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Learned Optimism

How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

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Learned Optimism

By: Martin E. P. Seligman
Narrated by: Martin E. P. Seligman
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About this listen

 ARE YOU HOLDING YOURSELF BACK?
Without knowing it, most of us impose limits on our achievement and our happiness by approaching life's problems and challenges with unnecessary pessimism. Now, Dr. Martin Seligman, a pioneer in cognitive psychology and motivational research, tells you how to identify your own self-defeating thought patterns -- and how to harness the powers of your conscious mind to break those patterns.
The Science of Personal Control
Based on years of rigorous research, Learned Optimism examines the importance of "explanatory style" -- the way in which we explain our problems and setbacks to ourselves -- and offers a series of exercises that will help you target unhealthy habits of pessimistic thinking and bring them under your control. More powerful and pragmatic than a simple program of positive thinking, Dr. Seligman's principles of reasoned, flexible optimism will help you:
* Attain maximum personal achievement
* Avoid feelings of helplessness and depression
* Develop a hopeful, healthy outlook
"A Marvelous Achievement!
Learned Optimism blends hard-edged science with practical advice to give us an understanding of how we hold ourselves back and how we can change for the better."
-- Dr. Wayne Dyer©1991 Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved; (P)1991 Simon & Schuster Audio, All Rights Reserved; SOUND IDEAS Is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc. Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Health Inspiring Mental Health
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Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

If you really want to get into this book/subject, best to get the hardcopy as it refers to some 'exercises' that need to be done prior to continuing. Rather pointless if you don't have the extra papers they refer to.

Too text book

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This book showed me that being positive is not the same as being optimistic, that it is more useful to have a different approach to how you view ypur successes and your faillures, and that you can improve your optimism through a couple of simple techniques.

Very Worthwhile!

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This book is only an hour long. It gets straight to the point and drives a simple yet effective message that opens your eyes and allows you to instantly apply what you’ve learnt and start improving your thoughts. Honestly, I wouldn’t leave a review unless it was that helpful. Thanks.

Quick and practical

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The book is pretty practical and succinct. But the test is pretty awful, any answer could work in most cases and the scoring feels arbitrary. I also disagree with how the book tells you that if you always blame external circumstances rather than your own agency, you'll be in a better mood and otherwise unaffected. The first two parts about persistence and pervasiveness were quite insightful.

useful, but could be more

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Simple, easy to understand principles and explanations. Google search the 48 questions for the test.

Short and sweet

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