The Colbert Report Season 4 Episode 83 Barbara Ehrenreich

On season 4 episode 83 of The Colbert Report, host Stephen Colbert welcomes Barbara Ehrenreich, a renowned writer, activist and political commentator, to discuss her latest book "Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America".

As Colbert introduces Ehrenreich, he highlights her impressive career as a journalist and educator, including her previous works such as "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" and "Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream". He also praises her for not sugar-coating the truth and brings up a quote from her book, "Bright-Sided" that reads, "Positive thinking is an ideological construct that blames you for your failures." Colbert then adds, "I love that because it means I don't have to blame myself for my failures. It's just my negative thinking that's letting me down!"

The conversation evolves into a discussion about the dangers of positive thinking, and Ehrenreich argues that it can often lead to denial of reality and a lack of critical thinking. "It's not a matter of positive thinking versus negative thinking," she explains, "it's a matter of accurately assessing situations and being realistic about what you can achieve." Colbert jokingly responds, "So what you're saying is that my dream of becoming a professional basketball player is not realistic?" to which Ehrenreich quips, "Now, that's not to say you can't enjoy playing basketball!"

The pair also delve into the impact of positive thinking on American culture and politics, with Ehrenreich pointing out how it has become ingrained in our society and how it can be used to justify inequality and injustice. "If you're not successful, it's not because of societal barriers or systemic issues, it's because you didn't think positively enough," she says.

Colbert, in his trademark satirical style, asks, "So what you're saying is that if I just believe in myself and visualize it, I can become the President of the United States?" The audience erupts in laughter as Ehrenreich counters, "Well, I don't think positive thinking can always overcome voter suppression and gerrymandering!"

Throughout the interview, Colbert and Ehrenreich engage in a lively and informative conversation, displaying their respective wit and intelligence. Both acknowledge the importance of optimism and hope but caution against blindly accepting positive thinking as a solution to all problems.

The episode concludes with a segment called "The Word," where Colbert delivers a monologue on the dangers of positive thinking. He uses examples from pop culture, such as the movie "The Secret" and motivational speaker Tony Robbins, to highlight how the obsession with positive thinking can be misleading and ultimately harmful.

In summary, season 4 episode 83 of The Colbert Report features an engaging and thought-provoking interview with Barbara Ehrenreich. The episode critiques the culture and ideology of positive thinking while acknowledging the importance of realism and critical thinking. Colbert and Ehrenreich's humor and intellect make for an entertaining and informative discussion.