The power of real optimism A practical, science-based guide to staying resilient, curious, and open even when life is hard

As a writer and psychologist, Chopra has devoted her career to understanding the psychological effects of optimism. Now she distills these findings through a mix of research and fieldwork, offering practical steps toward a cheerier worldview. Her skill as a storyteller keeps the narrative compelling without veering into platitudes or sentimentality--often a hard balance to strike with self-help books. Her clients' stories, woven together with anecdotes from her own life, illuminate the practical effects of optimism and how different techniques are utilized in daily life. It's a useful counterbalance to the studies and theory cited within the work. Chopra has a clear idea of how--and why--optimism gets lumped in with toxic positivity and naïveté, and she offers a convincing argument for why it is a more conscious, robust, and thoughtful practice than it's often given credit for. Readers in search of science-backed wellness practices will find much of use here, as will those who enjoy their self-help books with extra depth.