Opting For Optimism

Download Opting For Optimism full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online Opting For Optimism ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!

Opting for Optimism

Author : Gary D. Moyer
Publisher : Fulton Books, Inc.
ISBN 13 : 1638601593
Total Pages : 136 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (386 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Opting for Optimism by : Gary D. Moyer

Download or read book Opting for Optimism written by Gary D. Moyer and published by Fulton Books, Inc.. This book was released on 2022-04-04 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Simply Captivating" - Tom Ziglar, CEO of Zig Ziglar Let's face it: we live in a predominantly negative world, and it seems to be getting worse. You see it in the economy, our politics, and our relationships. It's evident in the social unrest and the social media. And it's easy to get caught in the current of negativity and swept away in pessimism. When that happens it can make our lives and those around us less than joyful - even downright miserable. Been there? What's worse - if you happen to be a Bible believer who struggles with negativity you can feel ashamed - especially if you've been told that people of faith should be happy all the time. Maybe some of the "optimists" you've met have been so extreme in their positivity they're scary. Or, perhaps you're just simply not a natural optimist and want to learn how to have a happier, more fulfilling life. If any of this sounds familiar - get ready for some good news. There is hope! There are things you can do to become more optimistic. You can actually choose optimism! Gary D. Moyer is living proof. Gary grew up with a negative mindset -a natural talent for finding the downside to life. Today he is known as an optimist and encourager, sharing with people everywhere how to embrace a more positive life. This book is not just a compilation of some nice ideas about optimism, but is results-oriented, giving practical steps you can take right away to begin a new, optimistic, more fulfilling life - including the "missing link" other self-help books miss, to help convert your learning into action.

Optimistic Parenting

Author : Vincent M. Durand
Publisher : Brookes Publishing Company
ISBN 13 : 9781598570526
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (75 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Optimistic Parenting by : Vincent M. Durand

Download or read book Optimistic Parenting written by Vincent M. Durand and published by Brookes Publishing Company. This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Happier lives. Less stress. Family harmony. That's what all parents of children with challenging behavior want. Learn how to get there with this groundbreaking guide to confident, skillful, and positive parenting. A book you'll want to share with every family you know, Optimistic Parenting helps moms, dads, and other caregivers develop more positive thoughts and perceptions--a key ingredient of successful parenting and effective behavior management. One of the most highly regarded experts on challenging behavior--and a parent himself--Dr. V. Mark Durand delivers both philosophical hope and practical help to parents of children with a wide range of challenges. With keen insight, gentle humor, and practical tools and strategies, Durand guides parents step by step through the process of pinpointing the "why" behind challenging behavior tuning in to their own thoughts, emotions, and self-talk understanding how their thoughts affect their interactions with their child interrupting negative thoughts and replacing them with positive, productive ones achieving a healthy balance between taking care of their own needs and their child's needs using effective emergency strategies when quick behavior intervention is needed implementing long-term strategies for lasting behavior improvements weaving functional communication training into everyday routines and interactions addressing the most common problem areas, such as sleep and transitions increasing mindfulness and parenting "in the moment" Engaging stories from the author's extensive experience illustrate how parents and other caregivers can develop more effective behavior management techniques. And practical tools and exercises, developed and tested during Durand's decades of work with thousands of parents, help families on their own journey to better parenting and happier lives. A lifeline for overwhelmed parents--and a great source of insight for the professionals who work with them--this highly motivating guidebook will help families reduce children's challenging behaviors and approach the future with optimism and confidence.

