Breaking Murphy's Law: How Optimists Get What They Want from Life - and Pessimists Can Too [Hardcover]

Suzanne C. Segerstrom PhD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2006

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a knowledgeable and witty book that delivers the science of optimism in an informed and accessible manner. Dr. Segerstrom is a master of the area, combining expertise in mental health with sophisticated biological knowledge and the practical bent that makes the information useful for getting around the roadblocks of day-to-day life."--Shelley E. Taylor, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles; author of Positive Illusions

"Breaking Murphy's Law is a wonderful counterpoint to the many self-help books out there that emphasize trying to be happy. Dr. Segerstrom shows how the headlong pursuit of happiness can actually be self-defeating, while effective optimism--focusing on motivation and persistence--can lead both to good feelings and genuine success in life. A 'must read.'"--Ed Diener, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; editor, Journal of Happiness Studies

"The message in this book contradicts many popular myths and is based on the scientific study of optimism. Dr. Segerstrom shows us ways to change our lives to become healthier and more fulfilled. In a world awash with misinformed pop psychology, this scientific recipe for the good life is a breath of fresh air."--Alan Carr, PhD, School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Ireland; author of Positive Psychology

"Suzanne Segerstrom is a rising star in the new science of positive psychology, and this book shows why. Written in very accessible and engaging prose, it integrates shrewd insights with the latest research findings on the healing power of optimism. Dr. Segerstrom gets to the bottom of optimism and demonstrates why it is good for our bodies and minds. Hard work, personal action, and positive outcomes: a science-based recipe for success."--Robert A. Emmons, PhD, coauthor of Words of Gratitude for Mind, Body, and Soul; Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis

About the Author

Suzanne C. Segerstrom, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. She has conducted extensive research on the relationship between optimism and well-being. Dr. Segerstrom's work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Norman Cousins Program, and the Dana Foundation. She is also a winner of the prestigious Templeton Positive Psychology Prize, awarded in recognition of her work on optimism. She lives near Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband and their dogs.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (June 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593852096
• ISBN-13: 978-1593852092
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 8.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,616,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-rounded view of optimism August 26, 2006

By Randall S. Deutsch

Format:Hardcover

I was at first hesitant to purchase this book with its title seemingly dreamed-up by a marketing department that hadn't read the book, an unfortunate mismatch for the academic credentials and soon-to-discovered depth of the author. Being an optimist myself, I took a chance on the book and am I glad that I did. Admittedly at first, some of the cited studies and findings seemed familiar from the media. But gratefully that turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg for what in every way is an in-depth, thorough review of this all-important topic. The author's tone is both professional and personable, and especially in the footnotes, funny. Cover to cover the author's a great reading companion and this is especially a perfect end-of-summer/autumn read that will help you to see the brighter, sunny side of life even if optimism doesn't come naturally to you. The message of the book is ultimately encouraging for those who aren't born optimists. Without making frequent reference to it, this book is a fine addition to the growing literature of Happiness and Positive Psychology.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I was hoping for October 16, 2009

By Jeffrey Thomasson

Format:Paperback

I respect the author's intelligence and research on the subject of optimism. The book is mainly a compilation of statistics from studies performed to show how optimists and pessimists approach life differently. If you are interested, as a psychologist perhaps, in the phenomenon of optimism, then this will be an enjoyable read. However, if you are a pessimist looking for ways to change your nature, you will have to read a very long time in this book before anything close to advice is given.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Content Well-Covered October 16, 2006

By B. P. Page

Format:Hardcover

I absolutely loved this book. It covers positive psychology (happiness/optimism/goal setting/motivation) in great depth and over a broad range of applications. The author stresses that the rewards of optimism are attained by "doing" optimism rather than just thinking optimistically. Based on this premise, the book is very pragmatic and can actually be applied to improve the quality of your experience..

The tone of the book was fairly scientific and included many case studies to support the author's conclusions. The only thing that prevents me from awarding five stars, is the fact that, at times, the writing style felt more like I was reading a doctoral dissertation instead of a book for the general population. I actually enjoyed the scientific nature of the book; however it just gets a bit dense/dry in certain parts with a bit of unecessary repetition. This, however, does not tarnish the overall message and I would recommend it wholeheartedly.

The bottom line . . . if you want a book that explores positive psychology in greater depth than some of the platitude-filled feel good books in this genre than this is the book for you!