Book recommendation – Martin E.P. Seligman – Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

Posted on August 21, 2025November 22, 2025 by admin

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Overview & basic idea

In Learned Optimism, Martin Seligman, one of the founders of positive psychology, shows that optimism is not an innate talent, but a learned attitude. He contrasts the widespread “learned pessimism” that makes us passive and resigned with the benefits of “learned optimism.” Optimists demonstrably achieve a better quality of life, motivation, health maintenance, and resilience through their thinking and actions.

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Core concept: Explanatory style

The explanatory style — how we interpret events — plays a central role:

Permanence: Pessimists believe that negative events are permanent; optimists see them as temporary.
Pervasiveness: Pessimists generalize failures to their entire lives; optimists view them as specific.
Personalization: Pessimists hold themselves responsible for misfortune, while optimists attribute it to external circumstances.

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Practical method: ABCDE model

Seligman supplements the classic “ABC model” (Adversity – Belief – Consequence) with:

D – Disputation: Critically question pessimistic thinking.
E – Energization: Develop a positive feeling as a result of successful reinterpretation.This method helps to actively change negative self-talk and act more optimistically in everyday life.

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Effect & application

Optimistic attitudes are associated with numerous benefits:

Reduced risk of depression and stress, faster recovery from illness, increased performance.
Studies show that training in optimistic thinking promotes long-term mental health and resilience.
In addition, children benefit particularly when they learn to think optimistically at an early age.

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Verywell Mind

Strengths

Scientifically based: solid psychological foundation paired with practical exercises.
Applicable in everyday life: concrete self-help strategies, tests, and reflection techniques.

PositivePsychology.com

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Learn Do Grow

Nonfiction Summary

Conclusion

Learned Optimism is a valuable psychological guide that presents optimism not as a product of chance, but as a tool that can be consciously cultivated. Anyone who wants to reflect on their inner attitude, reverse negative thought patterns, and live a motivated life will find sound and practical support here.

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Book recommendation – Stefanie Stahl – The Child In You: The Breakthrough Method for Bringing Out Your Authentic Self

Posted on August 21, 2025November 22, 2025 by admin

Stefanie Stahl’s bestseller is now one of the best-known guidebooks in the German-speaking world when it comes to psychology, self-help, and personal development. Using clear language and numerous practical exercises, the author presents a model that helps those affected to better understand their own inner patterns—and to change them.

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The central concept is the “inner child,” which is divided into two parts:

The shadow child: This represents our wounds, fears, and negative beliefs that originated in childhood and shape our thinking and relationships.
The sun child: This represents our healthy, self-confident, and lovable self, which we can actively strengthen and develop.

Stahl vividly shows how many of our problems—whether in relationships, at work, or in dealing with ourselves—are based on unconscious conditioning. With the help of reflection exercises, visualizations, and a “workbook” approach, she offers ways to recognize these patterns and transform them step by step. The methods used to teach readers how to calm the shadow child and nurture the sun child are particularly practical.

The strengths of the book are its understandable language, its proximity to everyday experience, and its clearly structured exercises that can be implemented immediately. Criticism may lie in the fact that the model is deliberately simplified and does not fully reflect complex psychological dynamics. However, in the context of self-help, it is precisely this simplicity that makes the book so successful.

Conclusion:

The Child in You is an empathetic, practical guide that helps many readers develop greater self-acceptance, heal old wounds, and go through life with inner strength. It is not an academic work, but rather an invitation to personal growth—understandable, approachable, and motivating.

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Book recommendation – Bodo Schäfer – The Winners Laws

Posted on August 20, 2025November 22, 2025 by admin

Bodo Schäfer, known as the “money coach,” presents Laws of Winners, a compact, practical work that shows how personal and professional success can be achieved through clear principles. The book is not a theoretical guide, but rather a handbook consisting of 30 easy-to-follow “laws” – short chapters that convey concrete steps and ways of thinking to help you get ahead in life.

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The author covers a wide range of topics, from self-discipline, time management, and goal clarity to dealing with setbacks, financial intelligence, and maintaining relationships. Schäfer emphasizes that success is not a product of chance, but the result of habits, consistent decisions, and a strong inner mindset. Particularly memorable is his credo that every person must take responsibility for their own life instead of being guided by excuses or external circumstances.

The language is motivating, direct, and accessible. Schäfer writes in such a way that the principles can be applied immediately in everyday life. Small exercises, reflection questions, and examples make it clear how easy implementation can be—provided you have the necessary consistency.

