Kirjahaku

In the thought-provoking tradition of Steven Pinker's Enlightenment Now and Yuval Noah Harari's Homo Deus, a fascinating and reassuring look at the philosophy, psychology, and practice of optimism, and why being optimistic is a moral obligation--even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. Scrolling through our daily newsfeeds we see violence and cruelty, turmoil and injustice, fake news and clickbait, and worsening environmental and social crises--just a few of the dark currents feeding a tidal wave of pessimism. In the face of so many challenges, how can we stay optimistic? And, more important, why should we? In The Bright Side, Sumit Paul-Choudhury answers these pressing questions, arguing that optimism is not only essential for overcoming the challenges we face, but also fundamental to human wellbeing. Drawing on a wide array of evidence--from biology to history, and from economics to meteorology--he delves into the underappreciated roots of optimism, examines its impact on mental health and professional success, and discusses why it has a power that wishful thinking lacks. Additionally, The Bright Side shows how we can apply the principles of optimism to cope with environmental crises, artificial intelligence, and social change. From the polar reaches to the world's mightiest cities, through inspirational figures including explorers, activists, and scientists, the book illustrates optimism in action. A beacon amid dark times, The Bright Side provides a lens through which we can see the challenges we face more clearly--and it also offers tools for solving them, to create a better future for ourselves and generations to come.

In the bestselling tradition of Steven Pinker's Enlightenment Now and Yuval Noah Harari's Homo Deus comes an engaging and interdisciplinary look at the history, philosophy, and psychology of optimism and why being optimistic is a moral obligation--even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.Scrolling through our daily newsfeeds, we see war, political unrest, the swift rise of artificial intelligence, and a looming climate crisis--just a few of the tragedies fostering pessimism. So, in the face of such glum events, how do we stay optimistic? And, more important, why should we?In The Bright Side, the author tackles these pressing questions, arguing that optimism is not only essential for overcoming the obstacles ahead but also fundamental to human resilience and progress. Drawing on a wide array of evidence across diverse fields, he delves into the underappreciated philosophical roots of optimism, examines its impact on mental health and professional success, and discusses how an optimistic outlook supports a scientific and rational world view.Beyond theoretical discussions, The Bright Side shows how we can apply the principles of optimism to address complex challenges, particularly the environmental crisis. Through visits to innovative projects like the futuristic LINE city in Saudi Arabia, the Faslane Peace Camp in Scotland, initiatives related to the New Green Deal, and anecdotes covering everything from Ernest Shackleton to Bitcoin mania, the book illustrates optimism in action.A salve for dark times, The Bright Side is a lens through which we can identify and solve the problems we face and create a better future for ourselves and generations to come.

A GUARDIAN 'BOOK TO READ IN 2025' 'A truly inspirational and beautiful book with a powerful and timely message for today's society' - JIM AL-KHALILIOptimism, irrational though it might be, is central to the human psyche: it seems to give us an advantage both in everyday life and in the evolutionary race.What does Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition have in common with the chicken that crossed the road? Or James Baldwin's campaign for civil rights with the development of AI? Or even Crossrail and George Bush's 'mission accomplished'?The Bright Side makes a vital and transformative new argument: that optimism is not only the natural state of humanity, but an essential one. Without optimism we would never have survived the unpredictable - and often hostile - world we evolved into. Yet optimism is not reserved for times of extremity. Its benefits manifest throughout our everyday lives: our relationships, careers, bodies and minds. And it will play a critical role in overcoming the challenges of the twenty-first century.In this book, astrophysicist-turned-journalist Sumit-Paul Choudhury offers practical suggestions on what it really takes to be an optimist today and, in doing so, provides a powerful manifesto for hope and a much-needed new perspective on our prospects. He shows how, by embracing action, imagination and possibility, we can find a path to the bright side, even - perhaps especially - when the future seems dark.Both realistic and revolutionary, The Bright Side is a guidebook for troubled times that will make you re-evaluate your habits and outlook.

'Powerfully inspiring ' GUARDIAN 'A timely message for today's society' JIM AL-KHALILI 'An expansive tour de force' OBSERVER The Bright Side makes a vital and transformative new argument: that optimism is not only the natural state of humanity, but an essential one. Without optimism, we would never have survived the unpredictable and hostile world we evolved into - and it will be critical in overcoming the challenges of the twenty-first century. In this book, astrophysicist-turned-journalist Sumit Paul-Choudhury offers practical suggestions on what it really takes to be an optimist today, providing a powerful manifesto for hope and a much-needed new perspective. He shows how, by embracing action, imagination and possibility, we can find a path to the bright side, even when the future seems dark.