From the wildly popular Instagram account, 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.

Disappointing Affirmations

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!

AVAILABLE NOW

Disappointing Affirmations Postcards
Disappointing Affirmations Postcards

Disappointing Affirmations

Card Game

Disappointing Affirmations

Sticker Book

What do you look for in a game? Teamwork? Motivation? Positivity? Well, this game has none of those things. But it is hilarious.

Apply these hilariously realistic affirmations wherever you—or anyone else—may need an antidote to toxic positivity.

AVAILABLE NOW

AVAILABLE NOW

Disappointing Affirmations Graphite Pencils

Disappointing Affirmations Graphite Pencils

Cross out toxic positivity with these high-quality graphite pencils.

AVAILABLE NOW

Disappointing Affirmations Postcards

Disappointing Affirmations
Postcards

Thirty hilariously realistic affirmation postcards for a disappointing world where failure is always an option.

AVAILABLE NOW

Disappointing Affirmations Postcards

Disappointing Affirmations

2026 Wall Calendar

This wall calendar brings a realistic take on a disappointing world where month after month, failure is always an option.

Coming July 22, 2025

About the Author

Photo of Dave Tarnowski

Dave Tarnowski is the author of about a dozen unfinished novels who turned to memes when he finally gave up on his dreams of being a writer of anything longer than a few sentences. He lives in New York City with his neuroses. Follow him on Instagram at


Sign up for news and deals

from Chronicle Books

hello@chroniclebooks.com

680 2nd Street, San Francisco CA 94107

415 537 4200


chroniclebooks.com