The Bright Side: a night of powerful optimism with Sumit Paul-Choudhury

At a time when cynicism is often mistaken for honesty, and being honest about the state of things can mean sinking into despair, what is the role of optimism? Can we afford to be optimistic?

Astrophysicist-turned-journalist Sumit Paul-Choudhury’s answer to the latter is a resounding yes. In The Bright Side : Why Optimists Have the Power to Change the World, he shows how optimism is, in fact, more vital than ever. What does Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition have in common with the chicken that crossed the road? Or James Baldwin's campaign for civil rights with the development of AI? Or even Crossrail and George Bush's 'mission accomplished'?

In his book, Sumit Paul-Choudhury offers practical suggestions on what it really takes to be an optimist today and, in doing so, provides a powerful manifesto for hope and a much-needed new perspective on our prospects. He shows how, by embracing action, imagination and possibility, we can find a path to the bright side, even - perhaps especially - when the future seems dark. Both realistic and revolutionary, The Bright Side is a guidebook for troubled times that will make you re-evaluate your habits and outlook.

We’re immensely glad to have Sumit with us in Edinburgh and we invite you to a very special evening of learning, exploring and finding inspiration!

Our speaker

Sumit Paul-Choudhury is an astrophysicist-turned-journalist, former editor-in-chief of New Scientist magazine and has served as a judge for the Baillie Gifford Prize (then Samuel Johnson Prize), the Wellcome Prize and the Costa Book Awards. The Bright Side is his first book.