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The Optimist’s Telescope
336 pages, 2019
science & nature
1064 books
psychology
705 booksA trailblazing exploration of how we can think more strategically and effectively about the future--our own, our families, and our societies. Many of us never learned--or have forgotten--how to make smart, long-term decisions, so we avoid making them.
In a world where immediate satisfaction is the norm, it is easy to do. Whether it's decisions about our health (our chronic overuse of antibiotics has triggered a shocking rise in immunity to them), our finances (20% of us have nothing saved for retirement), or our jobs (we slash R and D to improve short-term balance sheets and then can't keep pace with competitors), we avoid mastering the skills to make smart choices about the future.
Yet today more than ever, we need to understand how to make such choices--for ourselves, our families, and the world. Bina Venkataraman understands this. As a former senior advisor in the Obama administration, she led efforts to build partnerships between government and business to combat climate change, and she learned firsthand that we have forgotten how to talk about thinking ahead.
Bina Venkataraman emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking in decision-making. She encourages us to look beyond immediate gratification and consider the future consequences of our actions. This perspective can lead to better decisions in our personal lives, businesses, and societies.
In The Optimist’s Telescope, Venkataraman explores the role of innovation in shaping our future. She suggests that we need to embrace new technologies and ideas to solve complex problems and create a sustainable future.
The author highlights the importance of community in shaping our future. She believes that collective action and shared responsibility are key to addressing global challenges. So, let's dig into how we can foster stronger communities and work together for a better future.
Venkataraman argues that optimism is not just a mindset, but a tool for envisioning a better future. She encourages us to use optimism as a telescope to see the potential in ourselves and the world around us. Check out how optimism can empower us to take action and make positive changes.
The book also explores the need for sustainable practices in our daily lives and businesses. The author suggests that we need to rethink our consumption patterns and find ways to reduce our environmental impact. Let's take a look at how we can implement these practices and contribute to a sustainable future.
