Author: Niall Edworthy
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 143915953X
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 137
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Book Description
The mere sense of living is joy enough. Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886, American poet Humanity's story is one long testimony to the truth that life is as rewarding and beautiful as you make it. As pioneers, inventors, and dreamers have always known, you can do anything if only you persevere. Ever since we hauled ourselves out of the swamp, our history has been one of extraordinary cultural and technological progress, of mind-boggling discoveries and remarkable achievements, often against the odds. It's no coincidence that you see no statues of pessimists in city squares. Still, cynical and doubting voices are heard all too loudly and frequently in public discourse. A potent antidote to their gloom and doom, The Optimist's Handbook is a joyful explosion of wit and wisdom from our past and present that celebrates the art of greeting life with the excitement it deserves. This handbook will inspire, enchant, and entertain you as you go forward into all your wonderful tomorrows. Even if, after reading it, you are not moved to feats of glory for the greater good, the fact is that optimists are healthier, happier, and richer than their gloomy counterparts. Hear that, killjoys? The world is a grindstone and life is your nose. Fred Allen, 1894-1956, American humorist Why beat around the bush? The truth is that life is a never-ending cycle of toil and pain with nothing but death to reward all our suffering. Furthermore, what solace is there in blind optimism or fanciful daydreaming when it is perfectly clear that the world is heading toward a complete meltdown whether we live in it or not? Resigning yourself to life's grim treadmill, and thereby avoiding more disappointments, is the best way to trudge forward. The Pessimist's Handbook is an indispensable companion on your journey through this vale of tears. A clear-sighted, realistic look at life's obstacles, this guidebook is stocked with the pearls of wisdom you need to counter the irritating voices of those who trumpet futile positivity and inane confidence in a brighter future. Feel reassured that scores of people share your sense of impending doom...and have done so for centuries. After all, misery loves company, but not when it's a horde of perky utopians.
Author:
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 038561411X
Category : Conduct of life
Languages : en
Pages : 340
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Book Description
This is a rich anthology of evidence from both sides of any argument. Covering everything from Africa to beauty, happiness to patriotism to walking, it is the perfect tool for squabbling families, a counterbalance for arguing couples and a mine of detail for the quarrelsome.
Author: Jimmy Fallon
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 044655359X
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 36
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Book Description
From the Grammy-nominated star of Saturday Night Live and his equally talented sister comes a delightfully cynical look at life through a half-full glass. I HATE THIS PLACE is the book for anyone who’s ever tired of crossing to the sunny side of the street, looking for that elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, or reading self-help books that are meant to bring peace and prosperity. Guaranteed to shatter illusions, extinguish all hope, and keep the jaded and the disgruntled laughing all the way, it is filled with such daily “affirmations” as “If you don’t have anything nice to say, welcome to the club,” and advice like “Knock, and the door shall be slammed in your face.” Rife with the wit and wisdom of Jimmy Fallon and his sister Gloria, this book promises to tickle the funny bone of the pessimist in everyone.
Author: Arthur Schopenhauer
Publisher: Lincoln, University of Nebreaska Press
ISBN:
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 856
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Book Description
Author: Barbara Ann Kipfer
Publisher: Perigee Trade
ISBN: 9780399521911
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 164
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Book Description
"Barbara Ann Kipfer, author of the relentlessly upbeat 14,000 things to be happy about, looks forward to a future of advanced technology, cultural progress, and enlightened awareness. Ed Strnad, author of the relentlessly cranky 1401 Things That P*ss Me Off, cringes at the prospect of robot waiters, mutant cockroaches, and hearing the "Theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey" played ad nauseum. They're both here - in The Optimist's/Pessimist's Guide to the Millennium...a double-edged look at the 21st century that will make you think twice about tomorrow!"--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Author: Mark R. Leary
Publisher: Guilford Publications
ISBN: 1462514898
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 624
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Book Description
How do individual differences interact with situational factors to shape social behavior? Are people with certain traits more likely to form lasting marriages; experience test-taking anxiety; break the law; feel optimistic about the future? This handbook provides a comprehensive, authoritative examination of the full range of personality variables associated with interpersonal judgment, behavior, and emotion. The contributors are acknowledged experts who have conducted influential research on the constructs they address. Chapters discuss how each personality attribute is conceptualized and assessed, review the strengths and limitations of available measures (including child and adolescent measures, when available), present important findings related to social behavior, and identify directions for future study.
