Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18709 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Customer Reviews

Optimism vs Delusion
There is a corrosive view that if you simply boosts people's self esteem they will achieve great things. Seligman shows, using real data and years of research, rather than the pseudo-science of the 'feel good' gurus shows that achievement boosts self-confidence and an internalisation that most setbacks in life are temporary and that "stuff happens" is a far stronger way of overcoming the obstacles of life. He uses that term 'explanatory style' which is the way in which we account for failures and successes in our lives. This has much more to do with success or failure than how highly we rate ourselves. He counsels realism and an acceptance of what is down to us and what must simply be endured. He demonstrates that a generation that has lived through two world wars is less prone to depression than children born in a time of unparalleled prosperity and relative peace. Seligman seeks to provide ways that we can 'immunise' the next generation against an epidemic of depression largely brought on by a general wisdom that life must be easy and happy or someone must be to blame - often ourselves. This a common sense book that elucidates with science rather than baffles with it. An easy to read style by someone who genuinely believes in what they are saying. A heavyweight amongst so many lightweights.