Customer Reviews

The Power of Optimism: Your Action Plan To Bring Out The Best In Yourself

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... I have found this book is such an amazing one. Doctor McGinnis is such a wonderful psychiatrist. Listenning to his audiobooks made me feel delighted, more positive about my life and everything around me. I just wanted to say "Thanks" to him. I have learned much from it. Everything that he mentioned and taught was not only for depressed individuals but for the optimistic persons as well. I hope he could continue to write books and have more audiobooks available for all of us.

This book was recommended as an optional text to a college course of the same name. this isn't just the "power of positive thinking", but discusses the power that optimists have to change their lives for the better, that pessimists won't even try.
It also asserts that you don't have to be born an optimist, it is a skill that can be learned.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has been overwhelmed by tragic life events, and would like to regain their optimism, or to be able to reflect back on those events with a healthy perspective.

Accomplishing goals, living a worthwhile life, and getting along with other people are all part of McGinnis' stragetgy for living abundantly. Optimism is an intangible force that has practical consequences. McGinnis describes it as a "can-do" philosophy. A quote he takes from William James brings the theme of individual control out even more when he writes "The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind." McGinnis argues that this mind-set can result in people being elevated to the top of their fields. In part this is because activity results when people are optimistic. Without action entropy causes a system to break down. It is through active involvement that entropy is successfully overcome. Activity is stimulated as optimists create and maintain synergy with like minded associates. Reading is another form of stiumlation found among this group. Even more important than relationship maintainence and good reading, McGinnis stresses the importance of prayer. Optimistic achievers are perpetually young regardless of their chronological years he points out because "regardless of their age, they have a stubborn belief that their personal best is yet to be." More good news is reported in that optimism can be leaded. He says he read almost a thousand biographies and analyzed the lives of many successful people before drawing the conclusions he makes in this wonderful book. I highly recommend it.

Though "success" is subjective, a refreshing perspective on "worry", "hope" and "preference for cheerfullness over happiness". A positive, well illustrated message that even a pessimist can become an optomist, by changing their "automatic thoughts", through "cognitive therapy". However, this appears to suit "reactive depression", most.
Dr. McGinnis articulates the "Twelve characteristics of Tough-Minded Optomists", that are well illustrated in the chapters on each facet, as found in "Type A" personalities. It would have been nice to learn if other personality types like melancholic or choleric for instance could also benefit from cognitive therapy.
There is a disclaimer for "endogenous depression" in the preface. Sadly,I did not find an answer while living with a bipolar, doctor-husband for 27 years. He lost everything despite bucket loads of optimism on my part.
By Elizabeth Laine, author of, "A Butterfly Landed An Eagle".

"According to Freud, the repression of emotion is the source of all neurosis." ~ Pg. 140

Alan Loy McGinnis read almost a thousand biographies before writing this book. Through his reading he was able to identify certain traits optimistic people possess. He also presents a thoughtful account of what it means to be an optimist.

I think I only disagree with the author once because I've personally seen people take pleasure in being a pessimist. I encounter this a lot since I live my life in a mostly positive way.

This book is filled with stories of people who chose to be optimists and these stories show how people become more adaptable, take action, feel appreciation, take action against their negative thoughts, give and receive more love in their lives and like to swap good news instead of bad news.

I think this book would be excellent for anyone who is depressed or is leaning in that direction. If you are a pessimist this book may encourage you in the direction of healing. There are many stories throughout that make the teachings personal and meaningful.

Here are some items that will lead you to more optimism:

Spontaneous Optimism: Proven Strategies for Health, Prosperity & Happiness

Deepak Chopra: The Happiness Prescription

It's All in Your Head: Thinking Your Way to Happiness

Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out

What Happy People Know: How the New Science of Happiness Can Change Your Life for the Better

Smilosophy: Getting More Smileage Out of Life

~The Rebecca Review