"Optimism: An Essay" by Helen Keller is a profound exploration of the power of positive thinking, written by a woman who triumphed over significant disabilities; it highlights optimism as the key to satisfaction and success, both personally and for society as a whole. The essay charts Keller's own transformation from a state of hopelessness to a life of fulfillment, crediting this shift to her embrace of optimism as a force that acknowledges both good and bad. It then broadens this perspective, demonstrating how fields like history and education foster a shared sense of optimism that propels civilization forward. Ultimately, the essay argues that optimism is not simply a feeling but a behavior that should be intentionally cultivated to improve oneself and the world.
Optimism: An Essay
By Helen Keller
A deaf-blind woman reveals the power of positivity to transform individual lives and drive societal advancement.
Summary
About the AuthorHelen Adams Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. Born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama, she lost her sight and her hearing after a bout of illness when she was 19 months old. She then communicated primarily using home signs until the age of seven, when she met her first teacher and life-long companion Anne Sullivan. Sullivan taught Keller language, including reading and writing. After an education at both specialist and mainstream schools, Keller attended Radcliffe College of Harvard University and became the first deafblind person in the United States to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. Born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama, she lost her sight and her hearing after a bout of illness when she was 19 months old. She then communicated primarily using home signs until the age of seven, when she met her first teacher and life-long companion Anne Sullivan. Sullivan taught Keller language, including reading and writing. After an education at both specialist and mainstream schools, Keller attended Radcliffe College of Harvard University and became the first deafblind person in the United States to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
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