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Disappointing Affirmations

by Dave Tarnowski

A wry counterpoint to relentless optimism

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Regular price $24.32 USD Sale price $14.59 USD
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Hardcover New English

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Awards & Recognition

  • Bestseller

    USA Today Bestseller

    The supplied metadata identifies this book as a USA Today bestseller.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A wry counterpoint to relentless optimism

Pairing vacation photographs with self-critical and disillusioned sayings, Dave Tarnowski’s illustrated humor book makes room for feelings that positivity culture often brushes aside. Its affirmations turn familiar motivational language on its head, using sarcasm to acknowledge that failure and not feeling okay are part of life. The book brings together reworked material and new pieces in a gift-book format, with a jacket that unfolds into a poster. Its subject is not self-improvement through upbeat slogans, but the humor of facing disappointment without pretending everything is fine.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Fans of satirical and sarcastic humor
  • People weary of relentless positivity or self-help slogans
  • Followers of the @disappointingaffirmations Instagram account

Themes

Toxic positivityDisappointment and failureSelf-acceptanceSatireHonest engagement with difficult feelings

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Disappointing Affirmations hilariously counters the culture of relentless toxic positivity with a realistic take on a disappointing world where failure is always an option, but that's okay. From the creator of the wildly popular Instagram account @disappointingaffirmations.

USA Today Bestseller

Pairing lovely vacation photos taken by the author himself with sayings that are amusingly self-critical, encouraging, disillusioned, or all three at once, Tarnowski points to feelings commonly unacknowledged or hidden and spotlights them with humor, wit, and empathy. You can do it! But you probably won't.But also: Be kind to yourself, asshole. Transforming and re-envisioning the material for print while adding tons of new work, this is the funny-because-it's-true, sneaky self-help gift book for anyone who isn't happy all the time and doesn't feel seen in the whole "positive mental attitude" culture. Unfollow your dreams!

Like a non-disappointing gift with purchase, the book's jacket folds out into a motivational poster, suitable for display anywhere disappointment may strike.

IT REALLY IS OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY: People say, "It's okay to not be okay," but then it feels like they need you to be okay. This subversively funny book is the perfect way to remind ourselves, or anyone who needs it, that it's better to deal with our feelings honestly than fall into the "positive vibes only" self-help trap.

COMEDY FOR A NEW ERA: Wellness has been slowly taking a darker turn in popular culture, and comedy is no exception. From Inside by Bo Burnham to the absurdity of TV giant Succession, audiences are drawn to media that embraces discomfort rather than drowning it out. Disappointing Affirmations may not look very comforting, but not all self-care comes in the form of warm hugs and sunrise yoga.

FOR HUMOR BOOK FANS: Seeking a gift for the anti-optimist in your life? This one fits the bill for fans of satirical doom classics and self-help antidotes such as All My Friends Are Dead, Am I Overthinking This?, the Worst Case Scenario series, and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.

WAIT, THERE'S MORE!: See also the follow-up book, Sorry in advance for making things weird., and accompanying stationery and gift items, including Disappointing Affirmations Deck, Wall Calendar, Pencils, 30 Postcards set, Sticker Book, and Disappointing Affirmations: The Game. You won't be disappointed.

Perfect for:

  • College grads, people entering the workforce, people who wish they hadn't entered the workforce
  • Fans of the @disappointingaffirmations Instagram account
  • Anyone who isn't always cheerful and doesn't feel seen
  • Fans of satire and sarcastic humor
  • Anyone feeling burnout, empathy fatigue, positivity fatigue, or fatigue in general
  • Gift-giving for Father's Day, Mother's Day, birthdays, breakups, gratitude-averse Thanksgiving hosts, or funny stocking stuffers
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