LEARNED OPTIMISM

In addition to the author’s narration of this volume, there’s a female voice that delivers various scenarios, activity explanations, and chapters introductions. This groundbreaking book by Seligman tackles the differences between optimists and pessimists—and the importance of optimism in achieving happiness and success. Seligman covers most of the work, maintaining a steady, explanatory delivery that strives for a neutral tone. He takes his time delineating the various aspects of both personality types, telling story after story to illustrate his points. His measured pace and personal tone give the listener the feeling of sitting in an armchair in his office. Be sure to have the personality test—either the PDF or online version—on hand while listening. M.R. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2011]