The Power of Optimism

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 95 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (13 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Power of Optimism by :

Download or read book The Power of Optimism written by and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 95 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Contagious Optimism

Author : David Mezzapelle
Publisher : Cleis Press
ISBN 13 : 1936740419
Total Pages : 411 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (367 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Contagious Optimism by : David Mezzapelle

Download or read book Contagious Optimism written by David Mezzapelle and published by Cleis Press. This book was released on 2013-06-11 with total page 411 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: David Mezzapelle was inspired to write this uplifting book based on his life's experiences and his own contagious optimism. He has influenced many people with his outlook and this book offers optimism to others around the globe. Contagious Optimism includes stories and parables of amazing life turnarounds from real people world-wide. A compendium of encouragement, Contagious Optimism also includes advice and guidance from business leaders, visionaries and professionals. Nowadays, many people have lost confidence in themselves and the world around them due to personal hardship along with economic and political uncertainty worldwide. Contagious Optimism shows readers that it’s possible to FIND the silver lining in every cloud. Developed by the team that brought you Random Acts of Kindness, this book is like Chicken Soup for the Soul meets Pay It Forward, on steroids! Contagious Optimism is pure inspiration that will lift hearts, open minds, and create a movement of pass-it-on hope and happiness. Featured stories and endorsements from "contagious optimists" such as: Michael Beckwith - Founder of the single largest interfaith church in America: LA's Agape. Nancy Ferrari - The "Oprah of AM Radio" Daniel Tully - Chairman Emeritus of Merrill Lynch and one of the top executives to ever grace Wall Street.

The Optimism Bias

Author : Tali Sharot
Publisher : Vintage
ISBN 13 : 0307379833
Total Pages : 273 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (73 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Optimism Bias by : Tali Sharot

Download or read book The Optimism Bias written by Tali Sharot and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2011-06-14 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Psychologists have long been aware that most people maintain an irrationally positive outlook on life—but why? Turns out, we might be hardwired that way. In this absorbing exploration, Tali Sharot—one of the most innovative neuroscientists at work today—demonstrates that optimism may be crucial to human existence. The Optimism Bias explores how the brain generates hope and what happens when it fails; how the brains of optimists and pessimists differ; why we are terrible at predicting what will make us happy; how emotions strengthen our ability to recollect; how anticipation and dread affect us; how our optimistic illusions affect our financial, professional, and emotional decisions; and more. Drawing on cutting-edge science, The Optimism Bias provides us with startling new insight into the workings of the brain and the major role that optimism plays in determining how we live our lives.

10 Habits of Truly Optimistic People

Author : David Mezzapelle
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1632280116
Total Pages : 276 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (322 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis 10 Habits of Truly Optimistic People by : David Mezzapelle

Download or read book 10 Habits of Truly Optimistic People written by David Mezzapelle and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2015-03-17 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Author and business leader David Mezzapelle, author of 2013's best-selling Contagious Optimism, is on a mission to get people to "power their lives with the positive." He has worked with top influencers, business people, and others and observed that each one of these folks had a few things in common — they overcame obstacles, looked forward instead of backwards, made mistakes and learned from them, and, most of all, they stayed positive no matter what. In this silver linings playbook, readers can learn the secrets to living a life filled with joy, abundance, forward momentum, and contagious optimism. Learning these ten habits can jumpstart your life in the same day! The excellent advice, inspiring stories, suggested actions, and insights from David Mezzapelle and his contributors will help readers become unstoppable optimists.

Optimists Always Win!

Author : Kimberly S. Reed
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 075732357X
Total Pages : 176 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (573 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Optimists Always Win! by : Kimberly S. Reed

