“You Can’t Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought” (& You’re the One by Greta van Fleet)

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Hello readers, Today I am joining Mischenko @ReadRantRock&Roll with  Shabby Sunday Vintage Book shares.

The first book is “You Can’t Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought” (1988, 1995) by Peter McWilliams. If you like quotes, this book is for you.  Almost every page has a quote that relates to the theme or topic McWilliams is writing about. The pages are filled with advice about thinking, processing, dealing with society, coping with illness, defining success, etc. 

Next up is a book I only skimmed at a used book store. I grabbed a photo of it just in case I wanted to order it online later (but at the time I had enough books “on writing” from a different shopping trip that week. But then I ended up giving those books to my cousin —who is getting into writing– when we went to visit them in Tampa). Either way, this book stood out enough for me to grab a photo, but not enough to buy. 

I am sharing this book here because I was visiting MythRider last month and this post here had good points about the value of reading “how to write” books. Mythrider noted that by reading these books, “writers keep an ongoing stream of tips coming in” and even seasoned writers might benefit from skimming some fresh ideas from these books (or not).  I know that I like skimming a variety of “how-to-write” books because they are so different. Here is a quote from MythRider on this topic:

“Continual learning is one of the best ways to improve my writing.  No single How-To-Write book can cover everything. There are many great books to read and many are worth reading more than once.  Start a library of How-to-Write books of your own. That way the books are always available when you need them.”   ~Myth Rider

Closing the post with a book cover I had to show Norah Colvin (here)- because look- author Pamela Hill named her vintage book after the founder of Readilearn: 

 

Go here to join Shabby Sunday: https://readrantrockandroll.com/2022/03/27/shabby-sunday-the-big-book-of-favorite-horse-stories-1965-1985-p-c-braun-sam-savitt-book-review-vintagebooks-shabbysunday-horsestories/

Closing Notes –

  • Mabel Kwong will be featured for the May 2022 Priorhouse Interview.
  • If you missed it – Marsha’s April story chat (here) featured a CAPTIVATING short story from Anne Goodwin (Website: annegoodwin.weebly.com)
  • For anyone who enjoys the popular April A to Z Challenge – I have enjoyed three very interesting takes on that challenge: 1) Paula Light has been featuring Eagles’ songs: https://lightmotifs.wordpress.com/2022/04/28/x-tra-eagles-trivia-a2z/ and 2) Kat is featuring Winnie the Pooh quotes and wisdom: https://katcarpita.wordpress.com/2022/04/21/n-is-for-nothing-atozchallenge/ and 3) There is a blogger featuring awesome Youtube videos (I will be back to add the link).
  • If you like Led Zeppelin – please check out this mid-April Priorhouse post here– and chime in if you can…. This post was a highlight of the month for me (in the blog world that is…) and I think I am going to celebrate LZ on April 15th every year.
  • Also, on that Led Zeppelin post, Linda shared about the band Great Van Fleet and I had to share this awesome song from them (check out the B-3 organ – hubs was liking that)  – I actually heard this song a while back on “Richmond’s alternative radio” (after a Sean McConnell song) driving home one night – it is such a jam:

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37 thoughts on ““You Can’t Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought” (& You’re the One by Greta van Fleet)”

    1. Hi! Yes – the continuous learning does apply to a many things – and taking it one step further – this so why we cannot censor and silence folks who have different opinions – because they could teach us important stuff – if we only stay in our limited circle we could have confirmation bias!

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    1. Hi – very cool hey you have your copy still! I heard this book was a huge hit for a while – and was delighted to read so much good stuff

      Liked by 1 person

  6. I remember that book! At the time it came out I thought it was utter claptrap. I was young and not getting to where I thought I should be in life so the advice fell on a closed mind. grumble, grumble Now I’d probably be charmed by it. What a fun flashback for me!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hahaha
      I never hear of claptrap befor but I know what you mean
      And it is also interesting to read your comment because I do not think this book would have appealed to me in the mid 1990s. Maybe some of the quotes – but good point about how we shift a lot over the years!
      Ally, this book also has a slight late 80s feel that I think was connecting to the AIDS affliction many were dealing with –
      And pretty awesome that AIDS is no longer a quick death sentence

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I’ve read a few books on writing, Yvette, but have actually found the most succinct and helpful tips from blogs. I guess that’s because I’m getting answers to specific areas of interest. If you’ve found a great one, I’d be interested. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi I don’t have any “great” books to mention right now- but I know what you mean about gleaning tips from bloggers who post about writing (kind of like you did recently with your incredible five part series – I just read Ed the part about “the mask”
      Anyhow – hope your Friday is going well

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  9. I heard Robert Plant talking on the radio here in the UK recently. He’s from the Midlands and supports the football team Wolverhampton Wanderers (aka Wolves) – I didn’t know that. But it made me laugh that he said when people recognise him at the game they just say ‘All right, Rob? Still doing a bit?’

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Maria
      That is so awesome that folks are pretty casual when they see Plant out and about.
      And from
      The interview snippets I age seen – he seems like he aged well and he just seems like a nice guy!
      And cheers to his legacy
      🎶🎶🎤

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  10. I actually found it interesting to take photos of books that you find interesting on the shelf, but not enough to buy. I actually do that quite a bit. I’d see a book that catches my eye, then take a photo. When I’m home then I like to look up the book and author, and if I like the book enough, either go back and buy it or buy it as an e-Book. Sometimes books that look captivating at first glance may not be what they seem, and I like to check out book reviews before diving into a book.