Author: Robert L. Wicks
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0190660058
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 634
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Book Description
Though known primarily as a herald of philosophical pessimism, the full range of Schopenhauer's contributions is displayed here in a collection of thirty-one essays on the forefront of Schopenhauer scholarship. The essays explore his central notions, including the will, empirical knowledge, and the sublime, and widens to the interplay of ethics and religion with Schopenhauer's philosophy. Authors confront difficult aspects of Schopenhauer's work and legacy - for example, the extent to which Schopenhauer adopted ideas from his predecessors compared to how much was original and visionary in his central claim that reality is a blind, senseless 'will,' the effectiveness of his philosophy in the field of scientific explanation and extrasensory phenomena, and the role of beauty and sublimity in his outlook.--
Author: Bina Venkataraman
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0735219486
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 338
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Book Description
Named a Best Book of 2019 by NPR “How might we mitigate losses caused by shortsightedness? Bina Venkataraman, a former climate adviser to the Obama administration, brings a storyteller’s eye to this question. . . . She is also deeply informed about the relevant science.” —The New York Times Book Review A trailblazing exploration of how we can plan better for the future: our own, our families’, and our society’s. Instant gratification is the norm today—in our lives, our culture, our economy, and our politics. Many of us have forgotten (if we ever learned) how to make smart decisions for the long run. Whether it comes to our finances, our health, our communities, or our planet, it’s easy to avoid thinking ahead. The consequences of this immediacy are stark: Deadly outbreaks spread because leaders failed to act on early warning signs. Companies that fail to invest stagnate and fall behind. Hurricanes and wildfires turn deadly for communities that could have taken more precaution. Today more than ever, all of us need to know how we can make better long-term decisions in our lives, businesses, and society. Bina Venkataraman sees the way forward. A journalist and former adviser in the Obama White House, she helped communities and businesses prepare for climate change, and she learned firsthand why people don’t think ahead—and what can be done to change that. In The Optimist’s Telescope, she draws from stories she has reported around the world and new research in biology, psychology, and economics to explain how we can make decisions that benefit us over time. With examples from ancient Pompeii to modern-day Fukushima, she dispels the myth that human nature is impossibly reckless and highlights the surprising practices each of us can adopt in our own lives—and the ones we must fight for as a society. The result is a book brimming with the ideas and insights all of us need in order to forge a better future.
Author: Suzanne C. Segerstrom
Publisher: Guilford Press
ISBN: 1609189361
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 241
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Book Description
Pollyannas take heart, pessimists take note: Recent studies on achievement and well-being show that optimistic behavior contributes to better physical health, greater resilience in the face of life’s twists and turns, and more satisfying relationships. As psychologists Suzanne Segerstrom reveals, optimists lay groundwork for the success they envision. While the rest of us worry whether our goals are attainable, those who practice optimism try to achieve theirs. Breaking Murphy’s Law shows you simple ways to develop the skills that natural-born optimists use to get what they want from life. Dr. Segerstrom helps you break free from the inertia of cynicism and self-doubt and encourages you to engage the world around you. “Doing optimism”--by getting involved, working hard, and enjoying your achievements--establishes a positive feedback loop that’s both personally transformative and self-perpetuating. This practical book imparts the lesson with a mix of humor and intelligence that will convince even the most hardened cynics that Murphy got it wrong.
Author: John Clark, 3rd
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781942761563
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 102
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Book Description
From Pessimist to Optimist in 30 Days or Less How often do you think, "Today's going to be a great day" or "I'm so lucky to be alive"? Would you like to think these things more often? What sets us apart from all other living creatures is the ability to think and use thought to form decisions, ideas, strategies, and actions. However, this same "power" can also work against us in the form of small thinking, negativity, depression, or distress. What we see is what we get. How we think is what determines our reality. Some of the Best Days of Your Life Haven't Happened Yet Do you want to enjoy your life more? You have to learn a new way of thinking before you can master a new way of being. A negative mind will never give you a positive life. But how can you become more positive when you've been trapped in negative thinking for years, decades, or maybe even your whole life? How to Be Happy, No Matter What John Clark delves into the topic of happiness and positivity in his latest book, "The 30-Day Optimism Solution." A self-described chronic pessimist, Clark embarks on a 30-day journey to turn his mindset around. Discover the ten second process that can instantly transform your thinking, setting the tone for the rest of the day (and, ultimately, your life). The greatest weapon against unhappiness is our ability to choose one thought over another. Learn how to choose these positive thoughts with: Two full pages of affirmations 7 ways to energize your life 10 ways to reduce stress A guide to creating your own gratitude list No matter how long you have traveled on the wrong road, you can always turn around. The 30-Day Optimism Solution is proof of that."