Download or read book Optimists Always Win! written by Kimberly S. Reed and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2021-01-12 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Difficulties and struggles are unavoidable in life, but a person has complete control over one’s personal response to the situation. This book offers readers a plan for responding with optimism for both the challenges and blessings that come their way. Our brain’s default setting is negativity. Ask anyone who has ever tried to lose weight, achieve a new skill, or incorporate a new habit and they can tell you that our natural tendency is to levitate toward mediocrity. However, optimism overpowers that negativity or tendency to be mediocre. International speaker and diversity/inclusion strategist Kimberly Reed’s book Optimists Always Win!: Unlocking the Power to Reach Life’s C-Suite isn’t merely motivational mumbo jumbo. It is designed to help readers develop a process to stay optimistic all the time. Reaching life’s C-Suite means obtaining a level of happiness, peace, wisdom and growth in all areas of our lives. It’s choosing optimism instead of anger, bitterness, or revenge. The life events that unfold for Reed in Optimists Always Win! will do just that—challenge anyone facing what seems to be an impossible situation and show that victory is absolutely possible. Her heroic battle with her mother’s terminal illness and sudden loss as well as her subsequent battle with cancer will encourage others that one doesn’t have to face adversity with pessimism or hopelessness. Relying heavily on her faith in God and the optimism that she learned to cultivate, Kimberly Reed teaches her readers the ten discouragement eliminators she used, which helped her succeed not just in her fight against cancer but as she lives each day as her best self. The message of this book is simple: difficulties and struggles are unavoidable in life, but a person has complete control over one’s personal response to the situation. Readers of this book will discover the following ten tools to eliminate discouragement, grow their faith, and engage an optimistic attitude for their own battles with the wisdom Kimberly was taught and subsequently put into practice during her own diagnosis and ultimate victory. They include: · Discouragement Eliminator #1: Staying Away from Kryptonite · Discouragement Eliminator #2: Defining Your Life’s C-Suite · Discouragement Eliminator #3: Quieting the Soul · Discouragement Eliminator #4: Gratitude · Discouragement Eliminator #5: Faith at the Speed of Light · Discouragement Eliminator #6: Unlocking Your Y.E.S. (You Empower Self) Factor. · Discouragement Eliminator #7: Be Willing to Give What You Require · Discouragement Eliminator #8: The Art of Becoming a Chameleon · Discouragement Eliminator #9: The Power of Your Rearview Mirror · Discouragement Eliminator #10: Taking the Elevator to Life’s C-Suite These tools will help develop the fortitude to face every area of life with faith and optimism. All Book Royalties Are Being Donated to a Premier Academic Research Institution for Integrated Breast Cancer Fund and Patient Care, and American Cancer Society AstraZeneca Hope Lodge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Science of Self-Hypnosis

Author : Adam Eason
Publisher : Awake Media Productions
ISBN 13 : 9780957566712
Total Pages : 458 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (667 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Science of Self-Hypnosis by : Adam Eason

Download or read book The Science of Self-Hypnosis written by Adam Eason and published by Awake Media Productions. This book was released on 2013-11 with total page 458 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Science of Self-Hypnosis: " The Evidence Based Way To Hypnotise Yourself" is a book written for anyone wanting to learn about self-hypnosis and how to use it. This book is ideal for anyone; ranging from beginners who are new to the field of self-hypnosis, to experienced clinicians hoping to teach patients how to use self-hypnosis for therapeutic gain. Contained within this book are a range of methods for anyone to apply: to achieve a hypnotic mindset, develop hypnotic skills, induce self-hypnosis, deepen the experience of hypnosis, apply a range of evidence-based techniques and strategies for self-improvement and then exit hypnosis. The book offers a modern historical explanation of the development of this fascinating field as well as serving as a guidebook for practical application. All of this is done by dispensing with notions of an 'unconscious mind' or a 'special trance state', instead showing hypnosis to be an ordinary skill that anyone can learn, to be good at and derive benefit from. As the book title suggests, it adheres to research findings and the evidence-base available as much as possible while offering up a substantial literature review of this topic. The second half of the book looks specifically at applying self-hypnosis for stress management, anxiety reduction, depression, pain control and sleep enhancement; all showcasing techniques which can be applied to a range of other issues too. This is a comprehensive volume that aims to result in it's readers becoming proficient self-hypnotists. Adam ends his book with these words: In my opinion, there are not enough people in the world who have these skills. Self-hypnotists have the opportunity to make real beneficial changes that make each day an exciting prospect; the self-hypnosis adventure and exploration starts here. That indeed is an exciting prospect!

