Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain: How to Retrain Your Brain to Overcome Pessimism and Achieve a More Positive Outlook

I purchased this book after reading an interview with the author and tried to put the goofy title aside and just pay attention to the content. I think it's an excellent book, but I find myself having a very hard time recommending it to friends, because I feel like a fool when I tell them the title. And they laugh nervously, as if to say, "so, he's reading children's books now..."OK, so she's from Ireland, and I guess, having lived in Seattle, that "rainy" in the title sort of makes sense -- one can get very pessimistic during winters when the sun doesn't make an appearance for months at a time. But, oh, for one trying to "overcome pessimism and achieve a more positive outlook," it's just embarrassing to be seen with this bright yellow cover and the rather child-like title. It surely takes away from the excellent content. What editor who came up with this title?But really, it is a very good book for those of us needing some brain retraining.

I bought this book because I am by nature pessimistic and I was hoping to get some insights into how to change that, based on solid scientific research rather than just someone's pet theories. I have read a lot of books on psychology and subscribe to Psychology Today, so many of the concepts in this book about the structure of the brain and the neurological basis for emotions and their impact on personality were not new to me. However, I still found it mostly interesting reading about the science behind it all in more detail.Over all though, I was disappointed in the limited recommendations to come out of this book towards becoming more optimistic. This was confined to one short, final chapter and didn't really tell me anything new - meditate, practise focussing on the positive things, use mindfulness. There was a description of some psychological interventions which entailed subconscious brain retraining using responses to images, but no information was provided as to how to gain access to that type of therapy. This method has apparently been used successfully to treat PTSD sufferers, and the book suggested that it could be readily delivered via the Internet, but it seems this may not be available to the general public as yet.The book read as though its intention was to explain the science to an average, well adjusted reader, rather than to someone specifically seeking help for pessimistic thinking. There are a number of short self evaluative tests in the book (the marking of which could have been better explained), and it is clear that the author thinks it just as likely that the reader will have an optimistic result as a pessimistic one. So I don't blame the author for what seems to be a misrepresentation on the cover - "How to retrain your brain to overcome pessimism and achieve a more positive outlook". This is probably something the publishers added to help the book sell. Well, it worked, for me, but others who are less interested in the science and more focused on self help might have felt ripped off.

A very good run through on the working of the human brain with loads of research references. Well worth the read if you are interested in the human mind and human behaviour. Well written with bits of humour and even thought it has loads of science speak it is something that can be read and understood by non-science people.

This is a great wrap up of the science behind optimism and pessimism with well referenced data.It does not contain any application though, so if you are looking for a 'how to', this isn't it.It would be a great starting point for someone learning about neuro plasticity and the science of happiness, but those with some knowledge may find it a little basic.

Extremely interesting, I enjoyed it immensely and I have recommended it to several others who are interested in psychology and understanding what makes us tick.I was especially interested in the notion that there is another mechanism in place to assist in human adaptation in addition to Darwin's theory of Natural Selection.

Though the cover page indicates that this book shows “How to Retrain Your Brain to Overcome Pessimism and Achieve a More Positive Outlook,” I didn't get that out of it. Most of the book details research that has been done to determine the differences in the brain scans of pessimists and optimists—not how to change it.The last chapter does get down to advising that “genuine changes in happiness only come about when three things come together: lots of positive emotions and laughter, being fully engaged in our lives, and finding a sense of meaning that is broader than our day-to-day life.” How to achieve these things, however, is missing.The author indicates that in order to thrive, “we need to have three positive emotions for ever negative one. Positive emotional experiences include things like a sense of wonder, compassion, contentment, gratitude, hope, joy, love and sexual desire, while negative feelings are those like anger, contempt, disgust, embarrassment, fear, sadness, and shame.” As one of the unfortunate rainy brain/pessimistic beings, however, I think we often don't know how to get those positive experiences in our lives. They're fleeting moments that we occasionally experience.

Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain is a book regarding optimistic and pessimistic traits people display. It is another book that tries to address the issue of nature versus nurture. The author does refer to valid tests, including the functional MRI to support her theories. It is a book that is relatively quick to read, but did not offer any 'ah ha' moments in my opinion.

Very interesting and informative, but one expects, perhaps unrealistically, a clear instruction as to how to proceed to make the brain cell changes which will improve one's mental health.

This book is not so much of a self-help book, although you will learn how to do this in a small way. It offers more of a wide understanding of the how and why of feelings.You will need to supplement it with something else if you want a true self-help book. Also, bear in mind that despite what is written here, the full workings of the brain and its parts is still incomplete and it is a pity that scientists don't get together to offer a fuller picture of their individual findings. Still, this is a good read and helps a lot in seeing where you are currently and how you might want to go about instigating change.

the title and presentation makes one fear this is too much a 'pop' book, but actually it is very science based. Whilst it covers some ground already covered in other books, it does build up to a very punchy final couple of chapters, particularly on how CBM (cognitive bias modification) can change deep underlying biases in thinking and attitudes. Breaks new ground even for someone who has read a great deal (including much research) on this area. Very highly recommended. the website is good too, and clicks through to some online CBM exercises.

Didn't like the slant of the book - very much oriented to visible 'success' and extroversion. No sense of the quality of an inner life or benefit of a possibly quiet and valuable contentment.

I will let you know when I finish it!

This is a really clever book. It manages to create a balance between scientific rigour and readability. The content of the information on the ways in which optimistic and pessimistic brains work gives one cause for considerable thought.