The Hope Circuit

A Psychologist's Journey from Helplessness to Optimism

By: Martin E. P. Seligman

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

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.

Critic reviews

"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

A well-detailed narrative.

A well-detailed narrative of Seligman's life/accomplishments within the silhouette of the field of Psychology.

Boring but have some good contents

In general, this is a boring book without a focus. However it does have some valuable contents, such as higher education issues, research, and psychology contents.

Amazing

If you are interested in the history of psychology and the incredible contributions of Dr. Seligman (i.e., Marty), this is your book. As a practicing psychologist and a fellow alumni of the Albany Academy (Dr. Seligman's high school), I found myself completely captured by this autobiography. Dr. Seligman walks you through both his remarkable professional and personal lives, including (but certainly not limited to) learned helplessness, positive psychology, and the hope circuit. This book is a fascinating journey, that has left me encouraged and wishing I could go back to school to get my MAPP!

Me, myself & I!

It is clear that Seligman has made many important contributions that began moving psychology from its pathology focus to resilience, post traumatic growth, and positive psychology! He and his collaborators have begun a monumental transformation of the field. However I felt like he wants the reader to recognize that he is the figurehead of 'positive psychology" and he and PS are synonymous. I found myself wishing for more humility and less tooting of his own horn.

The myriad threads that propelled the field to embrace this transformation tell fascinating story.

Very good. About the history of PP, not it's use

More about the history of positive psychology than anything about how to use it. Keep that in mind. Some early stories about learned helplessness in animal studies I could've done without. I liked it and don't regret picking it up.