20 Best Books On Optimism (2023 Update)

In this groundbreaking national bestseller, martin e.p. seligman shows you how to chart a new approach to living with "flexible optimism." drawing from more than twenty years of clinical research, dr. seligman outlines easy-to-follow techniques that have helped thousands of people rise above pessimism and the depression that accompanies negative thoughts and build a life of rewards and lasting happiness. learned optimism shows you how to: recognize your "explanatory style" what to say to yourself when you experience set-backs and how it influences your life, boost your mood and your immune system — with healthful thoughts, help your children to practice the thought patterns that encourage optimism, break the "i-give-up" habit with dr. seligman's abc techniques, change your interior dialogue and experience the astonishing positive results.

National bestseller the father of the new science of positive psychology and author of authentic happiness draws on more than twenty years of clinical research to demonstrate how optimism enchances the quality of life, and how anyone can learn to practice it. offering many simple techniques, dr. seligman explains how to break an "i–give-up" habit, develop a more constructive explanatory style for interpreting your behavior, and experience the benefits of a more positive interior dialogue. these skills can help break up depression, boost your immune system, better develop your potential, and make you happier.. with generous additional advice on how to encourage optimistic behavior at school, at work and in children, learned optimism is both profound and practical-and valuable for every phase of life." vaulted me out of my funk…. so, fellow moderate pessimists, go buy this book." –marian sandmaier, the new york times book review

A relation of cruel optimism exists when something you desire is actually an obstacle to your flourishing. offering bold new ways of conceiving the present, lauren berlant describes the cruel optimism that has prevailed since the 1980s, as the social-democratic promise of the postwar period in the united states and europe has retracted. people have remained attached to unachievable fantasies of the good life—with its promises of upward mobility, job security, political and social equality, and durable intimacy—despite evidence that liberal-capitalist societies can no longer be counted on to provide opportunities for individuals to make their lives “add up to something.” arguing that the historical present is perceived affectively before it is understood in any other way, berlant traces affective and aesthetic responses to the dramas of adjustment that unfold amid talk of precarity, contingency, and crisis. she suggests that our stretched-out present is characterized by new modes of temporality, and she explains why trauma theory—with its focus on reactions to the exceptional event that shatters the ordinary—is not useful for understanding the ways that people adjust over time, once crisis itself has become ordinary. cruel optimism is a remarkable affective history of the present.

Do you want to be happy? doesn't everyone? happiness often comes from a personal shift in perspective, which sounds simple, but can be a real challenge and definitely takes practice! this book is a fun exploration of how to engage an optimistic and empowering mindset and how to make choices that lead to more opportunities, positivity, and joy.

These poetic, inspiring essays offer insights into the world of a gifted woman who was deaf and blind. helen keller relates her impressions of life's beauty and promise, perceived through the sensations of touch, smell, and vibration, together with the workings of a powerful imagination. the world i live in comprises fifteen essays and a poem, "a chant of darkness," all of which originally appeared in the century magazine. these brief articles include "the seeing hand," "the hands of others," "the power of touch," "the finer vibrations," "smell, the fallen angel" "inward visions," and other essays. "optimism," written while keller was a college student, offers eloquent observations on acquiring and maintaining a sense of happiness. these essays reflect the author's remarkable achievements, as expressed in her honorary degree from harvard, the first ever granted to a woman: "from a still, dark world she has brought us light and sound; our lives are richer for her faith and her example."

Psychologists have long been aware that most people maintain an irrationally positive outlook on life. tali sharot—one of the most innovative neuroscientists at work today—takes this a step further. optimism, she shows, may in fact be crucial to our existence.

