Reviews

Review: Learned Optimism

Editorial Review - Kirkus Reviews

Depression is epidemic in our society, Seligman (Psychology/Univ. of Penn.) claims, because of hyper-individualism, the waning of faith in religion and government, and a bewildering range of choices. Seligman's agenda here is no less ambitious than to offer a program that anyone can use to conquer depression by learning a ""flexible"" optimism. Building on his theory of learned helplessness, whereby animals given inescapable shock simply gave up even when later presented with a chance to escape, Seligman and his colleagues at Penn have sought to identify what it is that engenders such hopeless passivity. Extending his studies to humans, he has developed the notion of ""explanatory style,"" our way of accounting to ourselves for the causes of adversity. Pessimists see the causes as permanent, pervasive, and personal, while optimists view them as temporary, limited, and external to themselves. But pessimism can be changed, Seligman maintains, through the techniques of cognitive therapy, which teaches people to recognize their automatic, negative responses and to dispute them. The book gives detailed instructions on implementing these techniques and argues for making the effort by citing the results of Seligman's 25 years of research on optimism: Optimists do better in school, sports, and business, are more likely to be elected to political office, are healthier and may even live longer. While skeptics (or pessimists) may question whether we have as much control over our emotions as Seligman asserts, he does offer valuable laboratory evidence for the much-discussed mind/body connection in this provocative self-help book that rises far above the pack.

User reviews

Review: Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

User Review - Annm - Goodreads

This is a very good book. I like the fact that this work is all researched base. I think he pulls a few conclusions that are supported by but not proved by the research, but that is so much better than most books abut better ways to live. Read full review

Review: Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

User Review - Charlie Canning - Goodreads

One of the few self-help books that delivers on all its claims In successive chapters on "Work," "School," "Sports," and "Health," Seligman argues that most of our successes and many of our failures ... Read full review

Review: Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

User Review - Stacy - Goodreads

I learned, in reading this book, that I am a pessimist. This came as news to me, since I'd always thought of myself as an optimist. But optimism - at least not as Seligman defines it - is not a soft ... Read full review

Review: Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

User Review - Kevin - Goodreads

Got excited about picking this up after reading so much about Seligman in Daniel Pink's most recent book. Read full review

Review: Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

User Review - Erin - Goodreads

If you scored a -12 on an optimist test this book might help you as it did me. All I can say is that for those who realize that pessimism has colored their lives and choices this book will be a life ... Read full review

Review: Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

User Review - Frank Mcgeough - Goodreads

An older book (1990) in the field of cognitive psychology but a great introduction to the early research that led Professor Seligman (U of Penn) to spend his career researching helplessness and how to ... Read full review

Review: Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

User Review - Kris - Goodreads

Life changing. Read full review

Review: Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

User Review - Lini - Goodreads

Couldn't really call this one a page turner, but it is an interesting, insightful, research based look at how to recognize and at times change our thought patterns. That voice in your head can at ... Read full review