The author, a renowned research psychoanalyst, challenges the idea that optimism is genetic, arguing instead that experiences in the first three years of life often shape the neural pathways in the brain.

Review

Crack open Susan Vaughan's Half Empty, Half Full, check out the fat margins and the relatively large type size, and you might think one of two things: You'll either say, "Great! This'll be a quick read!" or you'll say to yourself, "What is this, a self-help book? This can't be science". Either way, optimist or pessimist, you're going to be at least half right. But--as Vaughan ultimately makes clear--it's the optimist who's going to win out on this one. A Hah-vard-trained research analyst and frequent contributor to Harper's Bazaar, the inarguably insightful Vaughan ably straddles the fence between self-help and applied psychology. Her thesis boils down to this: Some of us are lucky enough to be trained as optimists in our formative years, but for the rest of us worry-worts, fear not--optimism can be learned. Alternating between dry papers like "Mood congruent memory biases in anxiety and depression" and pop-psych concepts like Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's early 1990s notion of "flow", Vaughan comforts the afflicted with thoughtful explanations (often drawing from her experience as a therapist) and concrete advice--assuming, of course, you can get past her sometimes cloying references to "Tiggers" and "Eeyores".

Half Empty, Half Full is good news for pessimists, and even good science, a timely summary of the state of neuroscience as it bolsters many theories of what Vaughan describes as the "positive psychology movement". The anti-depressant Paxil, early cortico-limbic development, desperation in milk-treading lab rats, even Cocoa Crispies ("which are apparently like ambrosia to rats")--they're all here and, thanks to Vaughan, good reading and a compelling argument for not simply chalking up pessimism to factors beyond our control. --Paul Hughes

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Online sellers of rare, out-of-print and used books, prints, maps and ephemera for 30 years

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Dorley House Books, Inc.
155 Cumberland St., P.O. Box 138, Clear Spring, MD, 21722, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Please email any questions to us. CWO. Photos/scans available on request for books, prints and maps over $15.00. All books are returnable within thirty days if returned in the same condition as sent& with good reason. We prefer checks, money orders, or Paypal. All items subject to prior sale.We are a PC, 100% owned by Sandra & Jeffrey Inskeep-Fox

Right of cancellation

If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, Dorley House Books, Inc., 155 Cumberland St., P.O. Box 138, 21722, Clear Spring, Maryland, U.S.A., 1 818-818-2204, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

Effects of cancellation

If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or Dorley House Books, Inc., 155 Cumberland St., P.O. Box 138, 21722, Clear Spring, Maryland, U.S.A., 1 818-818-2204, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of cancellation

The right of cancellation does not apply to:

the delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
the supply of digital content (including ebooks) which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not cancel it once delivery had started.

Model withdrawal form

(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)

To: (Dorley House Books, Inc., 155 Cumberland St., P.O. Box 138, 21722, Clear Spring, Maryland, U.S.A., 1 818-818-2204)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

Address of consumer(s)

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

* Delete as appropriate.

Shipping Terms

Domestic Media Mail is $4.85, Priority $7.3. Canadian orders add $8.00. To other locations, global priority $25 for flat rate envelopes. Orders over $45.00 must be insured at buyer's expense, others can be insured if requested and at buyer's expense. Orders usually ship within 2 business days. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required. Please note that there is no longer an economy surface shipping to overseas locations.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	5 to 20 business days	3 to 6 business days
First item	� 6.47	� 10.10

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.