The Optimist's Telescope book cover

The Optimist's Telescope by Bina Venkataraman Summary

The Optimist's Telescope
Bina Venkataraman
3.46 (588 Reviews)
Psychology
Economics
Self-growth
Aperçu
Points Clés
Auteur
Questions Fréquentes

Overview of The Optimist's Telescope

In "The Optimist's Telescope," Bina Venkataraman reveals how we can make better long-term decisions in our reckless age. Named an NPR Best Book, this guide blends psychology and economics with practical wisdom. Her TED talk on planetary stewardship has captivated 2.5 million viewers.

Similar books to The Optimist's Telescope

Explorez Votre Façon d'Apprendre
Résumé Rapide9min

Ressentez le livre à travers la voix de l'auteur

Approfondissement42min

Transformez les connaissances en idées captivantes et riches en exemples

Fiches mémo7 idées

Capturez les idées clés en un éclair pour un apprentissage rapide

Fun25min

Profitez du livre de manière ludique et engageante

Dans le même genre

book cover
The Optimism Bias
Tali Sharot
book cover
The Rational Optimist
Matt Ridley
book cover
Practical Optimism
Sue Varma
book cover
The Optimistic Child
Martin E.P. Seligman
book cover
Learned Optimism
Martin E. P. Seligman
book cover
Optimal Illusions
Coco Krumme
book cover
A Year of Positive Thinking
Cyndie Spiegel
book cover
The Art of Choosing
Sheena Iyengar
book cover
Going Solo
Eric Klinenberg
book cover
The Problems of Philosophy
Bertrand Russell
book cover
Everybody Writes
Ann Handley

Points clés

1

Seeing Beyond Tomorrow: The Power of Foresight

play
00:00
00:00

Imagine if you could see the future-not through supernatural powers, but through intentional foresight. This possibility sits at the heart of "The Optimist's Telescope," challenging our assumption that humans are inherently shortsighted. Drawing from her experience as a White House climate advisor and MIT teacher, Bina Venkataraman provides a practical toolkit for overcoming our collective myopia. The stakes couldn't be higher: our decisions about climate, technology, and resources will echo for generations. But why do we repeatedly ignore warning signs until it's too late? Why do smart people make reckless decisions despite clear warnings? The problem isn't knowledge-it's imagination. We've developed sophisticated prediction tools while our ability to act on those predictions remains stubbornly underdeveloped. Consider hurricane forecasting: meteorologists can map a storm's trajectory with remarkable precision 72 hours in advance. Yet most people facing warnings do little more than buy bottled water, failing to elevate homes or purchase flood insurance. As damage costs skyrocket into hundreds of billions, we continue building in storm paths and preparing inadequately.

2

The Imagination Gap: Visualizing and Experiencing Futures

3

When Numbers Lie: The Metrics Trap and Instant Gratification

4

Countercultural Practices: Breaking the Cycle

5

Designing for Wisdom: Organizational Foresight

6

Long-Term Investing: Patience as a Competitive Edge

7

Our Legacy: Looking Forward with Hope and Agency

Explorez Votre Façon d'Apprendre
The Optimist's Telescope n'est pas qu'un simple livre — c'est une masterclass en Psychology. Pour vous aider à absorber ses leçons de la manière qui vous convient le mieux, nous proposons cinq modes d'apprentissage uniques. Que vous soyez un penseur profond, un apprenant rapide ou un amateur d'histoires, il y a un mode conçu pour votre style.

Mode Résumé Rapide - Lisez ou écoutez le résumé de The Optimist's Telescope en 9 minutes

Résumé Rapide
Résumé Rapide
Résumé de The Optimist's Telescope en 9 Minutes

Décomposez les idées clés de The Optimist's Telescope en points faciles à comprendre pour découvrir comment les équipes innovantes créent, collaborent et grandissent.

play
00:00
00:00

Mode Fiches mémo - Top 7 Idées de The Optimist's Telescope en Bref

Fiches mémo
Fiches mémo
Top 7 Idées de The Optimist's Telescope en Bref

Condensez The Optimist's Telescope en indices de mémoire rapides mettant en évidence les principes clés de franchise, de travail d'équipe et de résilience créative.

Flash Mode Swiper

Mode Fun - Leçons de The Optimist's Telescope Racontées en Histoires de 25 Min

Fun
Fun
Leçons de The Optimist's Telescope Racontées en Histoires de 25 Min

Découvrez The Optimist's Telescope à travers des récits vivants qui transforment les leçons d'innovation en moments mémorables et applicables.

play
00:00
00:00

Mode Personnaliser - Lisez ou écoutez le résumé de The Optimist's Telescope en 0 minutes

Personnaliser
Personnaliser
Découvrez The Optimist's Telescope à votre façon.

Posez n'importe quelle question, choisissez la voix et co-créez des idées qui résonnent vraiment avec vous.

Personalize Mode

Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco

BeFreed rassemble une communaute mondiale de plus de 200 000 esprits curieux

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star
Commencez votre parcours d'apprentissage, maintenant
Telecharger ce resume

Obtenez le resume de The Optimist's Telescope en PDF ou EPUB gratuit. Imprimez-le ou lisez-le hors ligne a tout moment.