Rock, Bone, and Ruin

Author : Adrian Currie
Publisher : MIT Press
ISBN 13 : 0262037262
Total Pages : 384 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (62 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Rock, Bone, and Ruin by : Adrian Currie

Download or read book Rock, Bone, and Ruin written by Adrian Currie and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2018-02-16 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An argument that we should be optimistic about the capacity of “methodologically omnivorous” geologists, paleontologists, and archaeologists to uncover truths about the deep past. The “historical sciences”—geology, paleontology, and archaeology—have made extraordinary progress in advancing our understanding of the deep past. How has this been possible, given that the evidence they have to work with offers mere traces of the past? In Rock, Bone, and Ruin, Adrian Currie explains that these scientists are “methodological omnivores,” with a variety of strategies and techniques at their disposal, and that this gives us every reason to be optimistic about their capacity to uncover truths about prehistory. Creative and opportunistic paleontologists, for example, discovered and described a new species of prehistoric duck-billed platypus from a single fossilized tooth. Examining the complex reasoning processes of historical science, Currie also considers philosophical and scientific reflection on the relationship between past and present, the nature of evidence, contingency, and scientific progress. Currie draws on varied examples from across the historical sciences, from Mayan ritual sacrifice to giant Mesozoic fleas to Mars's mysterious watery past, to develop an account of the nature of, and resources available to, historical science. He presents two major case studies: the emerging explanation of sauropod size, and the “snowball earth” hypothesis that accounts for signs of glaciation in Neoproterozoic tropics. He develops the Ripple Model of Evidence to analyze “unlucky circumstances” in scientific investigation; examines and refutes arguments for pessimism about the capacity of the historical sciences, defending the role of analogy and arguing that simulations have an experiment-like function. Currie argues for a creative, open-ended approach, “empirically grounded” speculation.

Bright-sided

Author : Barbara Ehrenreich
Publisher : Macmillan
ISBN 13 : 0805087494
Total Pages : 252 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (5 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Bright-sided by : Barbara Ehrenreich

Download or read book Bright-sided written by Barbara Ehrenreich and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2009-10-13 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Exposes the downside of America's penchant for positive thinking, which the author believes leads to self-blame and a preoccupation with stamping out "negative" thoughts on a personal level, and, on a national level, has brought on economic disaster.

Always Looking Up

Author : Michael J. Fox
Publisher : Random House
ISBN 13 : 144640854X
Total Pages : 288 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (464 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Always Looking Up by : Michael J. Fox

Download or read book Always Looking Up written by Michael J. Fox and published by Random House. This book was released on 2011-05-31 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'At the turn from our bedroom into the hallway, there is an old full-length mirror in a wooden frame ... This reflected version of myself, shaking, rumpled, pinched and slightly stooped, would be alarming were it not for the self-satisfied expression pasted across my face. I would ask the obvious question, "What are you smiling about?" but I already know the answer: "It just gets better from here."' Struck with Parkinson's - a debilitating, degenerative disease - at the height of his fame, Michael J. Fox has taken what some might consider cause for depression and turned it into a beacon of hope for millions. In Always Looking Up, Michael's Sunday Times bestselling memoir, he writes with warmth, humour and incredible honesty about the journey he has undertaken since he came to terms with his condition.

Dream Teams

Author : Shane Snow
Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 0735217807
Total Pages : 306 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (352 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Dream Teams by : Shane Snow

Download or read book Dream Teams written by Shane Snow and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2018-06-05 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Award-winning entrepreneur and journalist Shane Snow reveals the counterintuitive reasons why so many partnerships and groups break down--and why some break through. The best teams are more than the sum of their parts, but why does collaboration so often fail to fulfill this promise? In Dream Teams, Snow takes us on an adventure through history, neuroscience, psychology, and business, exploring what separates groups that simply get by together from those that get better together. You'll learn: * How ragtag teams--from soccer clubs to startups to gangs of pirates--beat the odds throughout history. * Why DaimlerChrysler flopped while the Wu-Tang Clan succeeded, and the surprising factor behind most failed mergers, marriages, and partnerships. * What the Wright Brothers' daily arguments can teach us about group problem solving. * Pioneering women in law enforcement, unlikely civil rights collaborators, and underdog armies that did the incredible together. * The team players behind great social movements in history, and the science of becoming open-minded. Provocative and entertaining, Dream Teams is a landmark work that will change the way we think about people, progress, and collaboration.

