Sumit Paul-Choudhury, a former Editor-in-Chief of New Scientist and founder of the creative studio Alternity, dives deep into the science of optimism. He discusses how optimism can boost health, happiness, and success while sharing personal anecdotes of its transformative power after tragedy. Listeners will learn practical strategies to cultivate a long-term optimistic mindset and how to balance optimism with realism in decision-making. His insights are backed by research, making a compelling case for optimism as a superpower in both life and work.
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Optimism Born From Tragedy
Sumit Paul-Choudhury realized he was an optimist after his first wife died of cancer.
He adopted optimism as a coping mechanism, believing the future would be better despite the pain.
insights INSIGHT
Irrational Optimism Yields Benefits
Optimism is psychologically irrational but benefits life outcomes.
Optimistic people tend to live longer, healthier, happier, and more successful lives.
insights INSIGHT
Optimists See Hidden Opportunities
Optimists recognize hidden positive possibilities and stay open to them.
Pessimists dismiss these chances, which limits their outcomes and growth.
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The Bright Side: How Optimists Change the World, and How You Can Be One
Sumit Paul-Choudhury
Candide
François-Marie Arouet
Voltaire
Candide, written by Voltaire, is a satirical novel that critiques metaphysical optimism, particularly the philosophy of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. The story revolves around Candide, a naive and optimistic young man who is expelled from his home after an illicit affair with the baron's daughter, Cunégonde. Candide and his companions, including his tutor Pangloss, experience a series of horrific events such as wars, earthquakes, slavery, and other atrocities. Despite these hardships, Pangloss persists in his belief that 'all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.' The novel ultimately concludes with Candide and his friends settling on a farm in Turkey, where they find happiness by focusing on practical, everyday tasks rather than philosophical speculations. Voltaire uses satire to lampoon various aspects of 18th-century society, including science, philosophy, religion, and government[2][3][5].
Sumit Paul-Choudhury shares the science behind optimism and why it gives people an advantage in the long term.
— YOU’LL LEARN —
1) The case for optimism
2) How to train your brain to become an optimist
3) How to direct your optimism to where you need it most
Sumit Paul-Choudhury writes, thinks, and dreams about science, technology, and the future. A former Editor-in-Chief of New Scientist, he trained as an astrophysicist, has worked as a financial journalist, and, at the London Business School, received a Sloan Fellowship in strategy and leadership. Currently, he devotes most of his time to his creative studio Alternity, which puts the ideas in this book into scientific and artistic practice. He lives and works in London.
How to Be Awesome at Your Job 
