The intelligent optimist's guide to life : how to find health and success in a world that's a better place than you think

The world isn’t coming to an end, contrary to what you may have heard. But the media’s near-exclusive focus on conflict and disaster means that the progress and everyday acts of brilliance taking place across the globe go unnoticed. Jurriaan Kamp shows that optimism—intelligent optimism, not a rose-colored-glasses brand of wishful thinking—is good for not only your mind but your body too. He details a whole host of health problems that can actually be linked to pessimism. Moreover, there is good reason for optimism: Kamp proves that on the whole we’re living longer, becoming smarter, working less, and growing richer. Not only that, democracy is on the rise, and violence is declining. This book will help you tune out the media’s focus on sensationalism and negativity and turn on your natural optimism so you’ll drop into a “real world” that’s richer than you ever imagined. The world isn't coming to an end, contrary to what you may have heard, says Jurriaan Kamp. Certainly there's upheaval and economic, political, and social instability, but the media's near-exclusive focus on conflict and disaster means that the progress and everyday acts of brilliance taking place across the globe go unnoticed, which contributes to the sense that apocalypse is at hand. And pessimism can be fatal: Kamp cites research showing that those who indulge in negative thinking are more likely to smoke, be overweight, and have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and an increased risk of Parkinson's disease than optimists. Meanwhile, evidence abounds that optimism--intelligent optimism, not a rose-colored-glasses brand of wishful thinking--is good not only for your mind but for your body, too. Kamp demonstrates that, on the whole, we're living longer, becoming smarter, working less, and growing richer. Democracy is on the rise, and violence is declining. He explains how we can cultivate an outlook of informed optimism that will make our lives and the world better--because, as he quotes Helen Keller, "No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit." A note from the author Introduction: stories & news The best way to live A key to health, happiness and success How to become a (better) optimist The world is a better place than you think Welcome to the age of optimism Checklist for optimists Notes Resources Acknowledgments Life orientation test scoring Index About the author About the intelligent optimist. "Jurriaan Kamp shows that optimism - intelligent optimism, not a rose-colored-glasses brand of wishful thinking - is good for not only your mind, but your body too. ... Moreover, there is good reason for optimism: Kamp shows that on the whole we're living longer, becoming smarter, working less, and growing richer."--Back cover A note from the author -- Introduction: stories, news, and the challenge of optimism -- The best way to live -- A key to health, happiness and success -- How to become an (eve better) optimist -- The world is a better place than you think -- Welcome to the age of optimism In this book, the author explains how we can cultivate an outlook of informed optimism by tuning out the media's focus on sensationalism and negativity and turning on our natural optimism.