Growing Young

Author : Marta Zaraska
Publisher : Appetite by Random House
ISBN 13 : 0525610197
Total Pages : 288 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (256 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Growing Young by : Marta Zaraska

Download or read book Growing Young written by Marta Zaraska and published by Appetite by Random House. This book was released on 2020-06-16 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NATIONAL BESTSELLER A smart, research-driven case for why optimism, kindness, and strong social networks will help us live to 100. From the day her daughter was born, science journalist Marta Zaraska fretted about what she and her family were eating. She fasted, considered adopting the keto diet, and ran a half-marathon. She bought goji berries and chia seeds and ate organic food. But then her research brought her to read countless scientific papers and to interview dozens of experts in various fields of study, including molecular biochemistry, epidemiology and neuroscience. What Marta discovered shattered her long-held beliefs about aging and longevity. A strong support network of family and friends, she learned, lowers mortality risk by about 45 percent, while exercise only lowers it by about 23 percent. Volunteering your free time lowers it by 22 percent or so, while certain health fads like turmeric haven't been shown to help at all. These revelations led Marta Zaraska to a simple conclusion: In addition to healthy nutrition and physical activity, deepening friendships, practicing empathy and contemplating your purpose in life can improve your lifespan. Through eleven chapters that take her around the world, from catching wild mice in the woods of central England to flower arranging with octogenarians in Japan, from laboratories to "hugging centres," Marta embarks on an absorbing, entertaining and insightful journey to determine the habits that will have the greatest impact on our longevity. Deeply researched and expertly reported, Growing Young will dramatically change the way you seek a longer, happier life.

Thriving in Healthcare

Author : Gary Simonds
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781622181087
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (81 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Thriving in Healthcare by : Gary Simonds

Download or read book Thriving in Healthcare written by Gary Simonds and published by . This book was released on 2019-07-09 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A happy, long-lasting career in healthcare requires more than just mental fortitude.Far too often, you hear of colleagues leaving healthcare; they're burnt out, their work stress has crept into their home life, and they just need some respite. Meanwhile, their responsibilities are dispersed amongst the remaining team, and the cycle is perpetuated by the added work, lack of resources, and feelings of inadequacy. In Thriving in Healthcare, Drs. Simonds and Sotile provide a "survival guide for the psyche," packed with insights and strategies to help you develop the resilience needed to succeed and grow-both personally and professionally-in the modern healthcare industry. Based on their decades of experience coaching healthcare professionals, and building upon their findings from a five-year resilience development program at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Simonds and Sotile bring solutions to the top barriers healthcare professionals face, including:¿Debunking the myth of work-life balance and, rather, finding the blend that works for you¿Hardwiring healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with on-the-job stressors ¿Fostering a collaborative and joyful workplace culture that encourages teamworkHealthcare is one of the hardest-and most rewarding-professions. However, you can't help others if you don't take care of yourself. It's time to take charge of your path and own your future career, happiness, and results.

Brain Rules for Aging Well

Author : John Medina
Publisher : Pear Press
ISBN 13 : 0998919225
Total Pages : 222 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (989 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Brain Rules for Aging Well by : John Medina

