I s the glass half full or half empty? For most of us, the answer to that may vary, depending on how we might be feeling at any given time.
Some days, we may feel on top of the world and have an incredibly optimistic outlook towards everything that lies ahead. Other times, we may feel defeated and pessimistic, unable to shake off lingering doubts. Although many of us are not natural optimists, the good news is that optimism can be cultivated.
Here are five books that are essential reads for nurturing the optimist in all of us—five essential books on optimism:
- Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life, by Martin Seligman
Seligman, renowned for his study on learned helplessness, is often considered the father of positive psychology. His book, Learned Optimism, was originally published 20 years ago but remains one of the most influential reads on optimism. It does away with the ordinary self-help drivel, and delivers a clinical researcher’s crisp prescription for developing the cognitive skills necessary to transcend pessimism. This book is a powerful blueprint for reforming your deepest pessimistic tendencies, whether you consider them mild, moderate or profoundly severe.
- The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves, by Matt Ridley
Despite all the troubles that are plaguing society today, Ridley reminds us that it’s not all that bad. The world is far from perfect, but life is getting better. Prosperity, he explains, comes from mutual dependence, trust, and sharing, which is a cause for hope, not despair. Using historical examples, Ridley confidently asserts 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.
The world is far from perfect, but life is getting better. Click To Tweet- Creating Optimism, by Bob Murray and Alicia Fortinberry
It is often difficult to recover once you’re hurt, but it’s certainly not impossible. Creating Optimism contains a unique, seven-step program that challenges conventional wisdom and is based on the foundation that healing occurs from the inside out. With more than two decades of research and practice behind it, this book shows that real change comes from building healthier relationships with other people, our own bodies, nature, and spirituality.
It is often difficult to recover once you’re hurt, but it’s certainly not impossible. Click To Tweet- Hard Optimism: How to Succeed in a World Where Positive Wins, by Price Pritchett
As one of the world’s most renowned thought leaders on corporate culture and organizational change, Prichett presents a groundbreaking program for developing positive mental practices. These will not just improve your performance on the job, but it will also enhance the quality of every part of your life. Pritchett shows you how to adopt hard optimism—a forward-thinking mindset that incorporates resilience, energy, innovation, and hope—into the way you approach every task. Hard Optimism gives you 12 powerful, proven practices for reducing negative thinking and adopt the attitude of a winner.
- Learn to Be an Optimist: A Practical Guide to Achieving Happiness, by Lucy MacDonald
Optimism sometimes seems to be beyond reach, but it is something that can be learned and brought into every aspect of life, and this includes relationships and parenting, in school and in the workplace, says MacDonald. The benefits of an optimistic approach to life are numerous and they include a longer lifespan, reduced stress, and a better chance of recovering from serious illness. In order to nurture the mind, body, and spirit, MacDonald explores the benefits of a good attitude and teaches readers to develop the confidence, resilience, and peace of mind that unlocks this positive change.
Despite these snapshots into optimism, the pessimist in you might be saying, “there’s no time to read these books!” Don’t fall for this excuse! Use the optimist’s approach and look for ways to fit some reading into your day. If you commute to work on public transportation, you could take these books with you to pass the time. Alternatively, save time by upgrading your reading speed with reliable methods like the Soundway Efficient Speed Reading™ technique. The best part? You’ll be able to get a head start on optimism more quickly and efficiently.
