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The Optimist: One Man's Search for the Brighter Side of Life
When it comes to bad news, we've never had it so good.
Laurence Shorter is feeling anxious. Every time he opens a newspaper or turns on the radio he finds another reason to be tearful. It's time to make a change. It's time to be optimistic
His plan is simple:
1. Learn how to jump out of bed in the morning.
2. Secure personal happiness.
3. Save the world.
The Optimist chart...more
Laurence Shorter is feeling anxious. Every time he opens a newspaper or turns on the radio he finds another reason to be tearful. It's time to make a change. It's time to be optimistic
His plan is simple:
1. Learn how to jump out of bed in the morning.
2. Secure personal happiness.
3. Save the world.
The Optimist chart...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
January 22nd 2009
by Canongate Books
(first published January 13th 2009)
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I won 'The Optimist' from the First Reads section, and it arrived this morning. As I read through the first chapter I was convinced I'd read it before. I thought, perhaps, that I'd read some of it in an extract in one of the online newspapers or something. But by the time I reached chapter 6 I realised I'd read this book before.
It appears that it was first published at this time last year, and they're bringing out a second edition now, hence it's inclusion in First Reads. But, I have to say, the...more
It appears that it was first published at this time last year, and they're bringing out a second edition now, hence it's inclusion in First Reads. But, I have to say, the...more
Let’s get a couple of things straight here before we start. I would never have brought this book in a month of Sundays. Had I seen it lying on one of the 3 for 2 tables in Waterstones I wouldn’t have given it a second glance. Had I seen it marked down in a bargain bin in Bookworld for 99p I wouldn’t have bought it. The only reason I read it was because I was sent a review copy.
The main reason I wouldn’t have picked the book is that it’s about optimism and I’ve always considered myself a dyed-in-...more
The main reason I wouldn’t have picked the book is that it’s about optimism and I’ve always considered myself a dyed-in-...more
On the whole this book is a really entertainment read. I clicked with the main character right away. (Although I have a feeling that this book wasn't supposed to come across as a work of ficton, I read it as such). I like the way that Laurence believed he was going to save mankind and create world peace, starting with Iran. My only problem is that there were a few parts that were too wordy and I had trouble following along with his ideas, thankfully something funny would quickly come along to ke...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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The author, Laurence Shorter, set himself the challenge of defining and understanding optimism. In doing so, he met famous people recognised for their optimism or achievements, spiritual gurus, and ordinary folks leading extraordinarily positive lives - and had a few grounding conversations with his Dad along the way. The narrative starts in London but crosses continents to South Africa, India and the US. The interviews with each adherent of "positive belief" are relatively short and the book ha...more
At the start this book seemed painfully forced and facile. I couldn't connect to the protagonist or his feelings in any way and it all felt deliberately obtuse without being funny.
Fortunately, at around the halfway point, the book became more serious and thoughtful and ultimately somewhat personal and poignant. If the front half of the book matched the back half, I would be recommending this to people. As it is, if you've started reading this and wonder if you should keep going, I'd say go for i...more
Fortunately, at around the halfway point, the book became more serious and thoughtful and ultimately somewhat personal and poignant. If the front half of the book matched the back half, I would be recommending this to people. As it is, if you've started reading this and wonder if you should keep going, I'd say go for i...more
This was quite an easy read. Because it's a monologue by a man about his experiences there's always an aspect of interest there but I'm not sure whether I would call him the ultimate optimist, He seamed extremely droll and at times depressed hardly waht you expect from 'the optimist' also quite a spiritual book but if you appreciate other peoples interpretations of life then deffinatley read it. If you're looking for a book that's optimistic about life, not sure if this is the one.
Some interesting interviews with some very odd/crazy/happily delusioned people, but didn't hold together overall, and ended up making some pretty obvious conclusions. It was frustrating having waded through the whole thing for such a weak conclusion. Would have made a great documentary.
I would not run out and recommend this book to people. It was OK, but the issues were way too global and political, with only a hint of personal optimism. In the end, it was a round-about of the author's quest for finding true optimism without any real answers or "A-ha" moments. Generally, not what I expected. Disappointing!
I couldn't finish this. It isn't a real investigation of the role optimism plays in society or the lives of individuals, and it isn't a genuine search for personal meaning. That would be fine if it were funny, but it isn't.
i got this book free on the good reads giveaway section
not in a million years would i have bought this book as ive already discovered that through and through im a pessimist and nothing will change that.
although i found bits of the book very witty and well written i throughly enjoyed the list at the start of the book.
it has changed my view a little bit of the reasons to be optimistic and i can see me reading this book again v soon!
not in a million years would i have bought this book as ive already discovered that through and through im a pessimist and nothing will change that.
although i found bits of the book very witty and well written i throughly enjoyed the list at the start of the book.
it has changed my view a little bit of the reasons to be optimistic and i can see me reading this book again v soon!
This is one man's search for the secret of optimism. He was feeling low all the time, and decided he needed that jump out of bed feeling. He travelled all over the place, interviewing people who claimed to be optimists.
I spent a lot of time telling the boyfriend (while I was reading) that "I'm an optimist, it's other people who get me down," are not the words of an optimist (this would be the boyfriend, not Laurence Shorter).
I spent a lot of time telling the boyfriend (while I was reading) that "I'm an optimist, it's other people who get me down," are not the words of an optimist (this would be the boyfriend, not Laurence Shorter).
Eh, he was sort of all over the place.
After hearing the interview with the author, I was eager to dive into this book. The first half left me wanting more, but I became more interested once he left the UK and headed to California and India on his quest. It would have been nice to have an index to find his interviews with specific people. Some of the 'optimists' he met with were definitely quirky!
Mar 03, 2010
Nikki-ann
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-won,
first-reads
The title says it all... This book is about Laurence's quest for optimism. It isn't a small quest either, he meets & talks to all kinds of people.
The book is worth giving a go, but while I was interested to see how Laurence did with his quest, the book didn't really intreage me... It wasn't one that I couldn't put down.
Still, it's good to be optimistic!
The book is worth giving a go, but while I was interested to see how Laurence did with his quest, the book didn't really intreage me... It wasn't one that I couldn't put down.
Still, it's good to be optimistic!
I thought the book would be a classic but it really didnt do it for me. But its noteworthy that the author in his quest for answers and search for the truth, even bothered to make an effort.
All in all it passes as the ramblings of an philosophical traveller through the terrains of discovery.
All in all it passes as the ramblings of an philosophical traveller through the terrains of discovery.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Apr 23, 2013
Tiffany Vasquez
is currently reading it
Apr 07, 2013
Colette
marked it as to-read
Jan 04, 2013
Irina Callegher
marked it as to-read
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Mar 05, 2013 09:33pm