I liked reading about Laurence Shorter's journey towards an
improved definition of optimism and how to achieve it. His
down-to-earth approach is very relatable and no detail is left
unexplored. I also really appreciated his inclusion of his personal
life, along with its share of ups and downs because it allows for
the reader to feel more connected to him and his plight. Although
there is the common theme of optimism throughout the novel, the
chapters can almost be short stories on their own, revealing a
different aspect or lesson learned. I enjoyed some of the chapters
more than others, with my favorite being the one about former
President Bill Clinton because it marked the culmination of all
that Shorter worked for and it felt very satisfying and certainly
inspired optimism out of me!
Though there were many parts in the book that I found funny, I
don't think the book can necessarily be categorized as "humor". I
do believe that Shorter set out on this quest whole-heartedly in
the search for answers and not simply as a joke. While I can
usually appreciate British sense of humour, there were some points
when I wasn't sure if he was trying to be funny or not.
Nonetheless, The Optimist is an interesting and at times
thought-provoking read that both amused and aroused my curiosity.
Being a psychology major, I did know a lot about the psychological
aspects of optimism and happiness already, particularly Martin
Seligman's theories, but told through Shorter's perspective, I
still learned something new.
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