One of the arguments I make in The Shape of Joy is that much of our mental health crisis can be placed upon the widespread assumption that mental health flows from cultivating self-esteem.
Thank you, Richard. If I'm allowed to inject a little humor into such an important subject, I have often felt that if I really want to jinx a day all I have to do is start messing around with positive thinking. On the serious side, I can't always conjure up self esteem...but I know how to say "thank you"...which is one of the reasons I still believe in God...I need someone to hear it.
Just finished The Shape of Joy. This book challenged, validated and encouraged me in so many ways. I wish I could buy a box full and distribute, but that's usually not the best way to get others to read it.
I've been chatting about it though, to many people. The cigarette of self-esteem, the hexagon of the ego, the beauty of humility, coming out of the cave to bask in the sun, the beauty of transcendence. I'll re-read it. I'll re-read Magic Eels.
Your writing is clear and persuasive. I love how you challenge cultural narratives of self-esteem, yes, and, naming the value of guilt and shame, and how we get to repair.
I love your stories too, of Mr. Kenneth, and of the green Buick, and of your friend, Miss Beth of the Dollar Tree Princess Tiara. Love calls us out into the sunshine.
I was absolutely thrilled with Hunting Magic Eels. I listened to you to and from hanging my art at a gallery two hours away. Then I listened again on my way to vacation with my husband; ensuring he listened too. Then I had at least three people order the book immediately as I regaled them with your insight. When I noticed this Joy book available, I made my public library purchase it straight away. And now I kinda regret it.
Here I was on the very first page of the very first chapter in The Shape of Joy and I am hit with Richard Beck's TDS, Trump Derangement Syndrome, and you don't let up. That is not joyful. "Injecting bleach," "taking medicine used for deworming horses," "fake news..."
I got the whiff of that hatred you have for that singular man in Hunting Magic Eels but I let it slide. But here I am again in the second book of yours and here we go again. You need to let that go. It doesn't help the book and it does not improve perception of you.
Consider that perhaps 50% of your readers voted against the woman who arranged to have an abortion bus at her DNC convention at the ready and decided instead to vote for the guy who didn't. Consider wrestling with your hatred for Trump somewhere besides your otherwise excellent books.
Goodness, Terri, this is overwrought. All I can say is that I play fair. If you finish the book you'll see I also take my shots at the Woke and social justice warriors. I try to offend everyone. Welcome to the "Richard Beck Experience." :-)
Ha ha, thank you for the response. I was/am trying to settle into a little joy and bam, you hit me with politics of TDS. I don't think it is overwrought to not want that in a book touting joy.
Again, I was your fan all through Hunting Magic Eels and I guess I just expected better of you. Just a thought as you contemplate content for another book.
Thank you, Richard. If I'm allowed to inject a little humor into such an important subject, I have often felt that if I really want to jinx a day all I have to do is start messing around with positive thinking. On the serious side, I can't always conjure up self esteem...but I know how to say "thank you"...which is one of the reasons I still believe in God...I need someone to hear it.
Just finished The Shape of Joy. This book challenged, validated and encouraged me in so many ways. I wish I could buy a box full and distribute, but that's usually not the best way to get others to read it.
I've been chatting about it though, to many people. The cigarette of self-esteem, the hexagon of the ego, the beauty of humility, coming out of the cave to bask in the sun, the beauty of transcendence. I'll re-read it. I'll re-read Magic Eels.
Your writing is clear and persuasive. I love how you challenge cultural narratives of self-esteem, yes, and, naming the value of guilt and shame, and how we get to repair.
I love your stories too, of Mr. Kenneth, and of the green Buick, and of your friend, Miss Beth of the Dollar Tree Princess Tiara. Love calls us out into the sunshine.
Thank-you for writing.
I was absolutely thrilled with Hunting Magic Eels. I listened to you to and from hanging my art at a gallery two hours away. Then I listened again on my way to vacation with my husband; ensuring he listened too. Then I had at least three people order the book immediately as I regaled them with your insight. When I noticed this Joy book available, I made my public library purchase it straight away. And now I kinda regret it.
Here I was on the very first page of the very first chapter in The Shape of Joy and I am hit with Richard Beck's TDS, Trump Derangement Syndrome, and you don't let up. That is not joyful. "Injecting bleach," "taking medicine used for deworming horses," "fake news..."
I got the whiff of that hatred you have for that singular man in Hunting Magic Eels but I let it slide. But here I am again in the second book of yours and here we go again. You need to let that go. It doesn't help the book and it does not improve perception of you.
Consider that perhaps 50% of your readers voted against the woman who arranged to have an abortion bus at her DNC convention at the ready and decided instead to vote for the guy who didn't. Consider wrestling with your hatred for Trump somewhere besides your otherwise excellent books.
Goodness, Terri, this is overwrought. All I can say is that I play fair. If you finish the book you'll see I also take my shots at the Woke and social justice warriors. I try to offend everyone. Welcome to the "Richard Beck Experience." :-)
Ha ha, thank you for the response. I was/am trying to settle into a little joy and bam, you hit me with politics of TDS. I don't think it is overwrought to not want that in a book touting joy.
Again, I was your fan all through Hunting Magic Eels and I guess I just expected better of you. Just a thought as you contemplate content for another book.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Amen Dr. Beck.