The Hope Circuit: A Psychologist's Journey from Helplessness to Optimism

Since 2002 I have read five of Martin Seligman's books: Authentic Happiness, Flourish, Learned Optimism, What You Can Change, and What You Can't, and now The Hope Circuit.The first four books were tremendous. I loved them. They impacted my thinking enormously. I found so many practical ways to effectively guide my thoughts and emotions to improve performance in so many different situations. They've almost become so engrained in me that I often forget where I first learned the ideas.However, The Hope Circuit is at a much higher level. This is a tour de force. It explains in a tremendously personal way the development of psychology, and several mentions of psychiatry and philosophy as well and even astronomy with the stories about Carl Sagan, over the past 50-70 years.It shows how behaviorism gave way to the importance of cognition and cognitive therapy and the work of Tim Beck and evolved into Positive Psychology and eventually to the Hope Circuit over a period of 50 - 70 years. All of this psychological history is explained through personal stories about the interactions between Seligman and his mentors, peers, and students. This book reminds me of Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Not only did Seligman interact with many of the key psychological people in history, he also made history himself with his work on learned helplessness and then learned optimism, and ultimately with the development of Positive Psychology.However, there is one other completely unique aspect of this book that I loved. Marty Seligman opens up in very intimate ways about his personal life. For example, he talks about his own intensity and impatience in his late 20s and early 30s and how it affected his relationships with family and friends. I found his story to be remarkably down to earth and relatable.This is most definitely NOT a book on the theories of psychology. It is a very real and heartfelt story of how tremendously important principles of psychology emerged over the decades from real people working hard to uncover the underlying truths. He doesn't sugarcoat any of his stories. He explains exactly how he saw things unfold from his perspective. For example, his story about how the teachings of psychiatry were greatly influenced by which ideas members of the U.S. Congress were willing to financially support.This book is like the autobiography of a great athlete, except this is a story about a person who spent his life working to understand how the mind works. I can't imagine you not getting value out of reading this book. I savored it and underlined almost every word on every page. It also reminds me of The Hero's Journey that Joseph Campbell wrote about. Seligman spent decades searching for powerful insights through a wide range of obstacles and many moments of challenging the status quo, and then he brings what he discovered back to large masses of people to help them not only reduce suffering but to find ways to sustain optimism and joy in their lives.

I pre-ordered this book and eagerly awaited its arrival - I have read Marty Seligman's other books and followed his work for almost 40 years - so of course, I wanted to read the latest. But, I had no idea that in its own way, it would also be the greatest of his books. It is an honest and down-to-earth story of a man's life (so far - because I am sure there is more to come) with all of the struggles and all of the joys that he experienced over the years. Not only is it his story, but also the story of Positive Psychology and it is full of the important concepts and principles he has brought to light during his life.The book was especially meaningful for me because I first found Marty's work after I had left an abusive relationship and started asking myself "Why did I stay so long?" I found the Theory of Learned Helplessness which showed me that it wasn't my fault but rather the circumstances that kept me trapped. I eventually became stronger and as I read Marty's other books could see how I had also grown past helplessness into optimism, happiness , and flourishing as I became a nurse, a teacher and obtained my PhD at 57 which had been a lifelong goal. And I looked back and realized that what helped me escape the helplessness, was lying in bed at night and reciting all the things I could do well until I believed in myself and I believed there might be a way out. I now see myself as a living example of Marty's work and really am grateful for what he has put together so beautifully in this book. And one last coincidence that I believe is not a coincidence: a couple of years ago I began a coach training program, MentorCoach LLC, that has very strong connections to Marty since he and the training program's founder, Ben Dean, started an Authentic Happiness program together.I highly recommend the book as a good read with a great story line about a man that is real (I couldn't put it down), a source of important information about Positive Psychology (the history and highlights), and a future of possibilities and hope.

The hope circuit is Martin "Marty" Seligman's autobiography. This is not a book I would normally read but it cropped up on a few reading lists on LinkedIn so I gave it a try. If you didn't know (I didn't), Marty is a professor of Psychology and did a lot of work in the past on "helplessness". He went onto create "positive psychology" that I guess is the antidote to helplessness. He writes in an interesting why, lived an interesting life, you also learn a little bit about psychology, which is kind of useful. I certainly enjoyed the book, but at nearly 400 pages it is a bit of an investment.

The theme is how Seligman, and psychology, have transformed from a negativistic, backward looking perspective dominated by tradition, to a positive, engaged and constructive perspective focused on human fulfillment. Its a heartening counterpoise to the rising dread of ecological catastrophe. We need to learn how to build hope in what will be increasingly desperate times. This book suggests a way.

I am a fan of Seligman, but this book has got to be the pinnacle of his writing, he has managed to demonstrate how his thinking has emerged over the years. It is interesting to see how his clear ideas are becoming even more crystal clear. Thanks Martin.

As an autobiography, this charts Seligmans life and achievements very well, though he does skirt over so many important stages of his life ( relationship changes and effects in particular). It takes a good two-thirds of the book before he gets to the Hope principle of the title. A bit stodgy in places with far too many name checks and lists of academic achievements ( surely could have put them in index). I need to read his earlier works to really get to grips with his ideas and theories. Not what I expected, and to be frank, a little misleading. One to be passed on to friends and not a keeper for me.

I love ideas but more than that I love to see how they’ve been played out over a lifetime. This book does just that.As an educationalist and lifelong learner the final chapters thrilled me. Yes I am an optimist and reading this book enforces that very worthy trait. The future could be fantastic.