Barbara Ehrenreich, the author, activist and self-described “myth buster” who in such notable works as “Nickel and Dimed” and “Bait and Switch” challenged conventional thinking about class, religion and the very idea of an American dream, has died at age 81.

Barbara Ehrenreich, Activist and ‘Myth Busting’ Writer of ‘Nickel and Dimed,’ Dies – NBC Los Angeles

The world has lost another great thinker. In the past few years, I’ve used several of her essays and lectures to teach students critical thinking. She had a singular, honest, and insightful perspective, which is hard to find in this era of ubiquitous bad-faith ideology.

This lecture, in which she deconstructs the American cult of positive thinking, ranks among my favorites:

Rest in peace.