Learned Hopefulness - by Dan Tomasulo (Paperback)

About the Book

People who suffer from low mood or depression often lose hope--in themselves and the world--and, as a result, they spiral deeper and deeper into major depression. In Learned Hopefulness, psychologist Dan Tomasulo offers strengths-based practices grounded in positive psychology to help readers break the cycle of depression, improve resiliency and motivation, and move past feelings of hopelessness.

Book Synopsis

"The perfect recipe for fulfillment, joy, peace, and expansion of awareness."
--Deepak Chopra, MD, author of Metahuman

Cultivate hope with strengths-based practices grounded in positive psychology.

If you suffer from depression, sub-clinical depression, or low mood, you may have days where you feel like you've lost hope--hope that you'll ever feel better, that the world will be a better place, or that you'll someday find the happiness that always seems to elude you. You aren't alone. Many people struggle with feelings of sadness and hopelessness--especially in our difficult, modern world. The good news is that you can change.

Learned Hopefulness offers powerful exercises grounded in evidence-based positive psychology to help you identify your strengths; ditch the self-limiting beliefs that diminish your capacity for positivity; and increase feelings of motivation, resiliency, and wellness. You'll also learn to untangle yourself from rumination over past negative events, while shifting your perspective to the present moment and anticipating your future through a more positive lens.

With this unique, compassionate, and life-affirming guide, you'll find the tools you need to break free from hopelessness and start living a life of happiness and vitality.

Review Quotes

"You won't find a kinder, more thoughtful counseling psychologist than Dan Tomasulo. This book is the next best thing to a therapy session with him: it's grounded in science, filled with heartwarming stories, and brimming with hope."
--Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take and Originals; and host of the chart-topping TED podcast, WorkLife--Adam Grant

"A life well lived is founded on meaning, purpose, and a higher calling. Moments of despair are opportunities for healing, and emotional and spiritual growth. Daniel Tomasulo's deep understanding of the entanglement of perceptions, experiences, emotions, and modes of thinking, envisioning, and actualizing worthy goals is the perfect recipe for fulfillment, joy, peace, and expansion of awareness."
--Deepak Chopra, MD, author of Metahuman--Deepak Chopra, MD

"A warm and uplifting book about what is arguably our most important human capacity--hope. Drawing on his decades-long experience as a psychotherapist, as well as psychologist research, Tomasulo shows how each person can build more hope in their lives. In elegant prose, he makes a convincing case for why how hope, in all its multifarious forms, helps people overcome depression and lead flourishing lives."
--Emily Esfahani Smith, author of The Power of Meaning--Emily Esfahani Smith

"Chock-full of evidence-based exercises designed to alleviate depression and boost well-being, Learned Hopefulness is like having your own therapist. Read it with paper and pencil in hand."
--Margaret H. Greenberg, MAPP, PCC, executive coach, and coauthor of Profit from the Positive--Margaret H. Greenberg, MAPP, PCC

"Dan Tomasulo is one of the most gifted writers, teachers, practitioners, and innovators in the field of positive psychology today. His new book on learned hopefulness is a thorough and well-researched guide to becoming more proactive, engaged, and purposeful in your life, regardless of where you start or where you hope to go. Part of Dan's noteworthy skill is that he seamlessly blends stories from his therapy world into cutting-edge research on flourishing, and then he offers analogies and unique exercises that make the reader take action. Putting down any one of Dan's books is hard because of their pull on your intellect and heart; this one is no different. Bravo!"
--Caroline Adams Miller, MAPP, international bestselling author of Getting Grit, Creating Your Best Life, and My Name is Caroline--Caroline Adams Miller, MAPP

"Hope is one of our greatest superpowers; it can be discovered, rediscovered, uncovered, and built up--at the best of times and worst of times. Dan Tomasulo is a hope teacher. He embodies it and radiates it in his life. In this book, he shares it all. Whether you are high or low in the strength of hope, your well-being will soar by reading and practicing what awaits you in this important book."
--Ryan M. Niemiec, PsyD, psychologist; education director of the renowned VIA Institute on Character; and author or coauthor of eleven books, including The Power of Character Strengths--Ryan M. Niemiec, PsyD

"If you feel like you've lost your way, let Dan take your hand. He has in this beautiful book laid out the steps toward hope, and I cannot think of a wiser or more compassionate companion."
--Angela Duckworth, founder and CEO of Character Lab, and New York Times bestselling author of Grit--Angela Duckworth

"This is a must-read for therapists, as well as for anyone dealing with struggles and hardships (and that means all of us). The fact that this book has been written gives me hope!"
--Tal Ben Shahar, New York Times bestselling author of Even Happier, Happier, and Being Happy--Tal Ben Shahar

"This is the best go-to book on how to use hope to relieve your depression."
--Martin Seligman, PhD, director of the Penn Positive Psychology Center, director of the master of applied positive psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania; and author of Flourish--Martin Seligman, PhD

"Tomasulo has an unusual ability to simplify, and render vivid, complex ideas in ways that inspire trust."
--George Vaillant, MD, professor in the department of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, former director of The Grant Study of Adult Development, and author of Triumphs of Experience--George Vaillant, MD

About the Author

Dan Tomasulo, PhD, is core faculty at the Spirituality Mind Body Institute (SMBI) at Teachers College, Columbia University; and honored by Sharecare as one of the top ten online influencers on the issue of depression. He holds a PhD in psychology, MFA in writing, and a master of applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. A highly sought-after international speaker on topics relating to applied positive psychology, he authors the daily column, Ask the Therapist, and the Learned Hopefulness blog for www.psychcentral.com. His award-winning memoir, American Snake Pit, was released in 2018.

Foreword writer Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD, is host of The Psychology Podcast, and author of Transcend.