Episode 183 – Oliver Burkeman – Happiness for people who can’t stand positive thinking

Oliver Burkeman is an award-winning feature writer for The Guardian and the author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking, published by Faber & Faber in 2012. He has interviewed a wide range of high-profile figures, including Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, David Cameron, Dolly Parton, 50 Cent, and Larry David. Oliver has spoken extensively – on themes such as the problems with overfocusing on goals, the upsides of uncertainty in business, finding time for creative work, and ancient Stoicism as a philosophy for modern life – at events including: the 99U Conference at Lincoln Center in New York; the Edinburgh International Book Festival; the World Knowledge Forum in Seoul, South Korea; the creativity conference Adobe MAX in Los Angeles; and The Guardian ’s Masterclass series and at the School Of Life in London. His radio appearances have included NPR’s All Things Considered, BBC Radio 4’s Today program, and WNYC’s The Leonard Lopate Show, and he is working on two BBC radio programs on psychology to be broadcast in 2016.