Studies prove that positive thinkers are happier, healthier, and more successful than everyone else. discover the simple, proven techniques for becoming a more positive person… study after study proves this. researchers have found that optimistic people live longer, live healthier, have more energy, have more successful careers, make better decisions, are more productive, are less stressed, have healthier relationships, and (not surprisingly) are much happier than pessimists. however, a lot has been misunderstood about what it means to be a positive thinker and what it takes to maintain an optimistic mindset. it takes a lot more than repeating feel-good platitudes to make positive thinking work in your life. it takes discipline, commitment, and a proper understanding of what optimism really means in a world that is constantly throwing new challenges at us. this is a book for anyone who has ever questioned whether positive thinking really "works." it's also a book for those who have tried to develop a more positive attitude, but have found it difficult to eliminate the voices of fear, doubt, and cynicism. this is a book for anyone who wants to put optimism to work in their life with practical, proven techniques. in this inspirational fable, you'll meet bobby kane, a 31-year-old minor league baseball player who realizes his dream of making it to the majors is finally coming to a disappointing end. his dream, he believes, was not meant to be. that is, until bobby meets an unconventional manager named wally hogan. more mental coach than baseball manager, wally teaches bobby that if you want to change your life, you have to first change your thinking. as you'll see in this book, developing a positive mindset gives bobby a renewed chance to make his dreams come true-not just in baseball, but in all areas of his life. wally teaches bobby what it means to be an optimist and what it takes to maintain a positive attitude through the ups and downs of life. he teaches him proven, real-world techniques for building and sustaining optimism. these methods have an immediate impact on bobby's life and they will have an immediate impact on yours as well. this book will show you just how powerful a positive attitude can be and it will teach you how to use positive thinking to make your biggest dreams come true.

You can significantly improve your life — startingtoday– with the power of learned optimism in this groundbreaking national bestseller, martin e.p. seligman shows you how to chart a new approach to living with "flexible optimism." drawing from more than twenty years of clinical research, dr. seligman outlines easy-to-follow techniques that have helped thousands of people rise above pessimism and the depression that accompanies negative thoughts and build a life of rewards and lasting happiness.learned optimismshows you how to: recognize your "explanatory style" — what to say to yourself when you experience set-backs — and how it influences your life boost your mood and your immune system — with healthful thoughts help your children to practice the thought patterns that encourage optimism break the "i-give-up" habit with dr. seligman's abc techniques change your interior dialogue and experience the astonishing positive results

You can significantly improve your life — startingtoday– with the power of learned optimism in this groundbreaking national bestseller, martin e.p. seligman shows you how to chart a new approach to living with "flexible optimism." drawing from more than twenty years of clinical research, dr. seligman outlines easy-to-follow techniques that have helped thousands of people rise above pessimism and the depression that accompanies negative thoughts and build a life of rewards and lasting happiness.learned optimismshows you how to: recognize your "explanatory style" — what to say to yourself when you experience set-backs — and how it influences your life boost your mood and your immune system — with healthful thoughts help your children to practice the thought patterns that encourage optimism break the "i-give-up" habit with dr. seligman's abc techniques change your interior dialogue and experience the astonishing positive results

An uplifting handbook for living in each moment as positively and presently as possible – written and illustrated by instagram sensation dani dipirro, who, after years of struggling, figured out how to make the most of each day and now shares her tips with others to help them enjoy life more, too.' i'm a huge fan of dani's work.' the book contains more than 30 practical activities relating to the key themes of home, work, friendship, love and change, which form the five main chapters in the book. there are also special features such as 'positively present principles', a list of '52 ways to live in the moment' and a range of typographic-led, mono illustrations that playfully highlight key messages. all in all, this insightful guide provides a programme for increased everyday optimism that will help readers achieve an all-round more positively framed, 'glass half-full' kind of life.

After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when atlas asks her on a date. but her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, ryle is still very much a part of her life—and atlas corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life. revealing more about atlas’s past and following lily as she embraces a second chance at true love while navigating a jealous ex-husband, it proves that “no one delivers an emotional read like colleen hoover” (anna todd, new york times bestselling author).

Life is getting better—and at an accelerating rate. but they have been saying this for two hundred years. yet matt ridley does more than describe how things are getting better. he explains why. prosperity comes from everybody working for everybody else. the habit of exchange and specialization—which started more than 100,000 years ago—has created a collective brain that sets human living standards on a rising trend. the mutual dependence, trust, and sharing that result are causes for hope, not despair. this bold book covers the entire sweep of human history, from the stone age to the internet, from the stagnation of the ming empire to the invention of the steam engine, from the population explosion to the likely consequences of climate change. it ends with a confident assertion that thanks to the ceaseless capacity of the human race for innovative change, and despite inevitable disasters along the way, the twenty-first century will see both human prosperity and natural biodiversity enhanced. acute, refreshing, and revelatory, the rational optimist will change your way of thinking about the world for the better.

