Chronicle Books
Disappointing Affirmations
This book flips the self-help affirmation format into deliberately unhelpful, deadpan one-liners.
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Where it ranks in our guides
A medal marks a podium; the score on the right is the product’s score for that recipient.Scores by criterion
Pros and cons
What we like
- Pairs short deadpan one-liners with vacation photos
- Based on a popular Instagram account, with new material for print
- Quick to dip into, a page at a time
- Works as a desk or coffee table book
What may bother
- One joke format repeated, so it is best read in small doses
- Some language is crude, which may not suit every workplace
- A short book to read through, not a long read
Our verdict
83 / 100A good funny gift for a sarcastic friend or a coworker you know well. Avoid it for anyone who is going through a rough patch or who prefers sincere encouragement.
Frequently asked questions
Is this sincere or ironic humor?
It's entirely ironic — the "affirmations" are intentionally unhelpful for comic effect.
What kind of humor does this suit best?
Dry, deadpan, sarcastic humor rather than wholesome or sentimental.
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How we score
The CTG score out of 100 is the weighted average of five criteria rated for every product: proven reliability (36%), perceived value (18%), bond and memory (18%), originality (14%) and novelty (14%). Each criterion has its own published scale, identical for every product: it rates generously, because every product in our selection is already good. The score does not depend on the guide. 60 to 69: average gift. 70 to 77: good pick. 78 to 85: safe bet. 86 to 89: favorite. 90 and above: the perfect gift, a label reserved for excellent products that customers like, one winner per occasion. In a guide, the score for the recipient combines this score with the place in the ranking. The budget is an indicative range: the exact price is shown by the store at checkout. Read our full selection method →