    Thanks for the small shout out, Y 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Mabel – thanks for sharing about how you explore books first! That is very smart and also some books seem to be better in e-format and than others might be better in hardback.
      Oh – glad to d the shout out and looking forward to the interview post on the 7th!
      I will email you later this week to touch base about it
      Hope you are having a nice start to May!

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      1. Yes, some books I prefer in e-format, especially if it’s a book I’m on the fence about. I do like having hard copy books but sometimes you can only have so many without it being cluttered at home.

        Looking forward to chatting soon. Hope you are well, Y 🙂

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  11. I love to take pictures of books I might like to read. I can’t go to the book store often, I end up buying too many. I have a stash of 6 or 7 to still read that I purchased the last two years. I bet you have a beautiful collection of writing books? I have a few treasures that I love. Your post reminds me that I need to find your email with the book you sent me to read…! Happy writing to you!!!

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    1. Hi Shelley- I a so pleased to hear someone else grabs photos of books – it really can help later when we need to remember some —
      And I don’t have too much a collection – because three of the four I bought on my trip I gave away that week (had to because I find books all the time and my cousin “N” does not and she is getting ready to retire and plans t write – and so giving her the books was like handing over bars of gold – well maybe not that weighty it she valued them greatly – and I kept the one on using analogies in writing – just for ideas.

      📚not to make this too long – but this post and Diane’s comment reminded me that books on writing can vary greatly – there can be so many topics – from fiction tips to character development – and then mechanics or editing tips – and I just found one on my shelf that is called “the writers companion ” (1995) and it is for those who do research when they write and need ideas – it has famous novels (global in scope) – movements in history and has a whole different offering for writers✍️

      Anyhow – I can see why you avoid the bookstore – can be so tempting – and for me – back in the day I used to get stopped up at Barnes and Noble discount racks! Oh the treasures – hahaha
      Happy reading ad writing to you too

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      1. That’s so sweet that you gifted the books to N. And that you kept the one that you enjoyed the most to learn from.
        The Writers Companion sounds interesting.
        I often thought I should’ve just been a librarian so I could read and talk about books for a living. Maybe when I retire……
        Happy reading and writing to you too!

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        1. Hi Shelley – inqouid have given N all of m books (and did gift her or that I REALLY wanted – but felt led to release it( and the only reason I kept the analogy one was because I really didn’t think she would get anything from it – it was niche and it was more of a lit notebook activity thing – and she as three years until she retires so she wants to just start prepping to write –
          And…regarding being a librarian- smiling at the joke about after you retire – haha
          And that profession reminds me of accounting work – takes a very special wiring for hat kind of work
          😊

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        2. Doesn’t it feel great when you let something go to someone who will appreciate it?
          LOL – I do accounting work for a living. Crap, maybe I should look for other line of hobbies for when I retire? Do you know where I can get a friend to donate me books on writing?! 🤣😆😊🤔

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        3. Oh I love your humor, Shelley – and smiling at the “do I know someone to donate books”- Well just to add more to the story – the books I had bought that week were on clearance= a buck per book and so it wasn’t a huge expense – and also – this cousin is one of he nicest people in the world – and so to even have something that she wanted (at the right time) was really special for me. They just lost a son and their other son had a jet ski accident when he was five (he is 40 now and coming to visit us in one) – anyhow – when she said she was getting into writing and prepping to write a few years from now – it was like having those books in my car was a God appointment.
          And regarding your retirement hobbies – we know that creative writing projects in store for you (just like N)…am I right…?

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        4. Aw, glad you enjoyed my humor.
          That’s a beautiful addition to the story about the books. Writing is a wonderful way to heal, I hope your gifts to her help her in many ways. It was a God appointment for sure.
          I’m guessing (hoping) there will be writing projects… 🤔😆😀

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  12. I’ve still got my stash of recent books and books from a decade ago to get thru – patience is a virtue.
    I see weekend hours flitting by and I either need to use a timer to regulate my free time “pie” better or just forego book reading until retirement. Thanks for mentioning me as to Greta Van Fleet – they are making their mark in R&R history faster than they could ever have guessed.

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    1. Hi Linda – I think you are correct about the Greta Van Fleet success …. someone shared a link to their performance at red rocks amphitheater and I think when a band plays there then it is pretty special – either way – I hope they can handle the success – sometimes the young ones get clobbered when they feel worshipped – or humans of any age can struggle with FAME!
      😟

      My spouse was just listening to a podcast about how funky most humans get when they are worshipped – not everyone struggles – and not sure if you are a Joe Rogan podcast listener – I am a occasional listener and really appreciate his wisdom – and recently when there was strife about his podcast (ie Neil Young and Joni Mitchell threatening to leave Spotify because they were in such disagreement with some of the topics on his show when I bet they never even listened to a full podcast) -anyhow- the hubs and I were chatting about some of it and I thought a huge strength Joe Rogan had was that he had been blogging for almost two decades and has deep roots and is grounded. And because of the many years of growth – the recent explosive growth likely won’t topple him (or bring in the funk) because he has established roots and podcasts the same for a large audience as he would a small audience .⭐️

      Thanks again for bringing Greta Van Fleet to the Led Zeppelin post and all the interest it brought

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I am glad I mentioned Greta Van Fleet in your original post. As to Joe Rogan, I’ve never heard a podcast by him. I listened to some podcasts offered by my all-news radio station.

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