The Bright Side
A deep dive into the power and science of optimism that will change the way you think for good. THE BRIGHT SIDE is Sumit Paul-Choudhury’s acclaimed book on the psychology, philosophy and practice of optimism.
BUY THE BOOKThe Bright Side makes a vital
and transformative new argument:
optimism is not only natural , but essential.
Without optimism we would never have survived the unpredictable world we evolved in. But optimism is about thriving as well as surviving, its benefits manifesting throughout our lives, societies, careers, bodies and minds. It will be critical in overcoming the challenges of the twenty-first 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.
THE BRIGHT SIDE is published by Canongate in the UK/RoW, Scribner in North America and Kjona in Germany. Translations into Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Dutch and Romanian are in production.
"Brilliantly shows a way out"
Praise for The Bright Side
“A TONIC FOR OUR TIMES. Paul-Choudhury showed impressive courage after his young wife’s death, vowing to map the intellectual and psychological underpinnings of optimism. We are the beneficiaries of his tenacity. In lucid, lively, never highfalutin prose he brings onstage such characters as Odysseus, Oedipus, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and Helen Keller, each of whom has a vital lesson to impart. The book’s conclusion: not only is optimism rational, it is a twenty-first century necessity.”
— Meredith Wadman, author of The Vaccine Race: Science, Politics, and the Human Costs of Defeating Disease
“A BOOK WE DESPERATELY NEED RIGHT NOW … Sumit Paul-Choudhury musters powerful arguments from science, history, and psychology to remind us of what is hidden in plain sight—our proven ability to shape a future that promotes human thriving. This is science-based chicken soup for the soul. It will both nourish and empower you.”
— Robert Waldinger, M.D., bestselling coauthor of The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness
“A CHARMING AND GENEROUS INVITATION TO THE FUTURE…The Bright Side is a still, small voice of calm in a culture hijacked by apocalyptic thinking and regimented behavior.”
— Simon Ings, author of The Weight of Numbers