An international bestseller with over five million copies in print, the power of positive thinking has helped men and women around the world to achieve fulfillment in their lives through dr. norman vincent peale’s powerful message of faith and inspiration.in this phenomenal bestseller, “written with the sole objective of helping the reader achieve a happy, satisfying, and worthwhile life,” dr. peale demonstrates the power of faith in action. with the practical techniques outlined in this book, you can energize your life—and give yourself the initiative needed to carry out your ambitions and hopes. you’ll learn how to: · believe in yourself and in everything you do · build new power and determination · develop the power to reach your goals · break the worry habit and achieve a relaxed life · improve your personal and professional relationships · assume control over your circumstances · be kind to yourself

"if you want to live in this tough world and still have some real faith and optimism, this book is for you." — norman vincent peale the many ills of the modern world can be debilitating. with dr. peale's careful guidance, you can achieve happiness and security by learning how to: – conquer your fear – free yourself of guilty feelings – live well and prosper, personally and professionally – become physically healthy — the natural way – stay enthusiastic even in poor circumstances – tackle problems hopefully and creatively – harness the power of prayer

World renowned researcher dr. barbara fredrickson gives you the lab-tested tools necessary to create a healthier, more vibrant, and flourishing life through a process she calls "the upward spiral." you'll discover: – what positivity is, and why it needs to be heartfelt to be effective – the ten sometimes surprising forms of positivity – why positivity is more important than happiness – how positivity can enhance relationships, work, and health, and how it relieves depression, broadens minds, and builds lives – the top-notch research that backs the 3-to-1 "positivity ratio" as a key tipping point – that your own sources of positivity are unique and how to tap into them – how to calculate your current positivity ratio, track it, and improve itwith positivity, you'll learn to see new possibilities, bounce back from setbacks, connect with others, and become the best version of yourself.from the hardcover edition.

It's time for us to look on the bright side, by boosting our mood and lifting our spirit, both in our interiors, as well as our closet.

Profiling the life experiences of real optimists, the bestselling author of the friendship factor provides mental techniques for maintaining a cheerful disposition, increasing physical vigor, and creating an aptitude for success and rich, warm relationships.

With its vibrant new translation, perceptive introduction, and witty packaging, this new edition of voltaire’s masterpiece belongs in the hands of every reader pondering our assumptions about human behavior and our place in the world. candide tells of the hilarious adventures of the naïve candide, who doggedly believes that “all is for the best” even when faced with injustice, suffering, and despair. controversial and entertaining, candide is a book that is vitally relevant today in our world pervaded by—as candide would say—“the mania for insisting that all is well when all is by no means well.”

Optimism is your secret weapon in business and in life. it is custom-designed specifically for you, and it is capable of bringing you everything you want. optimism can overcome financial problems, physical disabilities, and personal challenges. in jim stovall's latest book, the art of optimism, he uses stories, studies, and personal experience to illustrate how adopting an attitude of optimism can change your life. read this book and learn: how to fuel optimism how to find opportunity through optimism how to overcome negative circumstances how to maintain optimism in business and in life how optimism is your most important asset and much more! "a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." -winston churchill

Sharpen your skills and shape attitudes to achieve high levels of success personally and professionally the optimism advantage offers tangible, proven techniques for turning life's obstacles into opportunities with confidence and competence. today's economy offers plenty of reasons to feel powerless and frustrated. but why would you, when it offers just as many reasons to be optimistic, resourceful, and persistent? after all, adversity is everywhere…but it's how you handle adversity that makes the difference in your personal and professional life. each chapter provides new ways to sharpen your own skills and help others to face ever-present organizational and personal challenges with the kind of positive attitude that leads to resilience and results. presents important truths for maintaining your sanity and effectiveness during times of economic or organizational turmoil shows you how to turn yourself into a valuable, recyclable asset, rather than a disposable "employee" author terry paulson is a preeminent expert on the human side of optimism and a powerful, renowned professional speaker the optimism advantage offers much needed relief, hope, and practical tools for everyone who feels trapped and powerless in the face of current economic conditions.