Viewed critically, the message may not be entirely new to readers who are familiar with personal development. Some of the laws are reminiscent of common principles of success from classics such as Stephen R. Covey or Napoleon Hill. However, it is precisely the clarity, the reduction to the essentials, and the systematic arrangement that make this book so appealing.

Key messages from The Winners Laws

Take personal responsibility: Success begins when you stop blaming others or circumstances.
Clarity about goals: Those who know exactly what they want focus their energy on it.
Discipline & routines: Small, consistent steps in everyday life lead to great success in the long term.
Time as the most valuable asset: Effective time management means setting priorities and focusing on the essentials.
Dealing with setbacks: Mistakes and defeats are opportunities to learn—the key is to keep going.
Positive inner attitude: Thoughts shape reality—optimism and gratitude act as amplifiers for success.
Financial responsibility: Prosperity is not a coincidence, but the result of planning, saving, and wise investing.
Cultivating relationships: Success is rarely an individual achievement; stable networks and mutual support are crucial.
Courage & decisiveness: Hesitation and fear hold you back – the key is to take action, even if conditions are not perfect.
Continuous development: Winners never stop learning; they invest in their skills and knowledge.

Schäfer’s message thus focuses on a kind of “life program”: Take responsibility, think clearly, act consistently, develop yourself continuously – and your life will improve step by step.

Conclusion:

The Winners Laws is a motivating, easy-to-understand guide that manages to bundle proven principles for success in a concise form. Anyone who is prepared to actually implement the laws presented in their everyday life will find Schäfer’s work to be an effective companion for achieving goals, overcoming resistance, and creating a more fulfilling life.

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Book recommendation – Dale Carnegie – How To Win Friends And Influence People

Posted on August 20, 2025November 22, 2025 by admin

Dale Carnegie’s work is considered a timeless classic on communication and the art of living. Although the book was published in the 1930s, his advice is still relevant today. Carnegie shows that human relationships are less about rhetoric or “tricks” and more about a genuine attitude of appreciation.

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The book is divided into several basic principles that revolve around central themes:

Dealing with people in generalCarnegie emphasizes that people primarily seek recognition, respect, and understanding. Criticism, condemnation, or blame close doors — praise, genuine interest, and appreciation open them.
How to become popularThose who truly listen to others, remember their names, take an interest in their views, and make them feel good about themselves are automatically perceived as likable. Genuine interest replaces any superficial compliments.
How to persuade peoplePersuasion is not achieved through pressure or argument, but through empathy. Carnegie recommends looking at arguments from the other person’s perspective, emphasizing common ground, and making people feel like they are finding the solution themselves.
Leadership without power gamesParticularly important for managers: people are motivated by appreciation and encouragement, not by a commanding tone or fear. Mistakes should be addressed tactfully by emphasizing positive aspects and working together on improvements.

Conclusion

How to Win Friends and Influence People is not a superficial guide, but a plea for human warmth, empathy, and respect. Carnegie makes it clear that success — whether in your professional or private life — depends less on specialist knowledge than on the ability to deal with people. Those who internalize the principles not only improve their communication skills, but also their inner attitude.

It is a book that should not only be read but lived — a practical guide for anyone who wants to understand that genuine relationships are the foundation for personal and professional growth.

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Book recommendation – Paulo Coelho – Like the Flowing River: Thoughts and Reflections

Posted on August 20, 2025November 22, 2025 by admin

With Like the Flowing River: Thoughts and Reflections, Paulo Coelho presents a collection of stories, reflections, and short texts that alternate between spiritual wisdom and poetic narrative. Unlike his well-known novels (The Alchemist, Brida), this is not a continuous narrative, but a kind of literary diary full of fragments of thoughts, parables, and anecdotes that repeatedly inspire the reader to reflect.

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Coelho takes up central themes of his work: courage, love, the search for meaning, inner strength, and trust in one’s own destiny. His language is concise, vivid, and often like an invitation to linger between the lines. Many of the short stories are inspired by Eastern wisdom or Christian teachings, while others are based on observations of everyday life.

The strength of the book lies in its versatility: you can read it from beginning to end, but you can just as easily open it to individual chapters and take away little nuggets of inspiration for the day. Not all of the texts are equally profound—some seem almost like loose sketches—but it is precisely this mixture that makes the book so appealing. It is a book that accompanies rather than instructs.

Conclusion:

Like the Flowing River: Thoughts and Reflections is not a novel, but a collection of spiritual and poetic miniatures. Readers who appreciate Coelho’s simple, symbolic language will find a treasure trove of inspiration and flashes of insight here.