic solutions.

I didn't find a lot of unexpected revelations or entertainment, but I find it comforting and reassuring that not everybody buys into the delusions of happiness at all costs.