Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

Excellent book for coaches for self transformation as well as coachee transformation with flexible optimistic approach. Maximal self has strengths and pitfalls, however this book guides u to overcome walls or pitfalls created by this egoistic self.

The book by Mr.Seligman has given me new hope. I am now confident of tackling failures in a more objective way. I'll keep trying inspite of hurdles. By the way, I am undergoing treatment for schizophrenia and this book helped me to look at life in a optimistic way.

Fantastic . Awesome . Great read . In depth and insightful material that helps one role and position in modern society Vis a Vis depression , pessimism and the negatives that rule due to the breakdown of more ancient systems .

A very nice read. The author states how being an optimist can improve your personal as well as professional life. The book contains tests that help you understand/identify if you are an optimist or pessimist. Then the author explains different techniques of how to turn yourself in to an optimist. If you are a pessimist, do yourself a favor by reading this book. It can be life changing for you.

Compared to different self help books this brings in fresh and tested perspective on why optimism works. It also elaborates simple plan on how to work upon pessimistic view and become optimistic. As you would read through book it will be clear that you are not getting a magic wand, but what you are getting is a logical process using which you can change your beliefs. I have just started using this in practice and will update review as time passes.For me major let down is how book has been written, many times you will be reading same thing again and again. How content has been structured is also major let down. Overall great content but bad writing.

This book is a result of many years of research. I just suggest to go through this book slowly and read it twice to get the best out of it. Overall a very concise cognitive psychology book. Thanks Amazon.

Good book,must read. The author has worked had on the book and wrote the book in such a way that it give real results. But, only when practiced persistently.

The science, the research and the methods are solid. The author tends to be a bit pedantic and long drawn out at times though.

This book is beautifully written, reads like a thriller, and packs plenty of wisdom in each page. The author not only understands the field as an expert but writes well, and conveys the core ideas in a useful way. This book showed me how much of a pessimist I was in certain areas. Many of us "realists" unfortunately are pessimists too - I realized, and limit ourselves unnecessarily in areas where such self-imposed limits are not warranted.This book has a toolkit for us to evaluate the "narrative" that we have within ourselves, and it also allows us to evaluate the narratives that others have based on statements they make. I have not seen this toolkit presented in this manner anywhere else. The author requires us to behave as a scientist or detective, exploring the inner-dialogs and how it shapes our views and feelings - not just in ourselves but in others too. This ties in to ideas of mindfulness or awareness, because, without mindfulness or deeper awareness, it is difficult to engage in the "watching" of the inner narrative. I was hoping the author provide more details on the CAVE technique that he speaks about, but the specifics of that were not disclosed in this book.I have added plenty of highlights and notes, and plan to revisit them periodically, also try to practice the techniques that the author shared (ABCDE, PPP etc). I think the techniques in this book will not only lead to better or more accurate cognition of events, and situations, but also, an overall improved, hopeful and optimistic outlook in general.

Great book, came in good condition

I am so lucky to have discovered this book. It has had a profound effect on me. After so many years I know where I am going wrong and more importantly tools to change my way of thinking and beat depression.

Basato sulle scoperte scientifiche dell'autore bellissimo libro che spiega come l'ottimismo può essere "imparato".Innegabile l'utilità nella vita

Das Buch müsste eins meiner ersten englischen Bücher gewesen sein und dafür dass mein Englisch damals noch nicht so gut war war es trotzdem sehr einfach zu lesen. Manche Passagen sind schwierig aber mit einem Übersetzer in der Hand sollte die Sprachbarrikade für niemanden ein Problem sein der die 10. Klasse abgeschlossen hat und eine 3 oder besser im Unterricht hatte.Ich habe damals bestimmt zwei Jahre mit diesem Buch gearbeitet, wurde sehr viel optimistischer und habe es aber letztendlich doch wieder aufgegeben weil mein Problem unüberwindbar schien. Jetzt ein Jahr später habe ich es wieder zur Hand genommen und muss sagen dass ich mich zu sehr auf diesen einen Aspekt fokussiert habe den ich nicht kontrollieren konnte. Das generelle Optimismuslevel hat nichtsdestotrotz zugenommen.Der Inhalt dieses Buches ist ein regelrechter augenöffner und wenn das heutige Schulsystem nicht mehr so optimal ist, dann wären es solche Dinge die eher in der Schule beigebracht werden sollten. Martin Seligman bringt dem Leser extrem rational, logisch und verständlich nahe, wie die eigene gewohnte Denkweise - der "Explanatory Style" - dafür sorgt sich entweder selbst imaginäre Ketten anzulegen und dadurch sowohl Erfolg als auch psychisches Wohlbefinden moderat bis stark einzuschränken, oder aber sein volles Potential nutzen kann, ein großes Stück glücklicher und erfolgreicher zu werden, gesünder zu werden, sympathischer zu werden und sich regelrecht gegen Depression oder generelle schlechte Laune immunisieren zu lassen.Ein Vorrezensionist hat die große Theorielastigkeit kritisiert, doch meiner Meinung nach ist genau dieses wiederholende Verständnis der Mechanismen ein entscheidender Punkt um zu verstehen wie jene Gedanken zu entsprechenden mentalen Zuständen führen um es auch unbewusst anwenden zu können. Herr Seligman geht zwar nur im letzten Kapitel auf direkte Verhaltensveränderung ein doch das ist mehr als ausreichend um dann das entsprechende Verständnis anwenden zu können.Wenn man es wirklich ernst nimmt und jahrelang immer mal wieder mit dem Buch arbeitet, dann gehen alle erläuterten Erkenntnisse so sehr ins Unbewusste dass der praktische Teil beinahe schon unnötig wird. So jedenfalls meine Erfahrung.Alles in allem kann gesagt werden dass dieses Buch eines der besten war welches ich mir je geholt habe. Klare Kaufempfehlung.