A GUARDIAN 'BOOK TO READ IN 2025' 'A truly inspirational and beautiful book with a powerful
and timely message for today's society' - JIM AL-KHALILI Optimism irrational though it
might be is central to the human psyche: it seems to give us an advantage both in everyday
life and in the evolutionary race. What does Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition have in
common with the chicken that crossed the road? Or James Baldwin's campaign for civil rights
with the development of AI? Or even Crossrail and George Bush's 'mission accomplished'? The
Bright Side makes a vital and transformative new argument: that optimism is not only the
natural state of humanity but an essential one. Without optimism we would never have survived
the unpredictable - and often hostile - world we evolved into. Yet optimism is not reserved for
times of extremity. Its benefits manifest throughout our everyday lives: our relationships
careers bodies and minds. And it will play a critical role in overcoming the challenges of the
twenty-first century. In this book astrophysicist-turned-journalist 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.