Download or read book Brain Rules for Aging Well written by John Medina and published by Pear Press. This book was released on 2017-10-03 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How come I can never find my keys? Why don't I sleep as well as I used to? Why do my friends keep repeating the same stories? What can I do to keep my brain sharp? Scientists know. Brain Rules for Aging Well, by developmental molecular biologist Dr. John Medina, gives you the facts, and the prescription to age well, in his signature engaging style. With so many discoveries over the years, science is literally changing our minds about the optimal care and feeding of the brain. All of it is captivating. A great deal of it is unexpected. In his New York Times best seller Brain Rules, Medina showed us how our brains really work, and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools to match. In Brain Rules for Baby, he gave parents the brain science they need to know to raise happy, smart, moral kids. Now, in Brain Rules for Aging Well, Medina shares how you can make the most of the years you have left. In a book destined to be a classic on aging, Medina's fascinating stories and infectious sense of humor breathe life into the science. Brain Rules for Aging Well is organized into four sections, each laying out familiar problems with surprising solutions. First up, the social brain, in which topics ranging from relationships to happiness and gullibility illustrate how our emotions change with age. The second section focuses on the thinking brain, explaining how working memory and executive function change with time. The third section is all about your body: how certain kinds of exercise, diets, and sleep can slow the decline of aging. Each section is sprinkled with practical advice, for example, the fascinating benefits of dancing, and the brain science behind each intervention. The final section is about the future. Your future. Medina connects all the chapters into a plan for maintaining your brain health. You may already be experiencing the sometimes-unpleasant effects of the aging process. Or you may be deeply concerned about your loved ones who are. Either way, Brain Rules for Aging Well is for you.

Energy and Civilization

Author : Vaclav Smil
Publisher : MIT Press
ISBN 13 : 0262536161
Total Pages : 564 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (625 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Energy and Civilization by : Vaclav Smil

Download or read book Energy and Civilization written by Vaclav Smil and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2018-11-13 with total page 564 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society throughout history, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel–driven civilization. "I wait for new Smil books the way some people wait for the next 'Star Wars' movie. In his latest book, Energy and Civilization: A History, he goes deep and broad to explain how innovations in humans' ability to turn energy into heat, light, and motion have been a driving force behind our cultural and economic progress over the past 10,000 years. —Bill Gates, Gates Notes, Best Books of the Year Energy is the only universal currency; it is necessary for getting anything done. The conversion of energy on Earth ranges from terra-forming forces of plate tectonics to cumulative erosive effects of raindrops. Life on Earth depends on the photosynthetic conversion of solar energy into plant biomass. Humans have come to rely on many more energy flows—ranging from fossil fuels to photovoltaic generation of electricity—for their civilized existence. In this monumental history, Vaclav Smil provides a comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel–driven civilization. Humans are the only species that can systematically harness energies outside their bodies, using the power of their intellect and an enormous variety of artifacts—from the simplest tools to internal combustion engines and nuclear reactors. The epochal transition to fossil fuels affected everything: agriculture, industry, transportation, weapons, communication, economics, urbanization, quality of life, politics, and the environment. Smil describes humanity's energy eras in panoramic and interdisciplinary fashion, offering readers a magisterial overview. This book is an extensively updated and expanded version of Smil's Energy in World History (1994). Smil has incorporated an enormous amount of new material, reflecting the dramatic developments in energy studies over the last two decades and his own research over that time.

Cruel Optimism

Author : Lauren Berlant
Publisher : Duke University Press Books
ISBN 13 : 9780822351115
Total Pages : 352 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (511 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Cruel Optimism by : Lauren Berlant

Download or read book Cruel Optimism written by Lauren Berlant and published by Duke University Press Books. This book was released on 2011-10-27 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A relation of cruel optimism exists when something you desire is actually an obstacle to your flourishing. Offering bold new ways of conceiving the present, Lauren Berlant describes the cruel optimism that has prevailed since the 1980s, as the social-democratic promise of the postwar period in the United States and Europe has retracted. People have remained attached to unachievable fantasies of the good life—with its promises of upward mobility, job security, political and social equality, and durable intimacy—despite evidence that liberal-capitalist societies can no longer be counted on to provide opportunities for individuals to make their lives “add up to something.” Arguing that the historical present is perceived affectively before it is understood in any other way, Berlant traces affective and aesthetic responses to the dramas of adjustment that unfold amid talk of precarity, contingency, and crisis. She suggests that our stretched-out present is characterized by new modes of temporality, and she explains why trauma theory—with its focus on reactions to the exceptional event that shatters the ordinary—is not useful for understanding the ways that people adjust over time, once crisis itself has become ordinary. Cruel Optimism is a remarkable affective history of the present.