Exploring the dark side of the theories put forth by such icons as Norman Vincent Peale and Eckhart Tolle by looking to both ancient philosophy and current business theory, Burkeman--a feature writer for British newspaper The Guardian--offers up the counterintuitive idea that only by embracing and examining failure and loss and unhappiness will we become free of it.

Originally published in 2012 by Canongate Books.

On trying too hard to be happy -- What would Seneca do? The Stoic art of confronting the worst-case scenario -- The storm before the calm : a Buddhist guide to not thinking positively -- Goal crazy : when trying to control the future doesn't work -- Who's there? How to get over your self -- The safety catch : the hidden benefits of insecurity -- The Museum of Failure : the case for embracing your errors -- Memento mori : death as a way of life -- Negative capability.