The Hope Circuit, Martin E. P. Seligman
The Hope Circuit, Martin E. P. Seligman
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The Hope Circuit
A Psychologist's Journey from Helplessness to Optimism

Author: Martin E. P. Seligman

Narrator: Kevin Stillwell

Unabridged: 13 hr 47 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: PublicAffairs

Published: 04/03/2018

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included

Synopsis

One of the most influential living psychologists looks at the history of his life and discipline, and paints a much brighter future for everyone.

When Martin E. P. Seligman first encountered psychology in the 1960s, the field was devoted to eliminating misery: it was the science of how past trauma creates present symptoms. Today, thanks in large part to Seligman's Positive Psychology movement, it is ever more focused not on what cripples life, but on what makes life worth living -- with profound consequences for our mental health.

In this wise and eloquent memoir, spanning the most transformative years in the history of modern psychology, Seligman recounts how he learned to study optimism -- including a life-changing conversation with his five-year-old daughter. He tells the human stories behind some of his major findings, like CAVE, an analytical tool that predicts election outcomes (with shocking accuracy) based on the language used in campaign speeches, the international spread of Positive Education, the launch of the US Army's huge resilience program, and the canonical studies that birthed the theory of learned helplessness -- which he now reveals was incorrect. And he writes at length for the first time about his own battles with depression at a young age.

In The Hope Circuit, Seligman makes a compelling and deeply personal case for the importance of virtues like hope, gratitude, and wisdom for our mental health. You will walk away from this book not just educated but deeply enriched.

About Martin E. P. Seligman

Martin E. P. Seligman is a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of several books, including Learned Optimism and Authentic Happiness, and is the past president of both the American Psychological Association and its division of clinical psychology.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Marian on March 20, 2021

Turns out you can pioneer positive psychology and contribute significantly to the field and still be incredibly narcissistic. He’s also sexist...appalling how he spoke about women in this book whether they were his students, colleagues, or wives. He left his first wife with two young children for an......more

Goodreads review by Marjorie on May 19, 2018

I'm torn between appreciation - the information that he is researching is beneficial, it's interesting to get a glimpse into the politics of academia, and I learned several new words - and annoyance at how pompous Seligman is. Why does he feel the need to tell us his IQ and that he finished his Ph.D......more

Goodreads review by Pam on June 20, 2019

I found this book interesting and helpful. I am a certified wellness coach. The coaching industry is based on positive psychology. I work with a lot of physicians and I also educate them in how to better coach their patients with chronic disease (namely diabetes). When I speak of the history of coac......more

Goodreads review by Jonathan on February 22, 2019

Martin Seligman’s career began by his studying helplessness and moved gradually to his studying positive characteristics such as optimism. Seligman himself did not evolve from feeling helpless to feeling optimistic. In fact, this autobiography strangely does not draw many connections between Seligma......more

Goodreads review by Arnie on March 24, 2019

Basically an overview of how the author's work has helped to found and lead the field of Positive Psychology. He writes about how his thinking on the subject has evolved over the years. I far prefer his popular books on Positive Psychology and the writings of Tal Ben Shachar, Sonja Lyubomirsky & Mih......more

Quotes

"Here is a major thinker who sees deeply into human nature and tells a good story. In The Hope Circuit, Marty Seligman displays both these gifts. This book is his best writing and thinking yet."—Angela Duckworth, CEO of the Character Lab andbestselling author of Grit

"Martin Seligman is renowned for his contribution to the field of positive psychology-and in this thought-provoking and surprisingly candid memoir, he explains how hard-won his wisdom has been."—Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Projectand The Four Tendencies

"Martin Seligman is an intellectual giant, and readers will look to his memoir The Hope Circuit for secrets to his phenomenal impact as a scholar. What they will find is a deeply human story of his own struggles, hopes and ideas, told in an inspiring way. The Hope Circuit is more than an autobiography; it is handbook for each of us to build a life dedicated to human flourishing."—Arthur C. Brooks, PhD, President of the AmericanEnterprise Institute

"The Hope Circuit is a masterful blend of memoir and recent intellectual history-specifically, the history of trying to understand how we can live richer and more meaningful lives. This book could only have been written by someone who has played a vital role in that inquiry, cares passionately about it, and has the literary skill to carry that passion onto the page. The result is a vivid, bracing and sometimes poignant story of unfolding synergy between a psychologist's life and his work."—Robert Wright, author of Why Buddhism is True

"For half a century Martin Seligman has enlightened and inspired students of the human mind with his arresting findings and his visionary insights. He has been unafraid to plumb the dark recesses of the psyche, but just as bold in illuminating our better angels. This book combines a history of psychology by a man who shaped it, an explanation of powerful ideas about mental life, and a delightfully candid and reflective memoir."—Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology,Harvard University, and the author of How the Mind Works and EnlightenmentNow

"In this revealing memoir, the founder of the Positive Psychology movement recounts the experiences that shaped his work - from early childhood through his academic studies and research to the present. Martin Seligman has transformed the field of psychology to the benefit of all of us. It is fascinating to read the story of how he did that."—Andrew Weil, MD, author of SpontaneousHappiness and Eight Weeks to Optimum Health

"One of our most important psychologists alive takes us on a surprising personal journey-through his own highs and lows, twist and turns, overcoming tremendous obstacles to discover some of the most groundbreaking and iconic concepts in psychology. For a time his concept of 'learned helplessness' dominated the field as we looked to undo the past and now has us looking forward with positive psychology to grow our resilience , gratitude and hope. If you have an interest in the human condition-you will love this book."—John Ratey, author of Spark and Driven toDistraction

"This warm, lively, beautifully written book tells the stories behind some of the grand ideas and developments that have reshaped psychology - as well as the struggles, missteps, conflicts, and misunderstandings that nearly derailed them. Through it all emerges the author's infectious excitement about exploring the human mind and his roaming quest for how to make life better for the mass of humanity."—Roy F. Baumeister, author of Willpower: Rediscoveringthe Greatest Human Strength

"With a mix of humility and insight, Marty Seligman walks us through the full arc of his life, offering his theories on tectonic shifts in both himself and the field of psychology. In The Hope Circuit, Marty uncovers a view of human nature that is as surprising as it is inspiring. Dive in for a fascinating disciplinary history seen through the eyes of one of the most influential psychologists of our time."—Barbara Fredrickson, author of Positivity andLove 2.0

"Marty's book is not an autobiography. It's a personalized, guided tour through the mind and consciousness of genius. I thought I knew my friend from our many years of association. But not until I read The Hope Circuit did I really understand how Marty's life is a reflection of the unimaginable purity of one man's creative and unparalleled intellect."—Major General Robert Scales (retired)

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