The Facts of Life

It's easier – and definitely more fashionable these days – to be a pessimist rather than an optimist. Any newspaper or news bulletin will be happy to supply you with depressing stories in quantity. War, terrorism, floods, famine, child abuse. It almost makes you wish for the the end of the human race and the end of the world.

But there is another side to reality. The Optimist's Handbook (ISBN: 9781905641291) delivers the facts and figures to prove that things are not that bad. They may not be as good as t they could be, but there's plenty of cause for hope. There's encouraging news to pass on about politics, climate change and even death.

This is a serious book with a light tone. It's meant for browsing through or dipping into, although there's no reason why you shouldn't read it cover to cover.

If you don't believe this is the best of all possible worlds, show me one that's better.

Order the book direct from the publishers if you don't have a local independent bookshop.

More about the book: FAQ

Read an excerpt

Last updated January 2008.
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