The Bright Side
Why Optimists Have the Power to Change the World
Presented by: Real Magic Books| 0 | WENDOVER: Real Magic Books (info) |
|---|---|
| P | Tuesday 21st January, 2025 |
| N | Door time: 6:30pm Start time: 7:00pm |
| . | All ages |
| C | Literature |
Event information
We are joined by the former Editor-in-Chief of the New Scientist and astrophysicist-turned-journalist Sumit Paul-Choudhury on Tuesday 21 January to discuss his book, The Bright Side.
A deep dive into the power and science of optimism, that will change the way you think for good. Optimism, 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 21st century.
In this book 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. Combining his own moving personal story of losing his wife to cancer, tales from throughout history from Shackleton to Keller, and reams of scientific data, Paul-Choudhury makes the case for optimism being an essential force for humanity’s survival.
The book offers clear evidence for the importance of optimism in facing the challenges of the modern world, both societal and personal, and offers practical takeaways.
