Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain The New Science of Optimism and Pessimism

"'Every experience you have, from the most trivial to the most significant, alters the brain. Elaine Fox offers scientifically based advice about how to make the most of this, how to be in charge of changing your brain for the better."

"Every day I send my kids out the door to school with this admonition, 'you can choose to be happy.' More often than not, they roll their eyes, but in Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain Elaine Fox (no relation) offers a scientific argument for my contention. After much research, and in comprehensive, but comprehensible detail, Professor Fox provides a mental map to the sunny side of the street. For optimists and pessimists alike, this fascinating book is a must read." Michael J. Fox "'Every experience you have, from the most trivial to the most significant, alters the brain. Elaine Fox offers scientifically based advice about how to make the most of this, how to be in charge of changing your brain for the better." Joseph LeDoux, author of The Emotional Brain and Synaptic Self "Drawing on a host of studies in neurobiology and genetics, as well as evolutionary and behavioral psychology, Fox explores the struggle between the parts of the brain associated with fear and pessimism and those associated with pleasure and optimism. Fox introduces readers to many new concepts from experimental psychology and recent research on neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. [A] welcome, if intellectually demanding, introduction to a key area of brain research." Publishers Weekly "A psychologist looks at the influence that outlook - a tendency toward optimism or pessimism - can play in shaping the events in our lives. An insightful addition to the self-help bookshelf." Kirkus Reviews "Fox constructs an elegant narrative from neuroimaging results, her clever psychology experiments, and the interaction of genetics and environment." -- Steven Poole Guardian