Is America plagued by optimism? In "Bright-sided," Barbara Ehrenreich argues that the prevalence of positive thinking has made society blind to reality. She takes on motivational speakers who preach that you can get what you want by wishing for it and blames the economic crisis on investors and consumers who failed to see the negative consequences of their behavior. Ehrenreich also criticizes the belief that setbacks should be met with a cheerful attitude. Following a breast cancer diagnosis, she writes about her indignation for those who told her to see her condition as a gift. Ehrenreich joins Larry in studio to talk about the downside of positive thinking.

Guest:

Barbara Ehrenreich, author of "Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America" (Metropolitan Books). She is the bestselling author of sixteen previous books, including the bestsellers "Nickel and Dimed" and "Bait and Switch."