Author Bina Venkataram’s stellar credentials include teaching in the program on Science, Technology, and Society at MIT, working as a journalist for The New York Times and the Boston Globe, and serving as a senior adviser for climate change innovation in the Obama White House. In this book, she unpacks the reasons why we have difficulty making decisions that will benefit us in the long term, instead, focusing only on short-term gains. While our impulses don’t benefit us, the author provides evidence for optimism by showing instances where we have made the right call.
While her expertise is in the science of climate change, she presents a variety of situations, with examples from biology, psychology, history, and economics. With each scenario, she demonstrates the capacity for people to work toward a better future for themselves and for society as a whole.
Read more, with book reviews and author interviews:
- Chakrabarti, Meghna. “Looking At Earth’s Future Through ‘The Optimist’s Telescope.” WBUR Boston. September 24, 2019. Accessed January 3,2020.
- Frank, Robert H. “Humans Are Impetuous and Shortsighted. Can We Change?; Nonfiction“. The New York Times. August 27, 2019. Accessed January 3, 2020.
- Venkataraman, Bina. “Why We Still Need Climate Optimism“. Washington Post Blogs. September 16, 2019. Accessed January 3, 2020.
Find The Optimist’s Telescope: Thinking Ahead in a Reckless Age in the Lincoln Park Haber Lounge. Call Number: 153.83 V461o 2019
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Thanks, Jen. Really interesting to see this review, something we all need right now. I will add it to my “to read” list. (and thank goodness for Goodreads!)
Kathryn