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 with George Bush’s ‘mission accomplished’? Optimism, irrational though it might seem, is central to the human psyche: it appears to provide us with an […]
I’ll be in Amsterdam for a couple of days for the Dutch launch of THE BRIGHT SIDE: EEN OPTIMISTISCHE GESCHIEDENIS VAN DE MENSHEID. For advance copies, interview requests and media opportunities, please contact Sylvie Steffers at Alfabet Uitgevers.
At a time when cynicism is often mistaken for honesty, and being honest about the state of things can mean sinking into despair, what is the role of optimism? Can we afford to be optimistic? Astrophysicist-turned-journalist Sumit Paul-Choudhury’s answer to the latter is a resounding yes. In The Bright Side : Why Optimists Have the […]
Discover why optimism, irrational though it might seem, is not only a natural human trait but a vital one for our survival. Join Sumit Paul-Choudhury, astrophysicist-turned-journalist and former editor-in-chief of New Scientist, as he presents his groundbreaking debut book, The Bright Side. In this thought-provoking talk, Sumit weaves together stories from Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition […]
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 […]
An online event for UK civil servants, from the Open Innovation Team
Sumit Paul-Choudhury will be at the Oxford Literary Festival to talk about the power of optimism with broadcaster and author Matthew Stadlen.
Come and hear about reasons to be cheerful from two professional optimists: Sumit Paul-Choudhury, former editor-in-chief of New Scientist, is author of The Bright Side: Why Optimists Have the Power to Change the World and “reluctant futurist” Mark Stevenson, author of “The Optimist’s Guide to the Future”. Together, they’ll explain why things aren’t as bad as they might seem – and how they could be even better.
If you think the outlook is bleak, come and hear some much-needed new perspective on our prospects as Isabel Losada and Sumit Paul-Choudhury discuss their good vibes with Director of Positive News Martin Wright.
Sumit Paul-Choudhury will be in conversation with Bruce Hood, Chair of Developmental Psychology at Bristol University where the “Science of Happiness” programme was developed.
An intimate one-day conference for 100 ambitious change-makers who wholeheartedly believe that humans can imagine and create radically better futures
Astrophysicist-turned-journalist, and former Editor-in- Chief of the New Scientist, 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.